ABSTRACT
Despite the growing interest in world music, especially in the United States, there are remarkably few books available that give an overview on the entire subject under one cover. The ten volume Garland Encyclopedia of World Music (retail price $2,500) is the leading work in the field, but it is an ethnomusicological treatise, not a popular survey. The incomparable Rough Guide to World Music from England is the most recognized popular work, but it is not designed as a quick reference to be carried around.
