It’s commonplace for authors to write revised editions of their books. But book reviewers are not supposed to serve up revised editions of their reviews. The former are billed as new and improved; the latter seem nothing more than warmed-up fare. The problem is that sometimes it’s difficult to start from scratch when reviewing a book that, while completely new, is also identical in structure. Such is the case with the 2013 edition of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Guide. So, with apologies, herewith a revised edition of last year’s review.
This is a very big paperback—8 ½” x 11”, more than 1000 pages, and weighing in at about 4.5 lbs. With so much information available online, why would anyone need this book? I can think of several compelling reasons.
First, a personal preference: I enjoy flipping through pages, making serendipitous discoveries. (The one downside this year: thanks to UPS, the bottom of the book got wet, so the pages don’t exactly flip.) I don’t have the same kind of experience online since I normally am looking for something specific, not just seeing what comes my way. (more…)