<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF
INCOME  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000107140
<NAME>                        John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                            MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              APR-30-1997
<CASH>                                         79,116
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  96,354
<ALLOWANCES>                                   34,513
<INVENTORY>                                    49,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              204,135
<PP&E>                                         75,386
<DEPRECIATION>                                 42,687
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                457,944
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         164,352
<BONDS>                                       125,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       20,606
<OTHER-SE>                                    108,377
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  457,944
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              431,974
<CGS>                                         155,245
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 397,177
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              6,225
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                30,853
<INCOME-TAX>                                   10,513
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            20,340
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   20,340
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.24