Wastrel’s Reviews > "Reader's Digest" Illustrated Dictionary of Essential Knowledge: Information That Everyone Needs to Know > Status Update
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Wastrel
is on page 75 of 606
Villier de L'isle-Adam: "Live? Our servants will do that for us."
— Aug 21, 2020 09:25AM
Wastrel
is on page 60 of 606
English Literature - ironically, the popular and contemporary references have aged less well than the classics... the downside of being 'relevant' is, as so often, swift irrelevance...
— Aug 20, 2020 01:46PM
Wastrel
is starting
I don't make a habit of reading encyclopaedias... but since this book promises all the knowledge that every person (living in 1995) needs, and all in under 600 pages (ignoring the index), I thought that maybe I should at least see what I don't know!
It's divided into thematic sections. For the record, the illustrations are minimal, but the appearance is open and clear, suited for children and laypeople.
— Aug 19, 2020 02:51PM
It's divided into thematic sections. For the record, the illustrations are minimal, but the appearance is open and clear, suited for children and laypeople.
A few amusing points:
- 'ball lightning' is included in the myths section, which seems a little harsh!
- Gog and Magog appear, but, in a sign of the British nature of the publication, their Biblical/apocalyptic role is not mentioned...
- bizarrely, the editor appears convinced the Flying Dutchman is real. Not only do records from the time prove it, but the similarity of reports of eyewitnesses simply cannot be explained... it's weird, because there's no hint of such credulity in the other entries (bermuda triangle, etc). It even claims that there was such a ship that disappeared specifically in 1680, though I can't find any other references to this.