The AMA Dictionary of Business and Management

July 1, 2013

The more than 6,000 terms defined in this new reference work, compiled by Kurian (president, Encyclopedia Society), cover areas of business such as finance, investments, banking, insurance, economics, marketing, and accounting. Short entries about notable individuals are also provided. Entries generally range in length from one sentence to three paragraphs and are clearly presented and easy to understand. Since this dictionary is recently published, users should expect to see buzzwords that might not have appeared in dictionaries printed before the 2008 housing crisis and resulting recession--these include terms such as CDO, subprime, and quantitative easing. Unfortunately, some equally significant terms, such as underwater mortgage, right to work, cloud computing, and TARP, are missing. Although billed as a comprehensive resource for "professionals, instructors and students," this dictionary will be most useful to readers without a background in business who need introductory information, as many definitions merely skim the surface of very complex subject matter. There is a wealth of similar dictionaries on the market; individuals will want to consider both print-based works such as the American Heritage Dictionary of Business Terms and Oxford Dictionary of Business and Management (both of these resources are close substitutes for the AMA title and are less expensive) as well as online glossaries offered by reputable sources such as the Financial Times and the Washington Post. VERDICT While this is a useful resource for users seeking basic, concise business definitions, many higher-quality alternatives exist both in print and online.--Jennifer Michaelson, Cleveland

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2013
From buzzwords to human resources terms, the authoritative and complete definitions in The AMA Dictionary of Business and Management demystify business and management terminology, making communication more concise and effective. Kurian, a noted encyclopedist, includes longer entries, mini profiles of historical business figures, a pronunciation guide, special sections on usage, and a thesaurus. Other topics covered include management principles, legal terminology, finance, banking, marketing, and much more. With 6,000 key terms, this dictionary is a great resource for instructors, business students, and players in today's business world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)