The  order of things
Subtitle: how everything in the world is organized-- into hierarchies, structures & pecking orders
By: Barbara Ann Kipfer.
Edition: 1st rev. paperback ed.
Publisher: Random House
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 389
Subjects: Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc.; Order -- Miscellanea -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Classification -- Miscellanea -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Miscellanea -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Genres: Miscellanea; Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Description: The Order of Things is the first reference book to capture the human mind's perceptions of the order of its surroundings. Organization - the most basic component of civilization, nature, and the universe - is displayed brilliantly in this romp through the world of reference categories. Almost everything you can think of that represents an underlying order - whether natural or man-made - is included in this book's more than 400 lists, hierarchies, and illustrations.

Whether you want to know which are the world's longest rivers, highest mountains, or largest cities; or would like to find a list of the recycling codes on plastic containers, of the popular names of animal groups, the birthstones for each month of the year, or the dynasties of ancient Egypt and China, The Order of Things is the one reference book to consult.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 377-380) and index.
Table of contents: label: Earth sciences. Atmosphere -- Caves -- Cities -- Climates and climatic zones -- Continents -- Depressions -- Earthquakes -- Earth sciences -- Earth structures -- Elements -- Fossil fuels -- Geography -- Islands -- Minerals and rocks -- Rock cycle -- Mountains -- Nations of the world -- Oceans and seas -- Rivers and lakes -- Soils -- Volcanoes -- Water -- Weather and meteorology --; label: Life sciences. Animals -- Biology -- Human life -- Plants and non-animal classification --; label: Physical sciences. Astronomy -- Chemistry -- Matter -- Physics --; label: Technology. Aeronautics -- Aircraft -- Automobiles -- Boats and navigation -- Communications and telecommunications -- Computers -- Construction -- Electricity and power -- Engineering -- Engines -- Fire and explosives -- Lumber -- Machine operation -- Manufacturing processes -- Paper -- Radio transmission -- Recycling -- Roads and highways -- Television -- Transportation classification -- Trucks -- Weapons --; label: Mathematics & measurement. Ancient measures -- Apothecary measures -- Decibel scale -- Equivalents tables -- Food -- Geometry -- Liquor measures -- Mathematics -- Metric -- Miles -- Numerals -- Speed -- Time -- U.S. measures -- Water weights --; label: Religion. Angels -- Bible -- Buddhism -- Christianity -- Confucianism -- Greek and Roman mythology -- Hinduism -- Islam -- Judaism -- Satan -- Sikhism -- Taoism -- Voodoo -- Witchcraft and wizardry (Wicca) -- World religions --; label: History. Ages and eras -- Australia -- Austria -- Brazil -- Byzantium --Celts -- China -- Civilizations and cultures -- Colombia -- Cuba -- Cyprus -- Czech Republic -- Denmark -- Egypt’s dynasties -- France -- Germany -- Great Britain and United Kingdom -- Greece -- Historical studies -- Hungary -- India -- Iran -- Ireland -- Israel -- Italy -- Japan -- Medieval Europe -- Mexico -- Netherlands -- Norway -- Pre-Colombian civilizations -- Romans, ancient -- Russia -- Spain -- Turkey -- United Nations -- United States -- Vikings –; label: Society & social institutions. Awards -- Castes and classes -- Family -- Government -- Hospitals -- Law -- Linguistics -- Military -- Native Americans -- Organizations -- Psychology -- Schools -- Social studies -- United Nations --; label: Business & economics. Accounting and budgeting -- Banking -- Business meetings -- Business studies -- Communications -- Corporations -- Economics -- Employees -- Factory -- Gold -- Industries -- Insurance -- Investment -- Marketing -- Money : U.S. -- Postal service -- Real estate -- Retail trade -- Tax system of U.S. --; label: The arts. Architecture -- Ballet -- Book publishing -- Colors -- Fine arts -- Literature -- Motion pictures -- Museums -- Music -- Performing arts -- Photography -- Theater -- Visual arts --; label: Domestic life. Birthdays and anniversaries -- Clothes -- Cooking, kitchen and dining -- Cosmetic surgery -- Food and drinks -- Fragrances -- Jewels -- Lights -- Linens -- Mattresses -- Paints -- Photography -- Tools –; label: Sports & recreation. American sports teams -- Archery -- Baseball -- Basketball -- Billiards -- Bowling -- Boxing -- Bullfighting -- Card games -- Chess -- Circus -- Collecting -- Darts -- Equestrian sports -- Football -- Golf -- Ice hockey --Martial arts -- Monopoly -- Motorcar racing -- Motorcycle racing -- Olympic games -- Rugby -- Scrabble -- Soccer -- Sports classifications -- Swimming -- Tennis -- Weightlifting -- Whitewater rafting -- Wrestling -- Yachting –; title: General knowledge & philosophy. Ancient schemes of knowledge -- Eastern / non-western schemes of knowledge -- Medieval schemes of knowledge -- Modern schemes of knowledge.