The Busy Man's Hand-Book

Historical, geographical, scriptural, scientific, legal, social, mercantile and medical information, condensed into one volume for someone with no time to look further.

Table of Contents

Introductory

The book's own preface

General Index

The book's own index, as printed

Chapter I — The Antediluvian World

The Antediluvian World.

Chapter II — From the Deluge, to the Settlement of the Jews in Canaan

Chapter III — The Fabulous and Heroic Ages, to the Institution of the Olympic Games

The Fabulous and Heroic Ages, to the Institution of the Olympic Games. We have already spoken, in the Introductory Remarks, of the…

Chapter IV — From the Institution of the Olympic Games to the Death of Cyrus

Chapter V — From the Erection of the Persian Empire, to the Division of the Grecian Empire after the Death of Alexander

3 pages

Chapter VI — From the Wars of Rome and Carthage, to the Birth of Christ

2 pages

Chapter VII — From the Beginning of the Christian Era, to the Appearance of Mahomet

2 pages

Chapter VIII — From the Rise of Mahomet, to the Commencement of the Crusades

2 pages

Chapter IX — From the First Crusade to the death of Saladin

3 pages

Chapter X — From the Death of Saladin to the End of the Crusades

2 pages

Chapter XI — From the Time of Genghis Khan, to that of Tamerlane

Chapter XII — From the time of Tamerlane, to the Sixteenth Century

Chapter XIII — The Reformation, and Progress of Events During the Sixteenth Century

3 pages

Chapter XIV — From the Commencement of the Seventeenth Century, to the Peace of Westphalia

3 pages

Chapter XV — From the Civil War in England, to the Peace of Ryswick

3 pages

Chapter XVI — Commencement of the Eighteenth Century, to the Peace of Utrecht

5 pages

Chapter XVII — The Age of Charles XII

5 pages

Chapter XVIII — The Affairs of Europe, from the Establishment of the Hanoverian Succession in England, to the year 1740

2 pages

Chapter XIX — From the Accession of the Empress Theresa, of Austria, to the Peace of Aix-la- Chapelle

5 pages

Chapter XX — Progress of events during the Seven Years War in Europe, America, and the East Indies

4 pages

Chapter XXI — From the Conclusion of the Seven Years' War, to the Final Partition of Poland

2 pages

Chapter XXII — From the Commencement of the American War, to the Recognition of the Independence of the United States

3 pages

Chapter XXIII — From the Commencement of the French Revolution, to the Death of Robespierre

3 pages

Chapter XXIV — From the Establishment of the French Directory, to the Peace of Amiens

3 pages

Chapter XXV — From the Recommencement of Hostilities to the Treaty of Tilsit

Chapter XXVI — The French Invasion of Spain and subsequent Peninsular War

The French Invasion of Spain and subsequent Peninsular War. WHAT open force could not effect was carried by intrigue and treachery…

Chapter XXVII — From the Invasion of Russia by the French, to the Restoration of the Bourbons

2 pages

Chapter XXVIII — From the Return of Bonaparte from Elba, to the general Peace

6 pages

Outlines of General History

7 pages

Chronological Table

Outline History of America

Battles of the Civil War

Inventions and Discoveries

The Bible

Matters of Religious Interest

Time

The Weather

3 pages

The Sciences

Geographical Statistics

5 pages

Countries of the World

Busy Man's Hand-Book

4 pages

Current Coinage of the World

3 pages

Miscellaneous Measures

Moneys of the World

Terms Used in Trade and Finance

English. German. Dutch. Italian. Spanish.

Punctuation

4 pages

Synonyms and Antonyms

Forms of Address

Law for Everybody

Book-Keeping

The Electric Calculator

7 pages

How to Conduct a Debate

How to Write Letters

What to Do Till the Doctor Comes

Miscellaneous

Rights & ReuseThe complete text of The Busy Man's Hand-Book (1892) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.