Books published by Visible Ink Press

A newly updated and revised edition of this best-selling The Handy Science Answer Book.

Everyone needs to budget money and manage costs, whether for groceries and everyday purchases, rent or mortgage, education, retirement, or even a business. Like it or not, accounting infuses most everything in life. From credits, debits, and basic bookkeeping to getting the most out of tax deductions to creating a business plan to better understanding accounting lingo, The Handy Accounting Answer Book can help anyone with the skills to run a business, plan for retirement, establish everyday budgets or budge for a big purchase, and improve money management acumen. Covering accounting fundamentals, concepts and jargon, this handy primer answers nearly 800 questions on the basics of accounting, including What are the elements of financial statements? How do you know if a company is doing well? What is a journal entry? How is the budget prepared? What is the first things that must be done when starting a small business? What are the key components of a business plan?

Get the most out of reading with this an engaging and fun guide to the deeper meanings in great works of literature!From the epic of Gilgamesh to Aristotle and Cicero, and from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to Wuthering Heights, War and Peace, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the Nobel-winning lyrics of Bob Dylan, the world of literature is an integral part of our lives. Great literature can shape and form thoughts and opinions as well as influence politics and predict the future. Reading can truly enrich our lives, but it can sometimes be daunting to get the most out of a great work of literature.The Handy Literature Answer Book: Understand and Enjoy Meanings, Symbolism, and Signs in Great Works is an engaging, easy-to-read look at literature basics such as themes, symbols, context, and other literary devices. Different literary forms, including novels, poems, plays, short stories, memoirs, and literary nonfiction are analyzed. Hundreds of important stories and great works are used as illustrative examples. Learn about the five basic questions for any work of literature, including "What is the significance of a title?" "What is conflict?" "What is character development?" "What is point of view?" "How does a setting affect a story?" "What are the different schools of literary criticism?" and many more.Bringing the most out of the reading experience, The Handy Literature Answer Book deciphers and analyzes stories, novels, and verses through insightful in-depth answers to nearly 400 common questions. You will also read about such fascinating tidbits as ... What are the key components of literature? How is reading literature different from other kinds of reading? Why is artful reading so hard? What do poems do? How should a poem be read for its comparisons-metaphors and similes? What, according to Poe, should be the method of the short story writer? How do you recognize the difference between story and plot in a short story? How can you recognize a symbol? What are the defining characteristics of the novel? How did the novel evolve from a popular literary entertainment to the modern novel? What is the difference between drama and theater? What is the best way to understand and appreciate Shakespearean drama? What approaches should you take in reading an essay? What are characteristics of a memoir?This handy primer from two highly regarded experts also includes a glossary of essential literary terms, a timeline, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. Making reading more enriching, rewarding, and enjoyable, The Handy Literature Answer Book is a wonderful, eye-opening read!

Featuring more than 600 questions about dinosaurssuch as What dinosaurs are thought to have evolved into birds? Did dinosaurs travel in herds? and Where and what is the Dinosaur Freeway?this fun-filled fact-book provides a wealth of information on the lives and habits of these astonishing creatures. From the Tyrannosaurus rex to the Stegosaurus, the guide profiles numerous species, chronicling their time on earth and exploring their roles in archaeological expeditions and museums today. Delightful and intriguing, this comprehensive record includes the debates still surrounding the origins and fate of these creatures that dominated the earth for millions of years but seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye.

Powerful oratory. Persuasive arguments. Succinct business pitches. Speeches and emails. From cave walls to the printing press, and from Cicero to TED talks, The Handy Communication Answer Book traces the history, explains the concepts, and examines the skills needed to master effective and efficient communication for every occasion. Providing insights and advice, this useful primer looks at how to improve verbal, nonverbal, and written communications.Communication is a subject that fascinates and frustrates people. It varies by context, audience, purpose, and form. From speeches to body language and from legalese and technical writing to how the Internet changed everything, this informative book brings the intricacies of speaking, writing, listening, and reading into focus through its well-researched answers to nearly 800 common communication questions, such as What are some common barriers to communication? How did early radio affect American politics? What was Aristotles influence on rhetoric? How should I deal with a social media troll? How can I stop saying things like um and ah? How can I project authority without being overbearing? How can I better communicate up the corporate ladder? What clichs and common gaffes are easily avoided? Why are Ikea instructions an example of genius?

Whether it's called Beantown, The Olde Towne, Titletown, The Cradle of Liberty, The Athens of America, The Puritan City, The City on a Hill, or any of its other obscure or oft-repeated nicknames, Boston has a long and varied history. Its universities and hospitals lead the nation, and its sports teams, politicians, and colloquialisms continue to captivate. Exploring this citys fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, The Handy Boston Answer Book takes an in-depth look at one of America's oldest major cities.Learn about the citys founding by Puritan settlers, the Boston Massacre, the Great Fire, the opening of the T, the busing desegregation strife, the Big Dig, the local sports fanatics, ethnic enclaves, and the surrounding suburbs, notable sons and daughters, and more are all packed into this comprehensive guide to the city of Boston. Through facts, stats, and history, as well as the unusual and quirky, it answers 1,200 fascinating questions, including What cities and towns comprise the Greater Boston region? What do Samuel Adams, James Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, and Taylor Schilling have in common? Are Tonics and Whoopie Pies available at most Spas? What do the colored lights on top of the old Hancock signal?

California is the country's most populous state. The home of the entertainment industry and silicon valley. It's known for its beaches, its redwood forests, and as the land of fruit and nuts. Its people, industries, politicians, climate, and allure captivates the world and draws millions of visitors each year. Exploring the states fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, The Handy California Answer Book takes an in-depth look look at this fascinating, quirky, and diverse state.Learn about the original Indigenous peoples, the Spanish explorers, the independence from Spain, the secession from Mexico, the Gold Rush, the building of the Los Angeles Aqueducts, the earthquakes, the water shortages, and much, much more. Tour landmarks, learn about famous sons and daughters, the sports teams, and the unique character of the state through a combination of facts, stats, and history, as well as the unusual and quirky. This comprehensive guide to California answers more than 1,100 intriguing questions, including How did Eureka! become the state motto? Why is a grizzly bear on the state flag when no grizzlies exist in California? Was the coast of California ever attacked by pirates? How did Silicon Valley become a center for the high tech industry?

Are we alone or are there intelligent life-forms out there? Or are they already amongst us? Can we even know the Truth? Exploring the myths, stories, history, and facts of documented encounters, mysterious experiences, and unexplained visitors, Real Visitors, Voices from Beyond, and Parallel Dimensions by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger examines the other forms, entities and beings inhabiting our universe.Building on their decades of research into the paranormal, mystical, and supernatural, the Steigers analyze the influences and theories behind these mysterious visitors, whether they appear as aliens, ghosts, spirits, angels, demons, monsters, or some other form. The visitors have been called metaterrestrial, extradimensional, interdimensional, ultraterrestrial, and supraphysical intelligences, but regardless of the label, these inscrutable existences have left their mark on the people they've metand a host of weird, wondrous, and horrifying stories. There are more than 200 thought-provoking stories that make you wonder about the Truth, including stories on UFOs, angels, spirits, ghosts, out-of-body experiences, time-travel, strange energies, dreams, meditation, unidentified terrestrial life forms, and more.Tracing the perplexing and lasting effects of these otherworldly beings, Real Visitors, Voices from Beyond, and Parallel Dimensions exposes their power and reach throughout centuries of legends, myths, and today's world.

Where do we come from? What are the origins of modern civilization? Do the world's pyramids, the Nazca Lines, Easter Island statues, and other enigmatic structures, archaeological wonders, and geographic anomalies contain evidence of ancient gods?Sifting through the historical and archaeological evidence, Ancient Gods: Lost Histories, Hidden Truths, and the Conspiracy of Silence probes the myths, stories, history, and facts of ancient civilizations, lost technologies, past catastrophes, archetypal astronauts, and bygone religions to tease out the truth of our distant past and modern existence. It takes and in-depth look at the facts, fictions, and controversies of our ancestors, origins, who we are as a peopleand who might have come before us. It tackles more than 60 nagging stories of ancient gods, ancestors, alien visitors, theories and explanations, including: Why did our ancestors crawl deep underground and paint on cave walls? How did the megalithic temple site called Gbekli Tepe come to be built11,600 years before the agricultural revolution? How were massive stones, weighing tons, dragged miles to build Stonehenge? Whoand whywere pyramids built on the equatorial band circling the earth? What secrets does modern DNA analysis reveal mankind's heritage? Are we to believe the Ancient Alien Theory? And more!

Going beyond superficial explanations, The Dream Interpretation Dictionary, brings a deep and rich understanding of the meaning behind your dreams.

Wealth, power, and intrigue come together in this in-depth expose on the Illuminati, their history, connections to powerful people, and their place in modern America.

How did colonies, territories, and land purchases shape the United States of America? What differencesand similaritiesare there between the states? What does each state bring to the union? From sea to shining sea, The Handy State-by-State Answer Book: Faces, Places, and Famous Dates for All Fifty States explores the history, growth, politics, people, and more of each of the 50 states. It is a resource for learning about the events and personalities that influenced and affected each state, its history, government, cities, and culture. It is a convenient place to look for state facts and trivia.In addition to the state motto, nickname, and when it entered the union, The Handy State-by-State Answer Book answers intriguing questions about the people, places, and events that lend a unique character to each state's boundaries, government, and places of interest, such as: How important were the Beach Boys to the making of Californias culture? Are the Hawaiians still in charge of their state and its economy? Why was it so easy for the Pilgrims and the Puritans to take over eastern Massachusetts? Who were the first inhabitants of what is now South Dakota? Does it ever stop raining on the Washington coast?

Monsters have been spotted everywhere, not just hiding under a childs bed, lurking in the closet, or springing forth from folkloric tales. Exploring the history, mythology, pop culture, and the world of the supernatural, The Monster Book: Creatures, Beasts, and Fiends of Nature is a comprehensive resource of the monster menagerie from around the world. Examining the lore and legends, as well as the first-person accounts of bizarre freaks of nature and spine-tingling paranormal entities, it details each beast with thorough research, while recounting the facts in an engaging narrative.This fascinating look at monsters investigates nearly 200 beings, beasts, freaks, and fiends, ranging from the renowned and celebrated to the little-known and inglorious, including Werewolves, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, the chupacabra, Mothman, the Abominable Snowman, the Mongolian Death Worm, Living Pterosaurs, Alien Big Cats, Lizard Man, Lake Worth Monster, the Monstrous Monitor, South American Sasquatch, the Jersey Devil, Sea Serpents, Phantom Black Dogs, and much, much more.

Exploring technology and how it made--and continues to change--the modern world! Technology pervades our daily lives and modern society, and not just when it comes to computers and smart phones. Before there was the computer, there was the abacus. Before the smart phone, there was the telegraph and ball point pen. Electricity, penicillin, and the compass have all led to revolutionary changes in how we live. From the relationship between science and technology to the four major branches of engineering to nanotechnology, robots, and predictions for future technology, The Handy Technology Answer Book is an ideal introduction to technology in everyday life. The newsworthy, the practical, the latest and historical, are all detailed in this entertaining and informative book. It brings the vast changes and major innovations into focus through well-researched answers to more than 1,100 common questions on technology, such as ... What are the major time periods of technology? Who is considered to be the first engineer? Which individual was granted the most U.S. patents? Who is the only U.S. president to receive a patent? How do copyrights differ from patents and trademarks? What is the Turing Award? What are the tasks of an operating system? How did the term "glitch" originate? What was the first computer game? What is phishing? What is a Uniform Resource Locator, or URL? How many time zones are there in the world? What is the world population of robots? What is the most destructive non-lethal weapon? Why is mining an important technology? Why are the rare earth elements important? What is "green building"? Who built the Brooklyn Bridge? How are U.S. highways numbered? How popular are electric vehicles in the United States? Why is the right side of a ship called "starboard"? What is the largest aircraft? How long will fossil fuel reserves last? What are the different types of newer, energy-efficient light bulbs? What is the carbon cycle? What products are made from recycled plastic? Who was the first person to receive gene therapy? Can human beings be cloned? What is the future of wearable technology in health care? Providing the facts, stats, science and a little bit of history, The Handy Technology Answer Book answers important questions about the most important inventions, key breakthroughs, and the towering personalities behind them. It spotlights the tallest, smallest, fastest, longest, and the wide range of human firsts and current bests. This informative and fun book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Researching, writing, and citing. Hiring, firing, and selling. Texting, blogging, and posting. Proper grammar and usage for every occasion is explored through nearly 500 answers to common questions on English grammar and language. The first, best place to turn for an overview of English grammar!Whether you are writing a term paper, a scientific article, a résumé, a business email, a text message, or presenting information in the social media, The Handy English Grammar Answer Book is an engaging guide to writing with clarity. It offers fundamental principles, grammar rules, and punctuation advice, as well as insights on writing for different occasions and audiences. From a brief history of the English language to the deconstruction-and explanation-of the different parts of a sentence, and from showing how to punctuate correctly to how to organize a well-argued essay, this easy-to-use reference answers nearly 500 questions and offers fun facts on the English language and its usage, including ...How did language begin?How did English become a language spoken worldwide?What is Middle English?How did Noah Webster affect the English language? What efforts have been made toward reforming spelling?Are there any language universals? What is an adverb?What is a compound sentence?What is a dialect?What is jargon?What is a noun?What is a split infinitive?What is passive voice and when should you avoid it? Why are English words so hard to spell?What is the i-before-e ruleHow do I use commas correctly in sentences?When should I use parentheses?How do I use capitalization on the Internet?When do I use "that" versus "which"?What types of dictionaries are there?How do I find the right level of formality in my writing style?What is a sentence fragment?What is a misused modifier?Should I use its or it's?What is academic writing?What is the difference between primary and secondary research?How do I respect copyright laws?How do I use materials ethically on my own websites?What is plagiarism and how do I avoid it?How do I plan a structure for my term paper?How do I write an outline?How do I avoid writer's block?What is considered good essay form?How do I write business emails?Should I include personal data in a résumé?What is "netiquette"?How do I write an effective blog? For speakers and writers of all ages and skill levels, The Handy English Grammar Answer Book brings you straightforward explanations, tips on avoiding and fixing grammatical mistakes, as well as numerous examples of good writing. This helpful book includes an appendix of model papers, letters, and sample writing for every occasion-from business or social communications to academic papers or Internet forums. Appendices on irregular verbs, idioms, homophones, prepositions, frequently misspelled words, wordy phrases, frequently confused word pairs, and other common mistakes bring a deeper understanding to readers. There is also a glossary of commonly used terms, a bibliography, and an index.

Stick handlers without helmets rushing goaltenders without masks on rinks lacking side boards gives way to a faster game with bigger players and overtime shootouts. The National Hockey League goes from a Canadian and regional sport to one that is watched by more fans throughout North America than ever. Hockey may have changed, but its essence and appeal remain.The Handy Hockey Answer Book, written by hockey historian, broadcaster, author and self-professed Hockey Maven, Stan Fischler, brings the game to life through exciting game action, vital stats, players, rules, and more. It traces the early spread of hockey, Lord Stanley's involvement, and the birth of the cup, then explains the rules, the equipment, strategies, and positioning, before following the ups and downs of the National Hockey League and its teams and players.From the traditions, all-time cup- and award-winners and record-breakers to the modern game,The Handy Hockey Answer Book answers more than 800 questions on the game, greats, goals, and growing popularity of hockey, including Where does hockey come from?What was the Stanley Cup first called?Where did the name Patrick Division come from and why are the Patrick brothers important?When was six-man hockey invented and who was its creator?What is a Zamboni and after whom was it named?What was the Gretzky Rule?How did the hockey puck develop its present shape?Which is the oldest current NHL team?Why is the term Original Six a misnomer?Which Hall of Famer trained on champagne?Who holds the Montreal Canadiens franchise record for career goals?Who centered Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey on Detroits legendary Production Line.Which team was the first to come back from being down 3-0 in a series.Who played right wing on a line with Phil Esposito for the Bruins in the late 60s and 70s?Who was the first European player to lead the league in scoring?What NHL team won and loss the Stanley Cup on the same day?Which hockey player was supposed to be kidnapped as part of a scheme to increase attendance at New York Rangers games?Did an NHL club ever play all its home games of the Stanley Cup finals on the road?A glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading round out this helpful primer on the sport.