Top 10 of Everything 2002 - Softcover

Ash, Russell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0789480433 ISBN 13: 9780789480439

Publisher: DK ADULT, 2001

Synopsis

The worst storms, the richest rulers, the fastest cars, the highest jumps, the deadliest snakes, the brightest stars, the hottest hits. A great new 2002 edition of the best-selling guide to the top "pick-of-the-lists" and record breakers-completely revised and updated. Outstanding coverage of sports, music, film, and television. Over 1,000 Top 10 lists based on the latest research by leading experts. Bursting with astounding, thought-provoking and hilarious facts on every subject under the sun. A treat for trivia lovers and statistics buffs and an indispensable general knowledge guide for all the family.

About this title

About the Author

Russell Ash is the uncontested king of lists. Not simply a career, listmaking is his legend, facts his friends, statistics his sanctuary, trivia his triumph.

He was descended from a family of craftsmen who were London goldsmiths and silversmiths for several generations since the 17th century -- the most notable being Claudius Ash (1792-1854), one of the principal inventors of false teeth. His father was a bookbinder at the British Museum. Born in 1946, educated at Bedford Modern School, Mr. Ash attended Durham University where he earned a Joint Honours BA in Anthropology and Geology.

Russell Ash began his career in publishing as a picture researcher in 1967; he moved on in 1973 to establish his own publishing company, Ash & Grant, and was a director of Weidenfeld & Nicholson and Pavilion Books. Mr. Ash has spent most of the past 30 years as a freelance writer and contributor to almost 100 non-fiction titles on such subjects as art (particularly the Impressionists and other late nineteenth-century painters), animals real and fictitious (he is the official "biographer" of Paddington Bear), and humor.

He has compiled various award-winning popular reference titles, including the perennial bestselling Top Ten of Everything, which has also inspired a weekly network children's television series in the UK (in which he appears). He has also written Incredible Comparisons, which features a variety of fascinating objects side by side with accompanying statistics. The World in One Day is his 1997 bestseller for children, chronicling all the facts about daily life. His latest children's book, Factastic Millennium Facts, is packed with intriguing information and entertaining anecdotes covering the key worldwide political, social , and cultural events of the last 1,000 years.

Russell Ash is currently an author, occasional journalist, and packager of books in the UK and US. He lives in a large Victorian house (which he is restoring) in Sussex, England with his wife, daughter, and two sons. He has recently returned to the family tradition by learning the craft of silversmithing.

Reviews

Gr 4 Up-Ash has hit on a winning formula. He has managed to create a volume as informative as an almanac and as appealing as the ever-popular Guinness World Record books. The layout is attractive and colorful photographs abound. Major headings covering such topics as "Life on Earth," "Commerce & Industry," "Culture & Learning," and "Stage & Screen" are packed with current statistics and facts. Historical information is provided in many of the "first" lists, e.g., "First Countries to Give Women the Vote." The section on transportation has several gruesome statistics including "The 10 Worst Motor Vehicle and Road Disasters." This book is sure to get lots of browsing attention and has much supplemental information for report writers. Libraries will want to update their earlier editions.

Laura Younkin, Ballard High School, Louisville, KY

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: DK ADULT
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0789480433
• ISBN 13: 9780789480439
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288