Nicholas (The Beginner's Guide to Opera, Crescent, 1994) draws on his background in broadcasting and music journalism for this popular treatment of 500 composers and their works. Major composers (e.g., Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms) receive several pages of coverage, while lesser figures appear in brief articles or in just a line or two in the chronologies. The chronologies provide useful timelines for music and for composers from around A.D. 1000 to the present decade and include links to contemporary, historical, and cultural events. Even though intended as a listening guide, specific recordings are seldom mentioned. Instead, Nicholas provides entertaining, concise, and knowledgeable descriptions and recommendations for many of the works often heard in performance and on radio. With its clear organization and fine index, the book is ideal for browsing.