ABSTRACT
H O W TO USE TH E DIRECTORY OF REFERENCE BOOKS
OVERVIEW This directory assesses over three hundred reference books that schol ars in religious studies find useful. Al though emphasis falls on works published since 1980, older classics are included, par ticularly French MEGA-ENCYCLOPEDIAS and a few pioneering volumes that retain their appeal. Pivotal works are characterized un der four headings: “Scope,” “Strengths,” “Weaknesses” and “Competitors.” Eng lish-language works of lesser interest are assessed under a single heading, “Cri tique.” All but the most imposing or most accessible French and German works are treated in this briefer fashion. Each entry concludes with a summary. Citations at the head of each entry report on indexes, bib liography and illustrations. Entries are numbered consecutively, and other refer ences to a title carry its entry number. In addition, more than a hundred reference works are cited that do not elicit an entry of their own.
