Written for high school level students and general readers, this five-volume set (and an included, separately bound index) offers accessible information on a broad scope of topics. Two volumes are devoted to biographies, two contain an almanac, and one volume contains primary sources. The cumulative index for the set is contained within a paperbound pamphlet. The almanac consists of chapters summarizing the history, traditions, and world views of 16 religions both ancient and modern as well as an introductory essay on what religion is, and a chapter on agnoticism and atheism. Each of these volumes is indexed and a glossary is provided. Books, periodicals, and web sites are identified as sources of further information; there is no cross-referencing. Biographies of 50 men and women are contained in two volumes, ranging from figures in ancient Egypt (Akhenaten) to current figures (Thich Nhat Hahn, Desmond Tutu). The volume on primary sources contains 18 excerpts from a broad variety of sacred texts, each of them accompanied by thorough explanatory material, including an introduction, study questions, additional facts, and definitions of terms in the text's margin. The texts are grouped according to theme, whether creation stories, characteristics of the divine, or religion as a guide to living. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)