What's in a name? Rather more than you might at first suspect for names are steeped in history & myth & have much to tell us about our past our beliefs
- even our personality traits. Now fully updated for its second edition with 150 new entries The Penguin Dictionary of First Names" takes a close look at over 5 000 examples ranging from the familiar to the comparatively obscure drawn from all parts of the English-speaking world. Detailed & informative it is essential reading for expectant parents & for anyone who is intrigued by the story attached to each name."
...

The science of geology is going through a remarkable period of expansion & advancement. The New Penguin Dictionary of Geology contains over 7 500 fully updated definitions making it the most extensive dictionary of the Earth sciences ever produced. It

Includes:: a full bibliography of up-to-date works covering all areas of geology. Authoritative & accessible this new edition will prove invaluable to researcher student & amateur geologist.

...

Islam today is a truly global faith yet it remains somewhat of an enigma to many of us. Each & every day our newspapers are saturated with references to Islam; Quran Taliban Hijab Fatwa Allah Sunni Jihad Shia the list goes on. But how much do we really understand? Are we in fact misunderstanding? The Penguin Dictionary of Islam" provides complete impartial answers. It

Includes:: extensive coverage of the historical formations of the worldwide Muslim community & highlights key modern Muslim figures & events. Understanding Islam is vital to understanding our world & this text is the definitive authority designed for both general & academic readers."

...

The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms & Literary Theory is firmly established as a key work of reference in the complex & varied field of literary criticism. Now in its fourth edition it remains the most comprehensive & accessible work of its kind & is invaluable for student teachers & general readers alike. ...

A topic with ever-increasing appeal & scope Media Studies is attracting more & more higher education students as well as the thousands of practitioners within its various fields. Written by two prominent experts The Penguin Dictionaries of Media Studies" gives the definitive overview of this huge area covering print digital & broadcast media as well as the theories technicalities & key figures involved. This new addition to the highly-successful series of Penguin subject dictionaries is comprehensive authoritative & user-friendly
- a must for anyone with an interest in the media & the wider cultural arena."
...

The Penguin Dictionary of Science" covers all the important topics in this key subject area including chemistry physics molecular biology biochemistry human anatomy mathematics astronomy & computing. Superbly comprehensive & accessible this dictionary is the ideal reference tool for anyone who needs to understand scientific terms whether student researcher or enthusiastic layperson. This title provides clear definitions of some 7 000 scientific terms; gives succinct explanations of fundamental terms (ammonia base pairing cell) & more specialist concepts (allosteric enzyme Bravais lattice close packing); covers individual elements & chemical compounds in detail; contains appendices ranging from lists of SI units & fundamental constants to the periodic table & an outline classification of living organisms; &

Includes:: hundreds of illustrations & diagrams."

...

This is a remarkable dictionary exploring the vast & various symbols which abound in literature religion national identity & are found at the very heart of our dreams & sub-conscious. Compiled by an international team of experts each entry is given its complete range of interpretations
- sexual & spiritual official & subversive cultural & religious
- to bring meaning & insight to the symbol.

...

Our very own national treasure (as declared by John Humphrys) David Crystal brings us yet another quintessential knowledge compendium. The new edition of The Penguin Factfinder" has been fully revised & updated to reflect recent changes in politics sport culture & the arts to the end of 2006. In an age where information is easy to find but hard to verify Crystal brings us a refreshingly straightforward resource. " The Penguin Factfinder" is about facts
- no jargon or flowery descriptions no error messages or anonymous sources
- just the basic facts from one of Britains most trusted & authoritative information providers. We believe every word to be true. Where else can you get a guarantee like that?"

...

This newly revised & updated French Phrase Book" contains a wealth of useful words & phrases for travellers. The book



...

The Penguin Guide to Punctuation is indispensable for anyone who needs to get to grips with using punctuation in their written work. Whether you are puzzled by colons & semicolons unsure of where commas should go or baffled by apostrophes this jargon-free succinct guide is for you. ...