Priceless for students, great for researchers too

by ryefish on July 31, 2007

This review is for the book, not the CD ROM or any other Bartlett's related electronic media.
If you consider yourself well read, it will not take you long to find out where "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" fails and be somewhat disappointed. If you don't read a lot, and need the book for school or reference, it will probably be adequate.
Certainly no book of quotations can be exhaustive and Bartlett's never claims to be, their are; however, some vital literary idioms that are noticeably missing.
Having covered the book's shortcomings, I cannot point out that as a resource and reference this book can be not only helpful, but indispensable for college students.
"Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" is like the King of the Cliff's Notes research, and just like Cliff's Notes, His Majesty should never be used to replace the material it summarizes. A basic understanding of the context of the book's quotations is far more valuable then the quotes themselves.
REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ! OR AT LEAST REFERENCE REGULARLY.