Best Reference Books

1
The Oxford English Dictionary
by J.A.H. Murray
1,788 members
31 reviews
4.8
12 Members
Edward, hailelib, WalkerMedia, anglemark, DaynaRT, eromsted, _Zoe_, foggidawn, keristars, Helcura, abbottthomas, aulsmith
2
Roget's International Thesaurus
by Peter Mark Roget
3,944 members
31 reviews
½ 4.3
7 Members
hailelib, lilithcat, WalkerMedia, anglemark, kageeh, mkjones, aulsmith
3
The Elements of Style
by William Jr. Strunk
20,617 members
195 reviews
4.1
5 Members
hailelib, SqueakyChu, kageeh, foggidawn, AnnaClaire,keristars
4
The Encyclopedia Britannica 11th Edition
by Encyclopedia Britannica
184 members
9 reviews
½ 4.6
5 Members
hailelib, lilithcat, kageeh, Mr.Durick, aulsmith
5
Gray's Anatomy
by Henry Gray
3,224 members
13 reviews
4
4 Members
kageeh, Helcura, norabelle414, bryanjstephenson
6
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (Early editions)
by Chemical Rubber Company.
1,252 members
2 reviews
½ 4.4
4 Members
hailelib, WalkerMedia, mkjones, TimStump
8
The Oxford Classical Dictionary
by Simon Hornblower
1,058 members
9 reviews
½ 4.7
3 Members
Edward, hailelib, meghan-ellice
10
Dictionary of American Regional English
by Frederic Gomes Cassidy
50 members
1 review
4.8
3 Members
ABVR, WalkerMedia, DaynaRT
11
The Art of Computer Programming, Volumes 1-3 Boxed Set
by Donald E. Knuth
488 members
6 reviews
½ 4.6
3 Members
hailelib, Noisy, mkjones
12
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians [20-volume set]
by Stanley Sadie
229 members
3 reviews
4.9
3 Members
hailelib, Mr.Durick, aulsmith
13
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology (20 Volume Set)
by McGraw Hill
153 members
1 review
2.8
3 Members
aulsmith, TimStump, meghan-ellice
14
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
by Merck
101 members
1 review
4
3 Members
kageeh, Helcura, aulsmith
15
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011
by Sarah Janssen
128 members
2 reviews
4.1
3 Members
hailelib, WalkerMedia, aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith: Well, for whatever year it happens to be.
16
How to Cook Everything: The Basics
by Mark Bittman
657 members
4 reviews
4.1
2 Members
AnnaClaire, Jeffalot
17
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
by Random House Publishing
695 members
3 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
Bretzky1, meghan-ellice
19
Physics handbook for science and engineering
by Carl Nordling
37 members
½ 3.5
2 Members
andejons, TimStump
20
Mathematics handbook for science and engineering
by Lennart Råde
107 members
½ 3.6
2 Members
andejons, TimStump
21
The Chambers Dictionary
by Editors of Chambers
433 members
5 reviews
½ 4.5
2 Members
Edward, Noisy
22
Africana, the Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience
by Kwame Anthony Appiah
154 members
1 review
4.8
2 Members
eromsted, Mr.Durick
23
CRC standard mathematical tables
by William H. Beyer
875 members
6 reviews
4
2 Members
mkjones, TimStump
24
Oxford Dictionary Of Quotations - Third Edition
by Oxford University Press
1,026 members
5 reviews
4
2 Members
abbottthomas, meghan-ellice
25
A Writer's Companion
by Louis D. Rubin, Jr.
111 members
½ 3.7
2 Members
Bretzky1, meghan-ellice
26
Time-Life Books Complete Fix-It-Yourself Manual
by Time-Life Books
193 members
1 review
3.9
2 Members
WalkerMedia, aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith: Mostly I use this to convince myself to call a professional.
27
The Cambridge Ancient History 14 Volume Set in 19 Hardback Parts
by I. E. S. Edwards
21 members
2 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
eromsted, meghan-ellice
28
The New Grove Dictionary of Opera
by Stanley Sadie
68 members
2 reviews
½ 4.7
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice
29
The Anchor Bible Dictionary [6-volume set]
by David Noel Freedman
417 members
4 reviews
½ 4.7
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice
30
Webster's Third New International Dictionary
by Philip Babcock Gove
810 members
3 reviews
½ 4.7
3 Members
kageeh, Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice,Noisy ,aulsmith
Explanations
aulsmith : Hasn't been updated since before you had a computer on your desk.
31
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable
by E. Cobham Brewer
3,109 members
28 reviews
4.2
Member
abbottthomas
32
The Reader’s Encyclopedia
by William Rose Benét
1,820 members
20 reviews
½ 4.3
Member
bluepiano
33
Svenska akademiens ordlista över svenska språket
276 members
3.8
Member
andejons
34
Black's Law Dictionary {complete-generic}
by Henry Campbell Black
145 members
1 review
½ 4.5
Member
Bretzky1
35
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
by Robert Masters
1,805 members
7 reviews
½ 3.5
Member
Bretzky1
36
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns
by Barbara G. Walker
1,521 members
9 reviews
½ 4.7
Member
AnnaClaire
37
The Times Atlas of World History
by Geoffrey Barraclough
835 members
3 reviews
4.1
Member
bluepiano
38
Encyclopedia of the American Left
by Mari Jo Buhle
107 members
½ 4.4
Member
eromsted
39
The Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary
by Marie-Helene Corréard
380 members
½ 4.5
Member
AnnaClaire
40
The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation
by Peter France
70 members
½ 4.5
Member
Edward
41
Le Petit Larousse Illustre 2009
by Collective
17 members
3
Member
Mr.Durick
42
Puritanism and Liberty
by A. S. P. Woodhouse
55 members
4
Member
eromsted
43
The Chicago Manual of Style
by University of Chicago Press Staff
6,522 members
34 reviews
½ 4.4
Member
kageeh
44
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
by Houghton Mifflin Company
3,189 members
27 reviews
½ 4.3
2 Members
Mr.Durick, meghan-ellice,Noisy ,aulsmith
45
Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary: (Book only)
by Dictionary
21 members
½ 4.5
Member
aulsmith,Noisy
Explanations
aulsmith: This was generally considered the most up-to-date dictionary up through the early years of the 21st century, but I think it's getting behind now too. But not as behind as Websters.