ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States 2013 National Data Book

A treasure trove of interesting, odd and illuminating statistics is revealed in the 135th edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States. New York Post, December 21, 2012 Patrons in need of serious data on the United States, including nitty-gritty on the lives of its inhabitants, need look no further than Statistical Abstract (ProQuest and Bernan, Jan.), but the book is also a browser's dream, offering a mature alternative for those who've outgrown Guinness Book of World Records and your library's various almanacs. It'll be a welcome addition, too, for patrons tired of the bloviated Internet rhetoric that can't stand up to table after table on such topics as school crime and safety, campaign finances, corporate profits, and immigration... The careful presentation of this work is a joy to behold. Each section of statistics is preceded by an overview describing the sources of the numbers and offering further-reading leads where appropriate; appendixes provide more such detail as well as the happily retro, self-effacing (if statistically standard) "Limitations of the Data." Library Journal, December 2012 Librarians everywhere rejoiced when ProQuest announced its decision to take over publication of a classic source published since 1878, most recently by the Census Bureau. The 2013 print edition adds new tables on "Same Sex Households" (there were 646,464 in 2010), "Obese Children" (18%), "Youth with a Major Depressive Disorder" (8% in 2010), and "Mean Student Loan Debt" ($26,682). A new table, "Leisure Time Use" shows that most people watch too much TV (53% of their free time) as opposed to participating in sports/recreation (7%) or reading (4%). With enhanced indexing, the print edition is easy to navigate and a pleasure to use. Library Journal Best Reference Review, December 2012 "... this is an indispensable purchase for all libraries. Summing Up: Essential." CHOICE, June 2013 ProQuest and Bernan are to be congratulated for continuing to provide librarians and users necessary statistical information. The publishers have succeeded in giving researchers of any age statistics at a reasonable price in print and online. Booklist, April 15, 2013