Title | : | New Concise World Atlas |
Author | : | |
Rating | : | |
ISBN | : | 0195393295 |
ISBN-10 | : | 9780195393293 |
Language | : | English |
Format Type | : | Hardcover |
Number of Pages | : | 288 |
Publication | : | First published September 25, 2003 |
Containing over 100 pages of the most up-to-date topographic and political maps, the New Concise World Atlas, 3e also features a unique overview of the planet's human and natural processes in photographs, accessible text, and thematic maps. Recent changes to the world's geography are thoroughly
captured in this edition, including new national parks in Iceland, Turkey, and South Africa; a groundbreaking rail link joining North and South Korea; and the latest name forms in Somalia. Tribal areas in northwest Pakistan are mapped in greater detail, as are the aboriginal lands of Australia.
Fully updated tables and world statistics provide data on climate, population, area, and physical dimensions that cannot be found in any other single reference source. Finally, an index with over 55,000 items make searching for lesser-known locales quick and easy.
Truly international in scope, created with meticulous care, and reflecting the very latest political developments and census information, Oxford's New Concise World Atlas, 3e achieves the highest standard among international map resources. This engaging and affordable resource is second to none in
the superb quality of its maps, the breadth of its coverage, and its easy-to-use convenience.
New Concise World Atlas Reviews
-
Maps, Maps, and Still More Maps
Oxford University Press does maps. This huge atlas is heavy, and it covers the globe leaving no area invisible. There are large scale, medium scale, and small scale maps for every continent and region of the world in its pages. You have a wide choice of ways to view anywhere on Earth. And, finding your map is very simple. Inside the front and back cover is a visual map showing what pages to turn to for every spot in the world.
In need of a good new up-to-date atlas without too much expense I ended up settling on two good choices that each fill a different niche. This was one of the two I chose. The other was the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World by National Geographic Society.
This atlas has about 200 maps. I was impressed with the close up detailed view of cities, rivers, and major arteries. It also contains satellite images of major metropolitan areas in a brief section at the beginning, along with data tables of climate and area measurements for countries and cities. And, it has detailed indexes for finding any city at the back. But, 98% of the book is maps. This atlas is good for in-depth study. The map pages include elevation and distance charts as well. Anyone who loves geography will be able to get the facts here.
In a nutshell…. you get a deep view of the Earth, the rocks themselves, and ignore the people in this Oxford atlas. In the other atlas, by the National Geographic Society you are getting a wide view of the Earth and its peoples. Both are almost indispensable and have their values. On the topic of value, I opted to scale back to the Third edition of the NGS atlas because it was on sale at Barnes & Noble for only $12.00. The comparable fourth edition was twice the price. The publication dates were 2012 and 2016, but the difference was negligible. In my opinion, with both being hardback copies, the value of the third edition made it a much better choice. This Oxford was $26.00 on Amazon, and a 2015 edition. I am posting a review for the NGS atlas as well for those who want to compare.
My recommendation, based on quality and price for family use would be the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World by National Geographic Society as a first atlas, rather than this one. Then, when and if you or your children are looking for locations that are in smaller scale than these maps provide, add this Oxford atlas for further detailed views of the globe. As great as this atlas is, I don’t recommend you limiting yourself to just this Atlas. Analysis and evaluation are higher order thinking skills than knowledge alone. The Oxford type alone will interest some children immensely, but others will just see facts and may never explore further. The NGS atlas opens up the idea that maps are made to be interpreted, and leads the reader to evaluate and analyze maps. Facts alone are not an education. Either way, maps are a great tool for learning and exploring the world around us. -
HBSV-SW
Placeholder -
Wouldn't say I'm "reading" this so much as constantly referring to it... not just to fill in the huge gaps in my geographic knowledge, but also to check out the sections on population, climate, and politics. Love this atlas!