Leo Tolstoy's epic masterpiece "War and Peace" tops the list of Veronica Velarde Tiller's favorite books.

But it wasn't enough that she was able to lift and read it.

The Jicarilla Apache woman rivaled Tolstoy by creating a book that easily outweighs the Russian novel.

Tiller, president of Tiller Research Inc., led a 20-member research team to create the new, improved and expanded second edition to "Tiller's Guide to Indian Country," a one-stop encyclopedic tool that should grace every library shelf across the country.

The guide ought to be considered a must-have by governmental organizations, reporters, lawyers and anyone else who needs to understand the contemporary state of Indian America.

Tiller provides necessary answers to important questions about Indian Country. I found the book early in my reporting career. It's been at my desk since, remaining on an A-list of reporting resources.

The new, 1,120-page volume has nearly doubled in size since the first edition released nearly a decade ago. It offers more complete profiles of the country's 563 federally recognized tribes.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, described the book as "a valuable tool that will continue, as it has in the past, to dispel myths and to inform those who desire to work with Native people and their governments to achieve the economic renaissance that is the birth right of this nation's First Americans."

The economic renaissance to which Inouye refers helps explain the voluminous nature of the guide book. It requires both hands to lift. Tiller said the tremendous growth of Indian businesses since 1996 - when the book was first introduced - required special attention.

So now, hundreds of business summaries fill its pages, highlighting tribes' economic diversity, including information on employment rates, infrastructure, construction, retail services, tourism, gambling and business corporations.

On the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, one of the most viable businesses within reservation borders is the Lakota Fund, which operates two lending programs for small business development. Nearly 300 tribal citizens have benefited from $1 million in loans.

The book also outlines governmental structures. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon drafted a constitution after federal recognition was restored in 1977. The government consists of a three-tiered system, including a tribal council, general council and eight-member tribal court.

Among the book's new highlights are full-length profiles of the best tribal governance practices to receive awards from Harvard University's Honoring Nations program, administered by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.

It lists all Honoring Nations winners dating to 1999. The Nez Perce received top recognition for reintroducing gray wolves to their natural habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains. The book profile explains how they did it.

The guide includes useful educational information. Which tribe can claim 42 percent of its tribal citizens have bachelor's degrees or higher? The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington, according to Tiller and the 2000 U.S. Census.

Like most must-haves, "Tiller's Guide to Indian Country" comes with a price tag. It costs $199, as does the CD. Both can be had for $250. More information is available at tillerresearch.com.

Tiller - who has been in the research business for 25 years - and her team deserve credit for culling strong tribal support for the final product. Tribal representatives agreed it was important to provide information that helps educate the public about Native cultures in the 21st century.

Once again, Tiller doesn't disappoint.

Each tribal profile also offers a section on culture and history. Anyone interested in Indians should have "Tiller's Guide to Indian Country" as a reference book - anyone who interacts with Indian people needs it.

(Jodi Rave covers Indian issues for Lee Enterprises. She can be reached at 406-523-5299 or jodi.rave@;lee.net.)