Synopses & Reviews
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe,
The CIA World Factbook 2008 offers complete and up-to-date information on the worlds nations. This all-inclusive reference guide has been updated for 2008 with detailed information on politics, populations, military expenditures, economics, and much more. It includes:
- Useful maps with new geopolitical data
- Details on prominent political parties, and contact information for diplomatic consultation
- A full description of the population of each country, with information on literacy rates, HIV prevalence, and age structure
- A complete economic overview, from household income to gross domestic product
- Information on transportation and communication infrastructure.
- New data on military expenditures and capabilities
- User-friendly headings, sub-headings, an index, and a list of physical coordinates of major places for easy reading
There are also appendices offering useful abbreviations, a list of international organizations and groups, international environmental agreements, the conversion of weights and measures, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials, this amazingly useful reference guide is a must for every student, traveler, journalist, and businessperson.
Review
"There are great trivia nuggets amid the very detailed country-by-country reports." Al Kamen
Synopsis
Chock full of up-to-date coverage of countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, this fascinating reference—intended for use by government officials—should be on the shelf of every school, world traveler, and journalist. For each country, you’ll find: a thorough introduction with historical background; detailed geographical facts, including current environmental issues; and a full description of the people, with information on literacy rates, HIV prevalence, and major infectious diseases. There are also details on conventional political parties, contact information for diplomatic representation, and the nation’s economic status, complete with statistics. A synopsis of transnational issues includes narcotic-related corruption. Along with multiple appendices, this attractive book features pages of beautiful, recently-updated maps, and three high quality fold-out posters.
Synopsis
A country-by-country guide to the world--the product of years of CIA intelligence.
About the Author
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), established in 1947, is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior United States policymakers.