- published: 28 Feb 2013
- views: 125665
Who's Who (or "Who is Who") is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people. The title is also used as an expression meaning a collection or group of noted persons; as in the sentence, "The actors in the film were a Who's Who of the great American comedians of the time".
The title "Who's Who" is in the public domain, and thousands of Who's Who compilations of varying scope and quality have been published by various authors and publishers. The oldest and best known is the annual British publication Who's Who, a reference work on contemporary prominent people. However, many publications using the title are vanity publications, where the inclusion criterion is the biographee's willingness to buy the book, with the business model consisting of selling books directly to the biographees. These are widely considered to be scams.
Some Who's Who books have a title in the language of the country concerned:
The Danish Kraks Blå Bog (1912)
When we meet again just refer to me as 'Back Then'
Or pretend not to recall ever knowing me at all
Or hanging round my door begging for more
When you begin playing to win
That's when the losers rush in
And I, I got better than you
At jumping the queue
To get closer to seeing who's who
A man without a home is never alone
Well just look at what he's got the whole parking lot
In those unsheltered places there's always other faces
Take mine for a start
It's like a modern work of art
Disturbing and lacking in heart
And I, I got better than you
At jumping the queue
To get closer to seeing who's who
It must be so wonderful being you everyday
Oh it must be so wonderful always gettin' your way
A common dialogue is the best thing that you'll get
From the woman you call your wife so try not to forget
To tear out and burn the things you unlearn
Your future exists in her shopping lists
Please call your office
And I, I got better than you
At jumping the queue
To get closer to seeing who's who
I got better than you