Gr 9 Up-These titles are visually attractive, with color photos and clear print. However, the content leaves much to be desired. The authors emphasize history and doctrine to the exclusion of practical, everyday religion. There is little to nothing on rites of passage, places and types of worship, and feasts and festivals, while statistics and other concrete data are noticeably absent. The books also lack maps, a serious deficiency given the importance of cities, regions, and countries in the historical chapters. Many key terms are missing from the glossaries; difficult, undefined vocabulary is used throughout; and the indexes are incomplete. Overall, the volumes are vague and unbalanced. Matthew Gordon's Islam and Madhu Bazaz Wangu's Buddhism and Hinduism (all Facts On File, 2006) are far more thorough, useful, and relevant. Charles Clark's Islam, Patricia D. Netzley's Buddhism, and Thomas Streissguth's Hinduism (all Gale, 2002) are also acceptable.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.