CliffsNotes (often, incorrectly, CliffNotes) are a series of student study guides available primarily in the United States. The guides present and explain literary and other works in pamphlet form. Endorsors say the guides help readers understand complex works, while detractors say they let students avoid even reading them.

CliffsNotes was started by a Nebraska native named Clifton Hillegass in 1958. He was working in a bookstore when he met the owner of a series of Canadian study guides called Coles Notes, who suggested that Hillegass create an American version. Hillegass started with booklets covering 16 William Shakespeare titles, with the first being Hamlet; CliffsNotes now exist on hundreds of works. The term CliffsNotes has now come into modern usage, as a noun for notes of a similar nature to the original CliffsNotes books.

John Wiley & Sons, a publisher of scientific and technical publications, bought CliffsNotes in 2001 from IDG Books.

Other guides

In addition to study guides for literature, the company produces several other series of guides, including:

• CliffsQuickReview - a quick reference for information on many scholastic subjects, such as algebra, government, and Spanish
• CliffsTestPrep - preparation hints and strategies for several types of tests, including SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and ACT.
• CliffsAP - reviews and preparations for various Advanced Placement Program exams, such as Biology, Chemistry, and English
• CliffsComplete - a study guide for literature that includes the complete text of the work, along with notes for it

See also

• SparkNotes
• BookRags
• York Notes

External links

• CliffsNotes website