The Handy Religion Answer Book, 2nd ed

Gr 9 Up—Concise and accessible, this book for lay readers provides elemental, balanced coverage of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism and CCT (Chinese Community Traditions), Shinto, and Confucianism. The author uses a question-and-answer format, with each question appearing in large, bold font, making browsing for a particular topic a breeze. The answers describe history, beliefs, signs and symbols, leadership roles, holidays and other regular observances, and customs and rituals, dispelling stereotypes in the process. Non-English words appear in italics and are defined within the sentence. Updates from the 2001 edition include combining some entries and making room for updated coverage by removing tangential questions. Occasional black-and-white photographs adequately supplement the text, but are otherwise unremarkable. All considered, this is an outstanding resource for those with a general interest in major religions of the modern world.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC