From: brock@ucsub.Colorado.EDU (Steve Brock)
Subject: Review of The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition
Date: 10 Apr 1995 20:18:15 GMT

THE CONCISE COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA, THIRD EDITION, edited by Paul G.
Lagasse.  Columbia University Press, distributed by Houghton
Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, N.Y., NY  10003, (800) 225-
3362, (617) 227-5409 FAX.  Illustrated, maps.  987 pp., $49.95
cloth.  0-395-62439-8

                     Reviewed by Steve Brock

     In my capacity as a book reviewer, I use many reference works,
not only to verify facts for reviews, but to answer questions posed
by readers (just yesterday, a reader inquired about the year of
publication of "Little Women").  The reference I use most for
substantiation and inquiry is "The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia."
     Now out in its third edition, the encyclopedia contains 17,000
cross-referenced entries embracing subjects such as embryo biopsy,
mach, Pequot (Indian tribe), search warrant, and war crimes.  The
volume is especially strong in its presentation of biographical and
geographical material.
     An adequate addition to the reference collection of public and
academic libraries, "The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia" is best
placed on the desks of offices and homes, places where researchers
will eternally be seeking the crux of the matter.  Grade: A-.  A
multimedia version of the encyclopedia is included on Microsoft's
"Bookshelf" CD-ROM.