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World Almanac |
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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007) |
| The World Almanac and Book of Facts | |
 The 2008 edition of the book |
|
| Author | Multiple |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Reference |
| Publisher | World Almanac Books |
| Publication date | 1868 |
| Published in English |
November 13, 2007 |
| Pages | 1008 |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-1600570728 |
The World Almanac and Book of Facts is an American-published reference work and is the bestselling1 almanac conveying information about such subjects as world changes, tragedies, sports feats, etc. The almanac can be found in homes, libraries, schools, businesses, and media outlets throughout the United States and to a more limited degree in other parts of the world.citation needed
It has been published yearly since 1886.1 The 2008 edition (ISBN 978-1600570728) has over 1,000 pages.
Contents |
The first edition of The World Almanac was published by The New York World newspaper in 1868 three years after the end of the Civil War and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. In 1876 publication stopped but resumed in 1886.1 In 1894 the name changed to The World Almanac and Encyclopedia. In 1906, the New York Times, reporting on the publishing of the 20th edition, said that "the almanac has made for itself a secure position, second only to the forty-year-old Whitaker's Almanac of London, with which alone it can be compared."2
From the late 19th century to 1934, the New York World Building was prominently featured on the cover of the almanac.citation needed In 1923, the name changed to its current name, The World Almanac and Book of Facts.1
Calvin Coolidge's father read from The World Almanac when he swore his son into office.1 Since then, photos have shown that Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton have also used The World Almanac as a resource.1
In late December 1984, the 1985 edition reached first place in the category of paperback Advice, How- To and Miscellaneous books, on the New York Times best-seller list, with more than 1,760,000 copies sold at the time.3
The first version of the video game Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, published in 1985, included The World Almanac in the purchase.4
The World Almanac For Kids has been published annually since 1995.
| The World Almanac for Kids | |
 The 2008 edition of the book |
|
| Author | Multiple |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Reference |
| Publisher | World Almanac Books |
| Publication date | 1995 |
| Published in English |
June 26, 2007 |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-1600570599 |
In 1993 Scripps sold the Almanac to K-III (later Primedia).The World Almanac was sold to Ripplewood Holdings' WRC Media in 1999. Ripplewood bought Reader's Digest and the book is now produced by the World Almanac Education Group, which is owned by The Reader's Digest Association. The World Almanac is distributed by Simon and Schuster.
Some lists published are:
In the mid-1980s, the almanac was being put together by a 10-member staff. At that time, 20 percent of the book was rarely updated (for example, the text of the Constitution of the United States), 50 percent was updated at least briefly each year, and 30 percent of the content was completely new each year.3
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2008) |
The first edition, in 1868, is in the public domain, as are decades of subsequent versions. The 1868 edition is available online at the publisher's website, along with other content, using a password that can be found inside the 2008 edition.
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