Best Reference Books

2
Roget's International Thesaurus
by Peter Mark Roget
4,160 members
30 reviews
½ 4.3
9 Members
hailelib, lilithcat, SchanleyMedia, anglemark, kageeh, mkjones, aulsmith, ManWithAnAgenda, John_Roapes
3
The Elements of Style
by William Strunk
21,886 members
206 reviews
4.1
8 Members
hailelib, SqueakyChu, kageeh, foggidawn, AnnaClaire, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda, John_Roapes,keristars
4
The Encyclopedia Britannica 11th Edition
by Encyclopedia Britannica
194 members
9 reviews
½ 4.6
6 Members
hailelib, lilithcat, kageeh, Mr.Durick, aulsmith, ManWithAnAgenda
5
Gray's Anatomy
by Henry Gray
3,625 members
14 reviews
4
5 Members
kageeh, Helcura, norabelle414, bryanjstephenson, cindra-cat
9
The Oxford Classical Dictionary
by Simon Hornblower
1,071 members
9 reviews
½ 4.7
3 Members
Edward, hailelib, meghan-ellice
11
Dictionary of American Regional English
by Frederic Gomes Cassidy
52 members
1 review
4.8
3 Members
ABVR, SchanleyMedia, DaynaRT
12
The Art of Computer Programming, Volumes 1-3 Boxed Set
by Donald E. Knuth
498 members
6 reviews
½ 4.6
3 Members
hailelib, Noisy, mkjones
13
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians [20-volume set]
by Stanley Sadie
242 members
3 reviews
4.9
3 Members
hailelib, Mr.Durick, aulsmith
14
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology (20 Volume Set)
by McGraw-Hill
163 members
1 review
2.8
3 Members
aulsmith, TimStump, meghan-ellice
15
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
by Merck
126 members
3 reviews
3.8
3 Members
kageeh, Helcura, aulsmith
16
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011
by Sarah Janssen
132 members
2 reviews
4.1
3 Members
hailelib, SchanleyMedia, aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith: Well, for whatever year it happens to be.
17
How to Cook Everything: The Basics
by Mark Bittman
721 members
4 reviews
4.1
2 Members
AnnaClaire, Jeffalot
18
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
by Random House Publishing
741 members
4 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
Bretzky1, meghan-ellice
19
Physics handbook for science and engineering
by Carl Nordling
42 members
½ 3.5
2 Members
andejons, TimStump
20
Mathematics handbook for science and engineering
by Lennart Råde
113 members
½ 3.6
2 Members
andejons, TimStump
21
The Chambers Dictionary
by Editors of Chambers
451 members
5 reviews
½ 4.5
2 Members
Edward, Noisy
22
Africana, the Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience
by Kwame Anthony Appiah
168 members
1 review
4.8
2 Members
eromsted, Mr.Durick
24
Oxford Dictionary Of Quotations - Third Edition
by Oxford University Press
1,097 members
5 reviews
4
2 Members
abbottthomas, meghan-ellice
25
A Writer's Companion
by Louis D. Rubin, Jr.
115 members
½ 3.7
2 Members
Bretzky1, meghan-ellice
26
Time-Life Books Complete Fix-It-Yourself Manual
by Time-Life Books
223 members
1 review
3.9
2 Members
SchanleyMedia, aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith: Mostly I use this to convince myself to call a professional.
27
The Cambridge ancient history
by I. E. S. Edwards
40 members
1 review
5
2 Members
eromsted, meghan-ellice
28
The New Grove Dictionary of Opera
by Stanley Sadie
78 members
2 reviews
½ 4.7
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice
29
The Anchor Bible Dictionary [6-volume set]
by David Noel Freedman
446 members
4 reviews
½ 4.7
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice
30
The Charlie Brown Dictionary [Complete]
by Charles M. Schulz
225 members
½ 4.3
Member
ManWithAnAgenda
31
The Book of Great Inventions
by Chris Oxlade
57 members
Member
cindra-cat
32
Webster's Third New International Dictionary
by Philip Babcock Gove
774 members
5 reviews
½ 4.7
3 Members
kageeh, Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice,Noisy ,aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith : Hasn't been updated since before you had a computer on your desk.
33
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable
by E. Cobham Brewer
3,344 members
28 reviews
4.2
Member
abbottthomas
34
The Reader’s Encyclopedia
by William Rose Benét
1,926 members
19 reviews
½ 4.3
Member
bluepiano
35
Svenska akademiens ordlista över svenska språket
291 members
3.8
Member
andejons
36
Black's Law Dictionary {complete-generic}
by Henry Campbell Black
162 members
1 review
½ 4.5
Member
Bretzky1
37
Herbal Medic: A Green Beret's Guide to Emergency Medical Preparedness and Natural First Aid
by Sam Coffman
72 members
Member
cindra-cat
Explanations
cindra-cat: Good reference to have on hand
38
Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge
44 members
3
Member
ManWithAnAgenda
Explanations
ManWithAnAgenda: Obviously, there are youth-oriented sources that are more up to date. As a children's bookseller it has become obvious a generation or two have grown up without multi-volume general works in the house and...the results aren't great.
39
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
by Robert Masters
1,914 members
7 reviews
½ 3.6
Member
Bretzky1
40
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns
by Barbara G. Walker
1,565 members
8 reviews
½ 4.7
Member
AnnaClaire
41
The Times Atlas of World History
by Geoffrey Barraclough
902 members
3 reviews
4.2
Member
bluepiano
42
The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook (Old Farmer's Almanac (Paperback))
by Old Farmer's Almanac
194 members
4.8
Member
cindra-cat
Explanations
cindra-cat: Great reference for beginners and others
43
Encyclopedia of the American Left
by Mari Jo Buhle
119 members
½ 4.3
Member
eromsted
45
The Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary
by Marie-Helene Corréard
413 members
½ 4.5
Member
AnnaClaire
46
The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation
by Peter France
72 members
½ 4.5
Member
Edward
47
Le Petit Larousse Illustre 2009
by Collective
19 members
3
Member
Mr.Durick
49
Puritanism and Liberty
by A. S. P. Woodhouse
63 members
4
Member
eromsted
50
Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology
by John G Holt
47 members
4
Member
cindra-cat
Explanations
cindra-cat: Spent so many years with this - and it's predecessor
51
The Chicago Manual of Style
by University of Chicago Press Staff
6,801 members
36 reviews
½ 4.4
Member
kageeh
52
Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary: (Book only)
by Dictionary
21 members
½ 4.5
Member
aulsmith,Noisy
Explanations
aulsmith: This was generally considered the most up-to-date dictionary up through the early years of the 21st century, but I think it's getting behind now too. But not as behind as Websters.
53
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
by Houghton Mifflin Company
3,382 members
27 reviews
4.2
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice,Noisy ,aulsmith ,malloyd