SOCCER LOVERS BOOK REVIEW: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019
The New Edition Features the #MeToo Movement, All MLS MVPs, 2018 Midterm Election Results, and More.
The new World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019, released on December 4, is complete with Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of sports trivia and statistics that are essential for any fan, featuring complete coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, World Cup Men’s soccer, the World Series, and improved MLB player stats.
BOOK REVIEW RATING – Four Stars
I remember the Almanac when I was growing up. Granted, I grew up before Google was the default source of all quick and easy information. The Almanac was one of the books you had on your reference bookshelf so you could look things up quickly. The old Almanac was a trusted source for statistical information and has always been a cool reference tool — a combination of odd facts and logical knowledge.
The new The World Almanac and Book of Facts has a table on U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Human Activities along with a recap of the 2015 Women’s World Cup when Carli Lloyd scored 3 goals in the first 16 minutes, plus the distance of suspension bridges in North America.
How does the Almanac endure in the age of Google?
Actually, really well. Plus, there is no advertising on the information pages.
It is easier to flip through pages than type new searches into google.
“For more than 150 years, The World Almanac and Book of Facts has been the authoritative source for all entertainment, reference, and instructional needs,” said Sarah Janssen, senior editor of The World Almanac. “As the world changes and news cycles transform in the blink of an eye, this compendium of information maintains a tangible record for repeated use in 2019 and in years to come.”
For all of us baby boomers and Generation X, the brand new almanac even explores sports stars like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and others — who are approaching middle age while still at the top of their game … check out the greatest over-40 all-stars in “Senior Moments: Memorable Achievements by Aging Athletes.”
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reviewing this book. With so many fun and interesting facts — all in one place — the World Almanac and Book of Facts is a surefire success. It is the combination of facts, officially assembled in an just over 1,000 thin pages, that makes it so fabulous. For soccer parents with college-bound players, this book is the perfect find with its A to Z listing of four-year colleges and universities’ tuition and fees. Plus it has SAT Scores by state and all sorts of all other data points.
Who knew Wake Forest, the top-ranked men’s soccer team in the country, was more expensive then Yale?
Favorite sections making their return include “Year in Sports,” “Top 10 News Topics,” “The World at a Glance,” “Time Capsule,” and “Offbeat News Stories.”
The latest edition of America’s best-selling reference book also rounds up the events that made the year 2018 unique and will become your go-to source for the year ahead.
- What were the most memorable milestones of 2018?
- How did the #MeToo movement launch a global conversation on sexual misconduct?
- How did the British royal wedding break with tradition?
Highlights from The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019 include:
- The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world and includes a sneak peek at upcoming milestone celebrity birthdays in 2019.
- Statistical Spotlight: This popular graphics feature highlights statistics relevant to the biggest news of the year. The data visualizations provide important context and new perspectives to give readers a fresh angle on hot-button issues. This year’s statistics will spotlight immigration, refugees, and asylum claims; the rising number and historic cost of natural disasters; and the nationwide opioid epidemic.
- The Year in Review: The World Almanac takes a look back at 2018 while providing all the information you’ll need in 2019.
o 2018—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of sports trivia and statistics that are essential for any fan, featuring complete coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, World Cup men’s soccer, the World Series, and improved MLB player stats.
o 2018—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world covering news, entertainment, science, and sports.
o 2018—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac editors select some of the most unusual news stories of the year, from the parade commemorating a team’s winless NFL season to the “bananas” lawsuit over a Halloween costume.
o World Almanac Editors’ Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac lists the items that have come to symbolize the year 2018 in news, sports, and pop culture.
Other New Highlights: Brand-new statistics on crime rates for all major U.S. cities, U.S. trade and immigration policies, 2018 tax cuts, DACA recipients, mobile app and tech usage, student loan debt, income inequality, and much more.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2019 is available for purchase wherever books are sold. For the eBook version, please check your online retailer.
