[1] The idea that inspired the creators of the almanac was to find a new form of rapid transmission of information.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Gottfried Bermann Fischer, publisher, and Gustav Fochler-Hauke, editor, developed a product that became a bestseller in the German market, reaching, in the first edition print run, about 100 thousand copies, although it is distributed in only 89 then-existing sovereign states.
Over 50% of the content is devoted to the 195 countries of the world, including facts, figures, and other basic information (language, GDP, the currency structure of the country, society, state, government, political parties and the economy), and a chronicle of the events of the previous year.
The publication contains a chronicle of events of the past year, discussed the major themes of the world, including economic and financial crisis, sea piracy, armed conflicts.
It discusses fifty almanac edition, important events in the development of the world, and significant figures in the period 1960 to 2009.