Product Description

Penguin's bestselling Penguin Book of Facts is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date general fact book available. Organized in thematic sections that cover topics as diverse as science and technology, sport and culture, religion and mythology, it is easy to navigate and great value for money. The first edition has sold almost 15,000 copies and has proved a huge hit, especially among crossword solvers, students and editors. An essential desk reference.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20908 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 960 pages

Independent on Sunday
'One of the greatest reference books ever published'

About the Author
The Penguin Book of Facts has been compiled by an international team of experts and overseen by Professor David Crystal OBE, Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor, and editor of The New Penguin Encyclopedia. He lives in Holyhead, Anglesey. Also available: Penguin's extensive Reference collection includes several market-leading titles by David Crystal: The Penguin Encyclopedia and The Penguin Concise Encyclopedia, The Penguin Factfinder, the bestselling Pocket Book of Facts and many more.

Customer Reviews

Sure. best factbook under £9.
Although there is a pocket version, go for this edition. Well organized, manageable, and quite handy for any occasion.Great choice as a desktop book.Maybe the best book I've ever bought for this value.I found some isolated lists a bit old-fashioned, but the book is worth the purchase.

Fact: no need to buy this book if you have the internet
I gave this book 4 stars as there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, it is informative and user friendly and does what is says on the front, however, I have not awarded 5 stars since if you have the internet you are never going to pick this book up - I know, I don't.

Book of Facts review - critical
The Penguin Book of Facts was delivered in time and in very good condition. I am more suspicious of the accuracy of the contents or to be more precise one particular table. The table showing the "Physical Properties of Metals", page 538, contained many striking errors. Most errors due to careless proof reading. Values for Melting Points and Boiling Points of many metals show °K values under °C columns. As this is the first property table I have looked at in this book and on a subject on which I have some experience I wouldn't like to think of the extent of errors elsewhere. I have neither the time nor the expertise to verify the rest of the "Facts" contained in this reference book