ENCYCLOPEDIA' (7 letters) A general reference book is a type of book that provides information on a variety of topics. It is often used as a source of information for research and general knowledge. Two examples of general reference books are almanacs and encyclopedias. An ALMANAC is a book that contains facts and statistics about a particular year or topic, such as weather, astronomy, or sports. An encyclopedia is a book that contains information on a wide range of topics, usually arranged in alphabetical order.