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RR 2005/77 The Almanac of American Politics 2004 Edited by Michael Barone and Richard E. Cohen National Journal Washington, DC 2004 1837 pp. ISBN 0 89234 105 X (hbck); ISBN 0 89234 106 8 (pbck) £56 $79.95 (hbck); £42 $39.95 (pbck) ISSN 0362 067X
Keywords Politics, United States of America
Review DOI 10.1108/09504120510580145
The annual Almanac of American politics is described on its covers as "The bible of American politics", and with over one-and-half million words, is considerably longer than that sacred book. Presumably, it would need no introduction to librarians in the United States. Those in Britain would want to compare it with its nearest equivalent, Dod's Parliamentary Companion (RR 2003/305). The British work is not merely shorter, but depends to a much greater extent on official and politically neutral information: its biographies of parliamentarians are little more than uncontroversial CV's. The Almanac, on the other hand, is unofficial, analytical and uninhibited. It begins with a lengthy review of the main issues in US politics...