New Concise World Atlas FROM THE PUBLISHER
Opening with six pages of world statistics and a heavily illustrated thematic section, this atlas provides a broad overview of the planet, placing the human world in the larger context of the universe. In twenty-two compact yet compelling articles, the Earth's human and natural processes are explained through a balanced combination of informative text, instructive charts and graphs, vibrant photographs, and cartography.
The New Concise World Atlas contains up-to-the-minute information the competition lacks, such as recent changes to the Middle East. It also includes new province names and boundaries in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Paraguay and Venezuela. With 128 pages of revised maps at carefully selected scales, every region from the Arctic Ocean to the Volga Basin is rendered in layer-colored contours, revealing detailed political and topographical data about each territory and nation.
Mirroring style changes made to the popular Atlas of the World, page number indicators have been added throughout which, along with refined locator windows, allow for easy identification of adjacent map pages. Historical cross-references have also been added to the already comprehensive 55,000-entry index, so that finding specific places will be effortless no matter which name is most familiar. Topping off this value-filled resource, a "Regions in the News" feature highlights those geographic areas that have struggled with strife and turmoil over the last twelve months. These thematic maps illustrate local ethnic populations and occupied territories, helping to decode some of the issues plaguing our planet today.
With hundreds of dramatic full-color,large-format maps produced by Europe's finest team of cartographers, the New Concise World Atlas will surely be found on the shelf of anyone concerned with the state of the world.
SYNOPSIS
Though smaller than the full-size atlas, this volume (it's still oversize at 10.25x13.5") provides readable maps of the world, with a full index of towns and cities. A fully revised, 47-page introductory section presents essays summarizing current geographical and political issues, with topics that include the universe, the solar system, the Earth's atmosphere, forces of nature, climate and weather, world economics, trade and commerce, and energy and minerals. Tables of statistics are included on countries, cities, climate, and physical dimensions of geographic features. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
This new Oxford atlas is basically a scaled-down, updated version of the splendid, full-size tenth edition of the Atlas of the World. The 128 pages of full-color, computer-generated maps reflect all of the most recent geopolitical changes, including newly independent East Timor, Serbia and Montenegro, and Russia's new provinces, among others, and a special page of maps features current world hot spots, with Iraq replacing former Yugoslavia. The terrain modeling is detailed and dramatic. Twelve world thematic maps with illustrations and text explore topics ranging from demographics and economics to the environment, and the index features 55,000 entries. Not included from the larger edition are most of the full-page satellite photos, the ready-reference gazetteer, the city map section, and geographical coordinates in the index. There are, however, six pages of world statistical tables for countries, cities, climate, and physical dimensions. Overall, this atlas offers excellent value for the price and will permit libraries to have additional copies for reference as well as circulation.-Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-This well-designed, slightly oversized atlas packs in an enormous amount of information. It opens with endpapers that provide a world and European map, a key, and an abbreviated index. The essential one-page "User Guide" discusses graphic aides and the sequential order of the visuals. The six pages of world statistics that follow (countries, cities, climates, physical dimensions, and regions in the news) are straightforward. An added plus is the "Earth in Space" section, a mini-encyclopedia that discusses a range of topics from the beginnings of the universe through the evolution of the natural and human worlds today. Along with essays, this section informs readers with charts, graphs, and diagrams. The impressive photographs also include satellite images. Six sections of detailed but easy-to-read colorful maps constitute the bulk of the book. Each begins with single-page physical and political maps of the region or continent it covers. Those that follow span spreads; some include insets. While not as thorough as the Times Atlas of the World: Comprehensive Edition (Crown, 1999), this up-to-date volume offers solid information on a wealth of topics, clear visuals, and an extensive index to the maps.-Tina Hudak, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Riverdale Park, MD Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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