The Encyclopedia of Buddhism is one of the first major reference tools to appear in any Western language that seeks to document the range and depth of the Buddhist tradition in its many manifestations. In addition to feature entries on the history and impact of Buddhism in different cultural regions and national traditions, the work also covers major doctrines, texts, people, and schools of the religion, as well as practical aspects of Buddhist meditation, liturgy, and lay training. Although the target audience is the nonspecialist reader, even serious students of the tradition should find much of benefit in the more than four hundred entries.
Within each sport (more than 200 make the cut), individual entries vary in length and depth depending on popularity and/or importance, and for the major sports they are quite extensive. Yet most entries provide some information about history, rules, and cultural influences. Some even offer rudiments of how the games are played, though the "Encyclopedia" is certainly no how-to manual. Most importantly, the volume seeks to grasp the larger picture and import of games and competitions around the world; with entries on aggression, drug testing, law, ethics, media, environment, commercialization, spectators, literature, and even movies, it's a volume assembled to appeal as much to those interested in thinking about sports as to those who play them. Most of the contributors are academics, and at times the text reflects that--and illustrations, especially of the more obscure activities, would have only helped the effort--but that's a fair price to pay for a one-volume compendium that can place the wide world of sports quite literally in your hands.
The Schirmer Encyclopedia of Film is intended as a standard reference work in the field of film studies. Designed to meet the needs of general readers, university students, high school students and teachers, it offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of film history and theory with an American emphasis.
Readers will find in the Schirmer Encyclopedia of Film the major facts about film history, clear explanations of the main theoretical concepts and lines of scholarly interpretation, and guidance through important debates. Approaching cinema as art, entertainment, and industry, the Encyclopedia features entries on all important genres, studios, and national cinemas, as well as entries on relevant technological and industrial topics, cultural issues, and critical approaches to film.
Accompanying the main entries are more than 230 sidebars profiling important figures in film history. More than career summaries, each profile places the subject’s achievements within the context of the particular entry it accompanies, offering a historical or theoretical perspective on the person profiled.
Encyclopedia Of Philosophy 2nd Ed. (10 Volume Set)
Since 1967, the Encyclopedia of Philosophy has been the cornerstone of the philosophy reference shelf.
Containing material from hundreds of highly distinguished contributors representing the world's top universities and institutions, the second edition has a truly global perspective. It contains more than 2,100 entries, including more than 450 new articles.
Among the many topics covered are African, Islamic, Jewish, Russian, Chinese, and Buddhist philosophies; bioethics and biomedical ethics; art and aesthetics; epistemology; metaphysics; peace and war; social and political philosophy; the Holocaust; feminist thought; and much more.
Additionally, the second edition also features 1,000 biographical entries on major figures in philosophical thought throughout history.
Encyclopedia of Archaeology: History and Discoveries
The Encyclopedia of Archaeology's entries cover the history of archaeology in specific countries or regions as well as "the histories of significant sites, debates, techniques, methods and issues that are central to the global practice of the discipline."
The signed entries are arranged alphabetically and vary in length from a paragraph to more than 30 pages.
Most are accompanied by cross-references and bibliographies, which in some cases are quite extensive.
