Product Description

Schott's Almanac is designed to be a practical and entertaining annual volume that tells the real stories of the year, from the anxious South African elections to the hope generated by the election of Barack Obama, from worldwide recession to the green shoots of recovery, from Russia's growing ambition to the Copenhagen Conference on climate change, and from the Ashes rivalry to the possibility of another all-English Champion's League final, all in the UN's Year of Astronomy. Section headings are: Chronicle; World; Society & Health; Sci, Tech, Net; Celebrity & Media; Music & Cinema; Books & Arts; Travel & Leisure; Money; Parliament & Politics; The Establishment; Sport; Ephemerides. In an age when information is plentiful but selection is rare, Schott's Almanac offers both the essential facts and the lucid analysis, combining the authority and accuracy of the Economist with the wit and vitality of Have I Got News for You.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #190 in Books
• Published on: 2009-11-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
'A social barometer of genuine historical value.' The Times 'A record of historic reference, chronicling the past year's important events punctuated with unpredictably diverting statistics.' Guardian 'Schott hits the spot.' Evening Standard 'The ultimate book of lists, brilliantly, if eccentrically, presented and edited. Never has trivia been more entertaining.' Daily Mirror

About the Author
Ben Schott was born in North London in 1974. He was educated at University College School. Hampstead, and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, where he read Social and Political Sciences. He has worked with the Independent, The Times, the Sunday Times, Reader's Digest and Sunday Business, amongst many others and has photographed celebrities from Hugh Grant to Tony Blair and Enoch Powell. Now a full-time writer, he has had columns with a number of publications including Conde Nast Traveller and the Daily Telegraph, and is now a regular contributor to the New York Times and The Times of London. He lives in London.

Customer Reviews

A great summary of the year
In its fifth year and it is still a great way to remember the year just passed, and to catch up on the items you missed.

As ever, there is the basic report on the year, with facts and figures covering everything from the Oscars to the MP expenses scandal. Colour is added to the reporting, for example the "Sachsgate" incident which lead to the sacking of Russell Brand is introduced with a Brief History of Swearing on Television.

This is all boosted with plenty of random information, such as the surface gravity on the planets and the objects banned from displays at the Chelsea Flower Show (which include, unsurprisingly, garden gnomes).

Packed with just as much information as previous years, this is still a great stocking-filler for Christmas.