"An ambitious, authoritative undertaking that provides concise, alphabetically arranged biographical sketches on 1000 people.... Libraries with a need for a broad-reaching biographical resource will find this a beautifully formatted addition."--School Library Journal

"1000 of the most famous people the world has ever known, with a short biography of each illustrating accomplishments, failures, or crimes. Over 500 photographs, drawings, and maps complete the picture, and the alphabetical format and detailed introduction make the layout easy to understand. Kids will enjoy both new and familiar faces...and adults can sneak a peek to indulge a guilty pleasure."--Biography Magazine

"Most enjoyable... This is a great book for browsing and for stimulating interest in people who made a larger than usual contribution to history."--Boston Globe

"An old favorite has been updated for the millennium. From Yasser Arafat to Eleanor Roosevelt to Crazy Horse to Ferdinand Porsche, readers young and old will find fascinating information ready to hand."--Yellow Brick Road

Praise for the original edition:

"Your kids will love the readable style, the colorful illustrations and the references at the end of each entry.... Just a beautifully organized resource for 9-12 year olds"--Teaching K-8

"Pop culture stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson [will] keep kids browsing so that they will encounter the important figures from history attractively presented here."--Booklist

"Just try to pry this splendid traditional research book out of the hands of a curious young reader. The editors should be praised for the breadth of personalities--male and female--as well as the range of cultures included."--USA Today