4.46 avg rating — 340 ratings

"Everyone writing in English should consult this now and again, and not just to check words, but for their origins, too."

4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings

"Ditto the Oxford Dictionary, this one for writing American English.

There's a reason they're the two best English dictionaries in existence."

4.21 avg rating — 14 ratings

"Everyone should have a good thesaurus, and know how to use it (ie, not just to find another way to say something). Rogets is the best."

3.78 avg rating — 18 ratings

"Ditto an atlas (or a globe). Again, Rand McNally does the best Atlases out there."

3.79 avg rating — 80 ratings

"This is not a history book, but it does have some mightily convenient lists and a good overview of the broader scope of history, to give you a good starting spot for research."

3.63 avg rating — 52 ratings

"One of the best naming books out there, with non-traditional lists of names (and traditional as well)."

4.21 avg rating — 621 ratings

"This one has names sorted by nationality, including surnames, which are always harder to find lists of."

3.50 avg rating — 40 ratings

"Not just a list, but goes into details on each profession, including specialties and sub-groupings in that profession."

4.29 avg rating — 374 ratings

"Sometimes you don't know what the name of the thing you're looking for is. This is a great way to find it, if it exists. (I really want something like this online...)"

4.28 avg rating — 1,390 ratings

"This one isn't the one I own, but it is the best that I have seen. Always a helpful thing to have around for a random prompt, or a way to start a chapter, or...any number of reasons."

3.69 avg rating — 71 ratings

4.34 avg rating — 781 ratings

4.09 avg rating — 399 ratings

"Not only incredibly helpful for working within a particular pantheon of gods, but also good for story inspiration overall."

4.09 avg rating — 704 ratings

"An excellent resource for any and all Arthurian characters."

4.13 avg rating — 4,240 ratings

"A great way to work out characterization and/or birthdates, both on its own and in conjunction with Chinese astrology, Celtic Tree signs, and/or numerology."

2.62 avg rating — 138 ratings

"Ditto Sun signs above."

3.67 avg rating — 2,202 ratings

"If for no other reason than to NEVER use the Death card to MEAN death."