Global
Issues in Language Education: Issue 31. June. 1998. (p. 21)|
Dorling Kindersley World Reference Atlas (2nd Edition) New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1996. (US $50) ISBN 0-7513-0392-5 |
This unique reference book is the most comprehensive source available for up-to-date information on all the world's countries. It features detailed profiles of 192 nations using state-of-the-art graphics, maps and text to document each state's geography, history, politics, economy, environment, education, crime, health and world ranking. A separate section features data on global issues such as hunger, population and the environment. A Japanese translation (Bijuaru Data Atorasu Dohosha 1995) is available. Recommended!
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Cultugrams: The Nations Around Us (Vol. 1 & 2) Kennedy Center Publications, Brigham Young Univ., Box 24538, Provo UT, USA 84602 (US $80) ISBN 0-8943-42053 |
Culturgrams are a unique set of concise 4-page profiles of the cultures and social systems of 160 major world nations. Each culturgram summarizes the country's customs and courtesies (greetings, visiting, gestures), people (attitudes, ethnic makeup, languages, religions), life-style (family, holidays, diet,) and nation (land, climate, history, government, economy and education). Culturgrams can be ordered individually for specific countries or as a two-volume set of reference books. See their homepage at: www.byu.edu/culturgrams.
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Portable World Factbook Keith Lye. New York: Avon Books, 1996 (US $12.00) ISBN: 0-380-78570-6 |
This portable factbook puts the world at your fingertips with a fascinating A-to-Z guide to every nation on Earth. Its concise country profiles feature maps, graphs and basic information on each nation's history, politics, economy and geography. The book also features national flags, stamps and a "Did You Know..." section of fun facts. This smaller reference book makes a good complement to the larger, more comprehensive Dorling Kindersley desk atlas.
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The Times Guide to World Organisations by Richard Owen. London: Times Books, 1996. (UK 6.99 / US $35) ISBN: 0-8133-6967-3 |
This useful reference book features detailed profiles of the world's major organizations. Each profile covers the group's history, aims, activities, budget, affiliations, address and involvement in world issues. Organizations profiled are divided into 23 categories including regional, refugee, human rights, women, health, environment, education and sport. Entries range from the UN, OPEC, NATO, IMF, Interpol and UNESCO to the Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Oxfam, WHO and Medecins sans Frontieres.
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World Access: The Handbook for Citizens of the Earth by Kathryn and Ross Petras. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. (US $40.00) ISBN: 0-684-81479-X |
This "world citizen handbook" serves as a unique reference to the knowledge needed to understand and enjoy our global multicultural world. It's divided into 10 sections: world history, world philosophy, world religions, world art & architecture, world literature, world drama & film, world music, world languages, world geography and world politics. In a lively, entertaining style, the book profiles the world's great thinkers, writers, artists and politicians with a multicultural focus on Africa, Asia and Latin America.
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Fielding's The World's Most Dangerous Places (2nd edition) by Robert Pelton. NY: Fielding, 1997. (US $19.95) ISBN: 1-56952-104-2 |
This hefty paperback is a comprehensive up-to-date guide to the dangers and danger spots of the modern world. The book gives detailed information on dangerous places (Afghanistan, Algeria, Cambodia, Rwanda..), criminal places (Brazil, Mexico, Russia, USA, Zaire...), forbidden places (Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea..), dangerous things (diseases, drugs, guns, kidnapping, landmines, terrorism...) and things you can do to help save humanity and the planet.