"The Rough Guide to Irish Music" by Geoff Wallis and Sue Wilson is a definitive and concise encyclopedia of (largely traditional) Irish song. With a thorough and informative introduction and extensive entries on singers, groups and notable musical families (not to mention nearly 40 pages on uileann pipers) it's everything you ever wanted to know about Irish music but were afraid to ask. (

599 pages / $12.95 / Penguin)