Which is the best single volume general encyclopedia?”
Although not on paper, Encarta is definitely the best encyclopedia around. It contains a world of information, relevant pictures/movies where needed, and covers nearly all subjects. Next to that, there is only wikipedia, which is also online, but even more elaborate. Problem with wikipedia is that it is maintained by regular people, and therefore information might be wrong. In practice, this is hardly ever the case, as there is always someone else that will question that information if needed. I wouldn’t know how to recommend a paper encyclopedia, as they are already outdated and incomplete the minute they are printed.
The best one I know is the Columbia Encyclopedia. It was first published in 1935 and is now in its sixth edition. It’s a very handy one-volume reference. It was recommended to me years ago as a student, and it is still highly recommended today. Amazon lists new and used copies, as well as a concise version of this work. You can also access the Columbia Encyclopedia through the website listed below. Here’s some product information from Amazon: From Booklist The single-volume Columbia Encyclopedia was first published in 1935 as a “suitable companion to a good dictionary and atlas” for the general reader, and it still fits that description more than 75 years later. There are nearly 51,000 entries in this new edition, with 1,300 new entries and revisions made to 40 percent of the remainder. The preface states that efforts have been made to expand computer, medical, and science coverage, a
