Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport, 3rd ed.

Gr 9 Up—This comprehensive work offers more than 300 entries on modern and historical sports and seeks to provide a global overview of such activities. This edition includes work from the first and second editions (published in 1995 and 2004 respectively), the International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports (MacMillan, 2001), and the Berkshire Encyclopedia of Extreme Sports (Berkshire, 2007). There are entries on sports representing all regions of the world from buzkashi (Afghanistan) and naginata (a Japanese martial art) to sepak takraw (a popular ball sport in Southeast Asia) and shinty, a ball-and-bat sport popular in Scotland. Introductory sections help explain the overall organization and focus on unfamiliar games. With entries on "sports as religion," "collective bargaining," the "anti-jock movement," and "globalization," there is much here to supplement studies of history, social sciences, and humanities. Most sport overviews include a section on women's participation; for example, "bullfighting" covers female bullfighters. Additionally, entries chart global trends, such as the spread of baseball's popularity in Japan and Latin America. Each entry begins with an introductory discussion that is followed by a list of key words. A typical article offers a thumbnail sketch of history and significance, information about rules, top athletes and competitions, and trends. Some entries conclude with a "word cloud" to show the frequency of terms used in the article. Black-and-white photographs and a few diagrams accompany entries; this is perhaps the work's weakest feature as many appear grainy and/or dated. The work's greatest strengths, on the other hand, lie in its global scope and in its organization. The writing is concise and clear, if somewhat dry; this reference work's greatest appeal will be to students (high school and up) and sports fans.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA