Certain annual publications remain something to be on the lookout for. Worldwatch Institute's "Vital Signs" is one such. For the uninitiated, the eighth edition in the series tells readers, this time again, in a nutshell what is happening around the world; how good or bad things essentially are. It presents a kaleidoscopic view of a fast-evolving, dynamic world, packed with user-friendly charts and tables, writes Subir Ghosh

Politics and films? Yes. Tracing the roots of Indian cinema since 1896 when India saw its first screening of a film at Watson's hotel, Bombay, by Lumiere cameraman Maurius Sestier, this encyclopaedia weaves with elan the political, social and 'filmy' happenings. Completely revised and updated, the book (this being the second edition), with 400 new entries on films and individuals, is the most comprehensive guide to Indian cinema ever produced, says Subir Ghosh

Amnesty International does not assert that federal, state or local authorities pursue policies deliberately designed to repress particular groups or violate human rights. It probes deeper to affirm that the wide variety of jurisdictions across the country, practices persist which result in real and serious abuses. Some arise from individual misconduct, encouraged by an institutionalised failure to hold officials accountable, points out Subir Ghosh

What must also be done, WHO suggests, is to proactively counter potential threats to health resulting from economic crises, unhealthy environments or risky behaviours. A global commitment to tobacco control, for instance, can potentially avert scores of millions of premature deaths in the next 50 years. Preparing effective responses to emerging infections and countering the spread of resistance to antimicrobials will help insure against the prospect of a significantly increased infectious diseases threat, reviews Subir Ghosh

The race to the moon began with the fall of Germany at the end of World War II as American and Soviet scientists tried to make the best of the remnants of Nazi rocket technology blueprints. The immediate application came in other areas - that of the delivery systems for nuclear weapons that the two Superpowers were contemplating. That the same concept could lead to space exploration too dawned on scientists, writes Subir Ghosh

Featuring page after page of real-life, uncensored instances of the word deemed the most vulgar utterance in the English language, Sheidlower documents the usage of the word from its first appearance in English in the 15^th century to its use in the Starr Report, says Subir Ghosh

The Internet has created a new problem for writers and researchers. Earlier, compiling a bibliography or referencing/indexing material from books, newspapers, magazines and journals always had a set of rules. But how does one do the same for resources and information available on the Internet? Book description

One of the reasons for poor enforcement is seen to be the abounding lack of information and identification aids for frontline enforcement staff. So here is the revised and updated edition of a handy book that should prove useful for personnel in enforcement agencies. A must for environmental journalists and wildlife enthusiasts, writes Subir Ghosh

Unchecked wildlife crimes have prompted many concerned individuals to do their bit to arrest this booming trade. Among the organisaitons that have resulted from as a collective effort is the Wildlife Protection Society of India, formed in 1994 with the specific aim of providing additional support and information to combat the malaise, writes Subir Ghosh