The International Who's Who 2011

Enduring since its first publication in 1935, this esteemed annually updated reference offers biographical information on some 24,000 individuals of the world who are prominent in government, business, science & technology, literature, the arts, sports, and the media. Alphabetically-arranged entries cite date & place of birth, nationality, profession, marital status & children, educational and career history, publications, leisure interests, and contact info where available (e.g. address, telephone, e-mail address). The editors spent the year updating the previous edition's information, identifying those who have died (and listing them separately), and adding approximately 1,000 new entrants. There is no index, so there's no way to find all physicists or all musicians or all French chefs, for example (although the royal families of the world do have their own listing), nor is there any indication of which entries are new to the current edition or indeed, how new entries are selected. Despite these limitations, the print edition continues to serve, even in the digital age, for quick access to essential info about important people worldwide. (The online version, which is not included with purchase of the print edition, is no doubt searchable.) Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)