Introducing the 2012 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia

Introducing the 2012 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia

Coming up on 95 years and still going strong!

Coming up on 95 years and still going strong!

World Book was first published in 1917.

Print encyclopedias are still important. A “technology gap” limits access to reliable, understandable information in many places in this country and elsewhere in the world. Our annual edition helps to bridge that gap.

We’re the only encyclopedia still publishing a yearly edition! We’ve outlasted most of the competition.

What one reviewer said: What one reviewer said:

While many among us are in thrall of the latest whiz-bang electronic information-retrieval technology, there is still a place in the reference pantheon for a staid but reliable general subject encyclopedia. World Book meets that definition with its variety of venerable facets. Youth to young adults are the target demographic, but this should not be construed as dumbed down—it is simplified without being simpleminded.... Bottom Line: World Book’s eminent history and [its] features … make this a best bet ....

Bemis, Michael F., “Encyclopedia Reconsidered,” Library Journal. June 15, 2011. 120. Print.

The foundation of our authority is our 4,000 expert contributors.

The foundation of our authority is our 4,000 expert contributors.

Jack HannaDirector, Columbus ZooContributor of “Zoo”

Howard Bluestein

Professor of Meteorology

University of Oklahoma

Contributor of “Tornado”

After the contributors write their articles, our talented editors get to work.

After the contributors write their articles, our talented editors get to work.

The editors of the humanities team

The editors of the science team

The editors of the regions team

Highlights of the 2012 editionHighlights of the 2012 edition

The 2012 edition at a glanceThe 2012 edition at a glance• More than 4,400 pages

revised (over 30%)• At least 3,000 revised

articles• More than 100 new articles• About 230 new or revised

maps• More than 250 new or

revised photos or illustrations

Among the long articles revised for 2012:

Among the long articles revised for 2012:

• Bible• Canada• Clothing• Immune system• Internet• Map• Nuclear energy• Snake• Tornado• Zoo

Bible

TornadoTornado

Canada the BeautifulCanada the Beautiful

Canada’s scenic wondersCanada’s scenic wonders

Its striking architectureIts striking architecture

InternetInternet

New articles (and a few revised articles) from the

2012 edition

New articles (and a few revised articles) from the

2012 edition

Crimestoppers textbookCrimestoppers textbook• DNA fingerprinting (revised)• Fingerprinting (revised)• Forensic pathology (new)• Medical examiner (revised)

Music articlesMusic articles• Beyoncé• Céline Dion• Robert Johnson• Nirvana• Disco music• Gospel music• Punk rock

Sports and general interestSports and general interest

• Rafael Nadal

• Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

• Quinceañera

• Lucha libre

Children’s authorsChildren’s authors• Avi• Stephenie Meyer• Christopher Paolini

Shark attack!Shark attack!

• Basking shark• Blue shark• Bull shark• Lemon shark• Mako shark• Nurse shark

Other marine animalsOther marine animals

• Anglerfish• Beluga whale• Ichthyosaur• Leopard seal

Reptiles and amphibiansReptiles and amphibians• Bearded dragon• Coqui• Leopard frog

Still more animalsStill more animals

• Clouded leopard

• King penguin

• Naked mole-rat

• Snow monkey

• Facebook• Portable media player• Software• Text messaging• Web browser• Mark Zuckerberg

From the world of high-techFrom the world of high-tech

Health and medicineHealth and medicine• Dementia• Hoarding• Lactose

intolerance• Oxycodone• Seasonal

affective disorder

Military articlesMilitary articles• Improvised explosive

device• Navy SEALs

Something from the ovenSomething from the oven

• Cake

• Pie

Environmental scienceEnvironmental science • Carbon cycle (new)• Carbon footprint (new)• Greenhouse effect (revised) • Ice storm (new)• Oil spill (new)

The world’s newest countryThe world’s newest country

• South Sudan• Juba

The 2010 U.S. CensusThe 2010 U.S. Census• Complete results from the 2010

United States census appear in the 2012 edition.

• We made approximately 1,000 revisions to population figures throughout World Book.

The 2010 U.S. censusThe 2010 U.S. census For all censuses since 1970,

the Census Bureau has mailed out lists of questions and asked the public to complete them and mail them back.

As in the past, census enumerators visited the addresses for which no

questionnaire had been returned. As in the past, census enumerators visited the addresses for which no

questionnaire had been returned.

1890

1930 2010