The Ultimate Guide to Reference Books: 9 You Should Buy to Pretend You Know Everything
Are you tired of being seen as a clueless simpleton by your intellectual elitist friends? Do you want to have a way to look up words without having to use your phone’s dictionary? Fear not, for we have the perfect solution! In this here Content Bash article, we’ll be highlighting the top reference books that every personal library should have. From outdated encyclopedias to irrelevant dictionaries, these books will ensure that you can pretend to know everything without actually having to learn anything. Whether you’re trying to impress a date or just looking for a way to look smarter than your coworkers, these reference books will be invaluable resources for maintaining your image as a know-it-all. Who needs Google! Let’s dive in and discover the nine (9) must-have reference books for your personal library.
1. Are dictionaries obsolete?
Hell no. A good dictionary is an essential reference book that can help you understand the meaning of words, its usage, pronunciation, and more. A great dictionary is the key to communication, precision, education, cultural capital, and of course, intellectual superiority. It’s the book that separates the wheat from the chaff, the elites from the plebs, the smarties from the not-so-smarties. If you want to mildly repel your friends and prove that you’re smarter than a 5th grader that does not own a dictionary then you should buy a dictionary. Some popular options include the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, and the American Heritage Dictionary. Check out our dictionary-buying guide! We like the good ol Oxford paperback Dictionary & Thesaurus but if you have the beaucoup bucks, we encourage you to also check out our guide to the 20-volume OED.
Click on the book cover to buy the Oxford Paperback Dictionary and Thesaurus!
2. What is a thesaurus used for?
A thesaurus is a useful reference book for finding synonyms and antonyms, almost like a reverse dictionary. The most well-known thesaurus is Roget’s Thesaurus. Spend many years of my life thinking it was called Roger’s Thesaurus, but it is actually called Roget’s. Anyway, owning a thesaurus is like having a secret weapon in the arsenal of the intellectual capitalist elitist. It’s like a Swiss Army Knife of language, capable of finding the perfect word to express any shade of meaning you’re looking for, whether you’re trying to impress them or insult them. While the rest of us are stuck using the same old tired words, the elitist who owns their own thesaurus can effortlessly spout out synonyms that leaves all others feeling small and inadequate. Start sharpening your verbal claws and buy a thesaurus today! We recommend the hardcover version of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Thesaurus so its 1,000+ page heft can look good on your cheap bookshelf.
Click on the book cover to buy your very own thesaurus!
3. Are Encyclopedias still a thing?
Yes! For now, at least, thanks to the folks at the World Book. And you should buy the encyclopedia! With your very own encyclopedia all to yourself, you can spout off random facts and trivia at what few dinner parties you’re actually invited to, alienating your fellow guests with your erudition and what you think is worldly wisdom. Eventually you will stop being invited to dinner parties but when you’ve got so many goddam volumes of a big-ass encyclopedia that can substitute for human companionship, who needs friends? Older folks may think of Encyclopedia Britannica as the big wheel in the print encyclopedia game but The World Book Encyclopedia is basically the only traditional regular A-Z general encyclopedia that is still being printed today — and worth every cent of its $1200 retail price tag. There are also other options available if you do not have any money, such as accessing Wikipedia on the internet via the dial-up modem used for the computer at your local library.
Click on the picture of the encyclopedia to purchase your very own set!
4. What is an Atlas?
An atlas is a collection of maps that can be used for reference and navigation, and owning an atlas means you can have these references in your very own house where you live! With an atlas, you can effortlessly locate obscure countries, impress your few friends with your knowledge of world geography, and plan (or fantasize about) your next exotic vacation to a far-off land (if you cannot afford one). Road atlases used to be a lot more common for people who drove in unfamiliar territory a lot but have been replaced by GPS tools but who needs Google Maps when you can have a whole book full of maps to keep in the backseat of your car and clumsily reach for while you’re driving in multi-lane traffic! The National Geographic Atlas of the World is a popular choice that we recommend, but there are also many other atlases available that cover different regions and topics.
Click on the book to buy your very own National Geographic Atlas of the World!
5. What is a Style Guide?
A style guide is a reference book that provides guidelines for writing and formatting. Many big brands and publications — like Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, and The New York Times — have their own style guide they adhere to. Some commonly used style guides include the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, and any good publication — we assure you that Content Bash is not such a publication — has a style guide that they stick to and remain steadfastly loyal to it, like their stance on em dashes, whether the Oxford comma should be used or if you should capitalize the first letter of Internet because you haven’t updated your style guide since 1999. Working freelance writers should probably own like all of them, but if you are a working freelance writer, you probably are only able to afford half of a used one from yesteryear. If you’re feeling flush, tho, feel free to click on the book cover below to buy the latest Associated Press Stylebook!
Click on the book cover to buy the 56th edition of the Associated Press Stylebook!
6. What does an Almanac do?
An almanac is a reference book that provides information on a wide range of topics, including weather, astronomy, sports, and more. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is a well-known example that provides weather forecasts, astronomical information, planting and harvesting schedules, and other useful information for farmers and gardeners. It has been published since 1792 century and is known for its accuracy and reliability in predicting weather patterns. Plus you can impress your friends with your knowledge of obscure facts and trivia (did you know that March 14th is National Pi Day? Of course you did. Every knows that because no one is able to shut up about it every year). Who needs a fortune teller when you have a book full of statistical predictions to set planting your crops to! Buy an almanac today.
Click on the book cover to buy your very own Farmer’s Almanac!
7. What is a Handbook used for?
A handbook is a reference book that provides information on a specific topic or field, providing a wealth of facts and figures and tables and references that specifically apply to boring subjects that only you are interested in, like the MLA Handbook for writers of research papers, The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics for science dorks, and The Handbook of Mathematical Functions for math nerds. From avoiding getting expelled for academic dishonesty to not causing a chemistry catastrophe that blows up your house, handbooks can help you avoid making life-ending mistakes! Typically, these types of books tend to be concise enough to be short and small and easily-carried. Buy a handbook for your relevant respective field(s) and/or interest(s) today!
Click on the book cover to buy the latest MLA Handbook!
8. Is there a dictionary for medical terminology?
There sure is! A medical dictionary is a reference book that provides information on medical terms, conditions, and treatments. Every library should have a medical dictionary because it provides a crucial resource for understanding and communicating about medical conditions and treatments, especially useful when your internet craps out and you cannot access WebMD. Medical terminology can be complex and confusing — even for healthcare professionals who barely passed whatever test they took to become a health professional in the first place — and a medical dictionary can help to demystify these terms and make them more accessible to people who are as not as smart as doctors. A medical dictionary can also be an invaluable tool for patients and their families who are trying to understand a diagnosis or treatment plan. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy is a popular choice.
Click on the book cover to buy your own copy of the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy!
9. Is there a dictionary for legal terminology?
A legal dictionary is a reference book that provides information on legal terms and concepts. Legal terminology can be confusing and technical, and a legal dictionary can help to clarify these terms, especially for non-lawyers who are trying to navigate the legal system or understand legal documents. A legal dictionary can help a small business owner understand the terms of a contract with vendors, or a tenant understand their rights in a rental agreement. Black’s Law Dictionary is a well-known example. Buy it and see for yourself what all the legal people are saying!
Click on the book cover to buy your very own copy of Black’s Law Dictionary!
Final thoughts on buying reference books
In conclusion, having a personal library of reference books is a great way to show off your intellectual superiority over all those peasants who rely on Google for their knowledge. Plus, you’ll finally have something to do with that fancy bookshelf you bought to impress your friends (because, let’s be real, you’re never going to read those classics you bought in a fit of pretentiousness). So stock up on these reference books, put them on your pseudo nice but actually cheap Ikea bookshelf, and bask in the glory of your own self-perceived intelligence. Who needs actual life experiences and nurturing relationships when you have a shelf full of books to substitute for all those things?
Looking for content about literary superstars? Check out our listicles on Ernest Hemingway, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Phillip K. Dick, Virginia Woolf, and Jane Austen!
