The future of the reference book is challenged by technology which makes it an exciting time for factual books.
Many reference books are gaining narratives to make them more readable: books such The Adventure of English, The Diet Delusion now combine fact with compelling stories. Dull books are no longer acceptable.
Reference Books reviews the latest books and revisits classics and tests their relevance to today. It covers:
- General Reference
- Business
- Health
- Language
- and much more including difficult to categorise non-fiction.
Articles will explore the history, authority and the human face of reference and non-fiction books.
Above all Reference Books will be about the pleasure of knowledge and learning. Many a career or lifetime fascination has been triggered by browsing a reference book.
Extraordinary Clouds; Pictures of Dramatic Skies
Extraordinary Clouds is an appreciation and explanation of dramatic cloud formations by Richard Hamblyn who has done much to explain how clouds form and their structure. more...
French Racing Blue – The History of Motor Racing
It is often forgotten that motor racing started in France and French teams have a long and distinguished history. Some of the original French teams are still competing. more...
Five Minds for the Future – New Education Needs
According to Howard Gardner the fast-paced future will demand mastery of a set of "minds" that will require new ways of thinking about education for everyone. more...
Penguin Companion to Food; Ultimate Reference
The Penguin Companion to Food is an essential encyclopaedic reference to food for all who are interested in food, cooking or the culinary arts from around the world. more...
Retire Retirement; Opportunity for a Fresh Start
In: Business Books
No need to worry about a Credit Crunch reduced pension as this book shows the alternatives to retirement as the workforce shrinks and expertise need to be retained. more...
The Ascent of Money, a Darwinian View of Finance
In: Business Books
Occasionally a book is perfectly timed; The Ascent of Money sets recent financial crises, not just the Credit Crunch and dot-com boom and bust, in a historical context. more...
Chasing Alpha, City Collapse and Credit Crunch
In: Business Books
A sober history of financial services and the City of London from 1987 until 2008 when financial markets were in turmoil as banks collapsed and the Credit Crunch struck. more...
Taking the Medicine, History of Drugs and Trust
In: Health Books
In Taking the Medicine Burch argues many medical treatments, old and new, have no evidence they work. Good intentions are undermined when bad science meets blind faith. more...
All feature articles in Reference Books
All contributors in Reference Books
Review of Shapes for Sounds by Timothy Donaldson
In: Language Books
By: Jo Jackson
In: Health Books
By:
Krista Sadlers
Review of Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots & Leaves
In: Language Books
By: Amy Goldstein
By: John Howe
Review of Economics for Real People
In: Business Books
By: John Markley
All contributing articles in Reference Books