Stan Fischler, hockey journalist since 1954 and Lester Patrick Award-winner "for contributions to hockey in the United States," covers the sport’s history, its origins, rules, players, and more! Stick handlers without helmets rushing goaltenders without masks on rinks lacking sideboards gives way to a faster game with bigger players and overtime shootouts. The National Hockey League goes from a Canadian and regional sport to one that is watched by more fans throughout North America than ever. Hockey may have changed, but its essence and appeal remain. The Handy Hockey Answer Book, written by hockey historian, broadcaster, author, and self-professed Hockey Maven, Stan Fischler, brings the game to life through exciting game action, vital stats, players, rules, and more. It traces the early spread of hockey, Lord Stanley's involvement, and the birth of the cup, then explains the rules, the equipment, strategies, and positioning, before following the ups and downs of the National Hockey League and its teams and players. From the traditions, all-time cup- and award-winners and record-breakers to the modern game, The Handy Hockey Answer Book answers more than 800 questions on the game, greats, goals, and growing popularity of hockey, including ... Where does hockey come from? What was the Stanley Cup first called? Where did the name “Patrick Division” come from and why are the Patrick brothers important? When was six-man hockey invented and who was its creator? What is a “Zamboni” and after whom was it named? What was the Gretzky Rule? How did the hockey puck develop its present shape? Which is the oldest current NHL team? Why is the term “Original Six” a misnomer? Which Hall of Famer trained on champagne? Who holds the Montreal Canadien’s franchise record for career goals? Who centered Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey on Detroit’s legendary “Production Line.” Which team was the first to come back from being down 3-0 in a series. Who played right wing on a line with Phil Esposito for the Bruins in the late 60s and 70s? Who was the first European player to lead the league in scoring? What NHL team won and lost the Stanley Cup on the same day? Which hockey player was supposed to be “kidnapped” as part of a scheme to increase attendance at New York Rangers games? Did an NHL club ever play all its “home” games of the Stanley Cup finals on the road? Starting with a Middle Ages game resembling ice golf to the NHL's Original Six to the modern high school, college, and professional games, this is a clear, concise, and illuminating primer to the game of hockey! A glossary of terms and a bibliography for further reading round out this helpful primer on the sport.

Technology pervades our daily lives and modern society, and not just when it comes to computers and smart phones. Before there was the computer, there was the abacus. Before the smart phone, there was the telegraph and ball point pen. Electricity, penicillin, and the compass have all led to revolutionary changes in how we live. The Handy Technology Answer Book explains how technology has revolutionized the way people live, work, and play. It covers a broad range of fields, including medicine, mining, buildings, transportation, the military, and agriculture, and how they have been changed by technology. From the relationship between science and technology to nanotechnology, robots, and predictions for future technology, The Handy Technology Answer Book presents the latest and historical in an engaging and informative format. It brings well-researched answers to more than 1,100 common questions on technology, such as What are the major time periods of technology? Who is considered to be the first engineer? Which individual was granted the most U.S. patents? What is a Uniform Resource Locator, or URL? What products are made from recycled plastic? Can human beings be cloned? What is the future of wearable technology in health care?

An informative, easy-to-use guide to accounting fundamentals and concepts Everyone needs to budget money and manage costs, whether for groceries and everyday purchases, rent or mortgage, education, retirement, or even a business. Like it or not, accounting infuses most everything in life. From credits, debits, and basic bookkeeping to getting the most out of tax deductions and from reading or creating a business’ financial statement to better understanding accounting lingo, The Handy Accounting Answer Book can help anyone acquire the skills to start or run a business, plan for retirement, set money aside for a big purchase, establish everyday budgets, and improve their money management. Find out about the concepts and assumptions behind the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Understand tax returns and maximize write-off. Manage retirement account statements and find ways to improve their results. Learn how to create a business plan. Learn about a business’ financial ratios, cost of goods, depreciation, tax planning, recognizing revenue and expenses, financial audits, year-end closing the books, and other terms and rules. Maximize profits and improve personal or business bottom lines. Covering accounting fundamentals, concepts, and jargon, The Handy Accounting Answer Book is for everyone who wants to understand the language of money and business. It uses basic terms and simple examples to illustrate complex accounting topics and can help you make better decisions about your business or personal finances. This handy primer answers nearly 800 questions and offers fun facts covering the basics of accounting, including ... What is the earliest known form of accounting? What are the elements of financial statements? When is revenue recognized? What is accrual basis accounting? How does an accountant determine which asset account titles to use? What is goodwill? How many different types of financial statements are there? What is the basic accounting equation? How is operating income different from net income? How do you know if a company is doing well? What is the quick ratio? How is earnings per share evaluated? What is a journal entry? What is a purchase order? What is the fraud triangle? How is depreciation expense calculated and recorded? What is a franchise? What are the employer payroll taxes? What is indirect labor? How is a budget prepared? What is a revenue variance? What is contribution margin? What is the time value of money? What is one of the first things that must be done when starting a small business? What are some of the key components of a business plan? Can a business be successful if it doesn’t make a profit? What is a CPA? What happened at Enron? For anyone planning for a business, retirement, college, or life in general, this informative book also includes a glossary of commonly used terms to cut through the jargon, a helpful bibliography, appendices providing examples of accountancy practices, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. It will help anyone’s financial intelligence!

Two established science writers and researchers distill and present the latest and most important information on anatomy and physiology in an easy-to-use, question-and-answer approach. We all have one. The human body. But do we really know all of its parts and how they work? The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is the key to unlocking this door to a wondrous world. Learn how the body heals wounds. Untangle the mysteries of eyesight. Discover how cells organize themselves into organs and other tissues. From the violent battleground that is the immune system to the hundreds of miles of muscle fibers, nerves, veins, and arteries that fill our bodies, the human is a miracle waiting to be explored. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book covers all the major body systems: integumentary (skin, hair, etc.), skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive, and, for good measure, adds chapters on growth and development and how science can help and augment the body. It follows the fascinating maze of organ systems and shows how much the body does routinely just to let you move, breathe, eat, and fight off disease. Fascinating trivia, along with serious facts, combine to answer over 1,200 questions about the human body, including … Who were Hippocrates and Galen? What is Gray’s Anatomy? Do all animals need oxygen? What are the largest, smallest, and longest cells in the human body? What is the average lifespan of various cells in the human body? Does exercise increase the number of muscle cells? What is phantom limb pain? Should ear wax be removed? What does it mean to have 20/20 vision? Do identical twins have the same fingerprints? Do the hair and nails continue to grow after death? How strong is bone? Which is the only bone that does not touch another bone? What does it mean when someone is “double-jointed”? How many muscles does it take to produce a smile versus a frown? What are tendons? What is Botox? What is the effect of aging on the muscular system? What are the functions of the nervous system? What are the causes of epilepsy? How large is the brain? What is a concussion? What are the seven warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease? What is a reflex? How much sleep does an individual need? How are hormones classified? What is the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes? Do males have estrogen and females have testosterone in their respective systems? Why is blood sticky? How does exercise affect the heart? Why does blood in the veins look blue? What is an autoimmune disease? What are “swollen glands”? Why is it difficult to treat viral infections with medications? What was the earliest known vaccination? What’s the difference between an intolerance and an allergy? What is the Adam’s apple? Why is it more difficult to breathe at high altitudes? How much force does a human bite generate? Does the stomach have a memory? What is “gluten intolerance”? What are the causes of obesity? What percent of a person’s intake of water comes from drinking water? Is urine always yellow in color? What are the phases of the reproductive cycle? How do the terms zygote, embryo, and fetus differ? How does fetal blood differ form adult blood? How are PET scans used to detect and treat cancer? When was the first successful pacemaker invented? What is an artificial joint? Can humans use organs from other animals for transplants? A glossary and index are included, along with nearly 120 color illustrations, detailed medical charts and photographs help supplement the text. This handy reference helps make the language of anatomy—as well as physiology and pathology—more understandable and less intimidating. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is an engaging look at the topic, the historic development of the science, the personalities behind the research, and the latest controversies and scientific advancements.

The world, its people, its countries, its history, the maps, and more! Geography is more than just maps and finding your destination. It is about the land, the people on that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdependence upon it, despite the miracles of technology and grocery stores. It’s about the effects of nature on places and people, as well as how politics, borders, cities, and towns affect our lives. The Handy Geography Answer Book traces the history of geography from Eratosthenes and Alexander von Humboldt to latitude and longitude, folding maps, and the latest advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides insights into economic, social, historic, culture, religious, political, and climate geography, plus oceanography, demographics, and more. Completely revised and updated, The Handy Geography Answer Book tours the world, its natural features, and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet. It answers 1,200 questions on today’s world, from the trivia (longest, hottest, tallest) to how geography has influenced history, religion, architecture, and the location of cities. You’ll learn answers to such questions as . . . Why is every two-dimensional map distorted? What new epoch has recently been proposed by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen? Who first had the idea that there is a magnetic North Pole? What is interesting about Google’s “Streetview”? How does GPS work? When will we run out of oil? How many people are projected to live on the planet in 2050? What are the largest metropolitan areas in the United States? How many miles of paved road are there in the United States? Which state has the highest annual divorce rate? What are the largest and smallest counties in the United States? What’s the difference between England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom? How is China changing our map of the world? What is ISIS/ISIL? Of all 54 countries in Africa, which ones were never colonized? Who owns Antarctica? Numerous maps, photos, and illustrations bring the text to life. With an appendix detailing the history, people, government, economy, climate, geography, and other statistics for each of the more than 250 countries of the world, this is the ideal resource for anyone interested in learning about our planet. The Handy Geography Answer Book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Get the most out of reading with this an engaging and fun guide to the deeper meanings in great works of literature! From the epic of Gilgamesh to Aristotle and Cicero, and from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to Wuthering Heights, War and Peace, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the Nobel-winning lyrics of Bob Dylan, the world of literature is an integral part of our lives. Great literature can shape and form thoughts and opinions as well as influence politics and predict the future. Reading can truly enrich our lives, but it can sometimes be daunting to get the most out of a great work of literature. The Handy Literature Answer Book: Understand and Enjoy Meanings, Symbolism, and Signs in Great Works is an engaging, easy-to-read look at literature basics such as themes, symbols, context, and other literary devices. Different literary forms, including novels, poems, plays, short stories, memoirs, and literary nonfiction are analyzed. Hundreds of important stories and great works are used as illustrative examples. Learn about the five basic questions for any work of literature, including “What is the significance of a title?” “What is conflict?” “What is character development?” “What is point of view?” “How does a setting affect a story?” “What are the different schools of literary criticism?” and many more. Bringing the most out of the reading experience, The Handy Literature Answer Book deciphers and analyzes stories, novels, and verses through insightful in-depth answers to nearly 400 common questions. You will also read about such fascinating tidbits as ... What are the key components of literature? How is reading literature different from other kinds of reading? Why is artful reading so hard? What do poems do? How should a poem be read for its comparisons—metaphors and similes? What, according to Poe, should be the method of the short story writer? How do you recognize the difference between story and plot in a short story? How can you recognize a symbol? What are the defining characteristics of the novel? How did the novel evolve from a popular literary entertainment to the modern novel? What is the difference between drama and theater? What is the best way to understand and appreciate Shakespearean drama? What approaches should you take in reading an essay? What are characteristics of a memoir? This handy primer from two highly regarded experts also includes a glossary of essential literary terms, a timeline, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. Making reading more enriching, rewarding, and enjoyable, The Handy Literature Answer Book is a wonderful, eye-opening read!

Boston. Bahston. A wicked good look at the city of Boston, it’s people, history, culture, and surrounding neighborhoods. Whether it's called Beantown, The Olde Towne, Titletown, The Cradle of Liberty, The Athens of America, The Puritan City, The City on a Hill, or any of its other obscure or oft-repeated nicknames, Boston has a long and varied history. Its universities and hospitals lead the nation, and its sports teams, politicians, and colloquialisms continue to captivate. Exploring this city’s fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, The Handy Boston Answer Book takes an in-depth look at one of America's oldest major cities. Learn about the city’s founding by Puritan settlers, the Boston Massacre, the Great Fire, the opening of the T, the busing desegregation strife, the Big Dig, and much, much more. Tour landmarks from Faneuil Hall to Fenway Park to the United States' first public school, Boston Latin School, and important institutions such as Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. Sports (and the local sports fanatics) are illuminated (and explained). Popular neighborhoods, ethnic enclaves, and the surrounding suburbs are canvassed. The government, notable sons and daughters, parks, and cultural institutions are all packed into this comprehensive guide to the city of Boston. Find answers to 1,200 questions, including: What was the Boston revolt of 1689? Who dramatized Paul Revere's Midnight Ride? How did the Embargo Act of 1807 affect Boston? How did Protestant and Yankee Boston become the multi-ethnic metropolis of today? When did Boston's Great Fire occur? How much of the city's land was reclaimed by filling in marshes, mud flats, and gaps between wharves along the waterfront? What cities and towns comprise the “Greater Boston” region? How many college students reside in Boston? Why is the Boston Marathon always run on the third Monday of April? Who ran the Boston Marathon the most times? Were the baseball players always called the Red Sox? Why did Boston get the "Athens of America" nickname? What's “The T”? What's “The Pike”? Who designed Boston’s “Emerald Necklace”? Who was Boston's longest-serving mayor? Are “Tonics” and “Whoopie Pies” available at most “Spas”? What do the colored lights on top of the old Hancock building say about the weather? What do Samuel Adams, James Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, and Taylor Schilling have in common? A convenient place to go to look up the basic—and fun—facts about Boston, its history and culture, The Handy Boston Answer Book illustrates the unique character of the city through a combination of facts, stats, and stories, as well as the unusual and quirky. This informative book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.