Great Reference Book For Writers
Expertly Written, Easy To Use, Perfect For Freelancers
Keep The Knowledge Book close to your desk, for encyclopedic knowledge at your fingertips.
The Knowledge Book, subtitled everything you need to know to get by in the 21st century (National Geographic Society, 2007), is an impressive volume that lives up to its name. This is not surprising, considering that the National Geographic Society has long been known for its expertly written and beautifully presented books. The Knowledge Book is no exception to this.
A Treat For The Eyes And For The Mind
A treat for the eyes, and for the mind, this is a general reference book for any freelance writer to consider. If you add this to your library, you might find that it becomes one of the most used books you have.
In the forward to The Knowledge Book, entitled “Why Knowledge?” writer David Wallechinsky, author of The 20th Century: History With the Boring Parts Left Out, explains that … “I still enjoy exploring the world of knowledge and I still gain pleasure from learning about a vast range of subjects.”
Later, though, he points out a pitfall of our knowledge-overloaded society, that “Navigating this barrage of sight, sound, ideas, and distractions can be intimidating.” However, he offers a solution to that: “Familiarizing ourselves with the broad range of knowledge can give us the confidence to choose which ideas and concepts we want to learn more about.” That is why this book is perfect for writers. It allows them to dip into a little knowledge about many things, and then pursue more knowledge as interest and time permit.
For example, on page 109 you can learn about “Kangaroos, Koalas, and Platypuses”; page 229 profiles “Liberalism – Individual Freedom and Self-Fulfillment”; page 470 looks at “Film – The Seventh Art”; and page 494 investigates “The Internet: Choices and Possibilities”. These are just a handful of the myriad possibilities presented.
Helpful Table of Contents and User Guide
The Knowledge Book has a helpful table of contents that is divided into sections such as: The Universe, Biology, Mathematics, Economic and Social Topics, Philosophy, Visual Arts, Literature, and Modern Life. At the front is a user guide entitled “How to Use This Book”.
Colour-coded Sections, Sidebars and Illustrations
Each section is colour-coded, making it easy to flip to your favourite, once you know the colour associated with it. The pages are well-laid out and contain sidebars (read more about writing these useful additions in How to Write Great Sidebars). The writing is clear, concise, expertly written, and the illustrations are eye-catching and beautiful.
So dive into knowledge. Chances are you will discover something that tweaks your curiosity and, perhaps, sends you on a different writing path.
For other writers’ bookshelf recommendations read A Writing Guide for Every Desk, and A Writer’s Journey Through Loss.
