The Top 10 of Everything is a book of definitive, quantifiable Top 10 lists. It is not a book of ”„bests”¦, except those that are measurably bestsellers, while ”„worsts”¦ such as disasters are similarly ranked by cost or the number of victims. All the lists are all-time and global unless a year or territory are stated. Film lists are based on cumulative global earnings, irrespective of production or marketing budgets, and inflation ”V that eternal bugbear of those who compile such lists ”V is not taken into account. Figures for country and city populations are based on the latest available census, with estimates for increases where officially available, while in most instances ”„countries”¦ should be taken as meaning ”„countries, colonies and dependent territories”¦. The only detours from strict Top 10-ism are found in occasional ”„asides”¦, Amazing Fact features on everything from giant squids to extraordinary names, the most-married man to the first airmail letter.
