Goode's World Atlas

by J. Paul Goode

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0528831259
• ISBN13: 9780528831256
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Rand McNally
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 3.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

What more could you ask for on paper?

The only resources I have found to be better than my Goode's World Atlas are electronic resources that are specialized (Nasa World Winds is my favorite). The maps and tables in Goode's are handy references for many different needs. The paper and ink make for a visually appealing image, and the size makes details easy to see. I have used this atlas for several university classes, many personal inquisitions, and I even use it to teach my children about the rock they live on.

Lifelong reference book

This atlas is the standard for Geography 101 in campuses across the country. It sets the standard because it is affordable and extremely useful in geographic exercises. In truth, it is primarily a North American atlas, but that is because it is written for and marketed to North Americans. There are still more than enough maps of other world regions to assist you in Geography 101 or to assist you in monitoring the world news. Granted, an intense study of total world geography would require an additional atlas. That said, I purchased this atlas for a geography course in which it was instrumental. Since then, I have used it in more advanced geography courses and in my daily life. While I would prefer it to be printed in a bit larger format, this size is more affordable to students. I will keep this atlas to assist in lifelong learning.

As Goode as They Get

When my father began work at the University of Michigan in 1932 toward a PhD in geography, he bought a copy of the then-new _Goode's_, the standard of geographers then as now. As the years went on he bought successive editions, giving me his old copies. I still have the first of these, a "revised and enlarged" edition of 1933. I grew up with maps. I remain fascinated with them and use them (and create them) constantly in my work. That old _Goode's_ is one of dozens of atlases on my shelves, and one of eight editions of this title that I have owned. The newer editions of it are the atlases I refer to most frequently. When I need more detail I try the massive and wonderful _Times World Atlas_, or turn to various geographic software packages I own. But nine times in ten I quickly find what I need, clearly and attractively presented, in _Goode's_. When I must travel to do my work and can take only one atlas, it is _Goode's_. Despite its compact and handy size, _Goode's_ does not compromise on coverage and detail. In fact, it is better on both counts than the great majority of "coffee-table" atlases. The key to this is that _Goode's_ is a just-the-fact atlas. There are no pictures, the text is brief and to the point. Fundamentally this is a map book. Color, shading, and standardized symbols are used effectively convey information. The density of presentation is chosen judiciously, packing as much information as possible in each map without making it necessary to squint through a magnifier. The gazetteer is excellent and comprehensive for an atlas of this size. Introductory material includes a nice introduction to cartography and map projections. There is a superb section of global thematic maps, analyzing many particular features of the physical and social landscape, and specialized thematic maps for each major region of the globe. This is an atlas with everything that is necessary and nothing that is not. No other atlas can come close for general utility, let alone value. The only other atlas I have ever found that could compare in any way with _Goode's_ is the beautiful first edition of _The Oxford Atlas_, compiled in Britain after World War II when the economic conditions made skilled work astonishingly cheap. Unfortunately, the _Oxford_ has gone far downhill since then. If you want a good desk atlas for reference, this is the one.

None better

When I took my first college-level geography class, my professor told the class that Goode's World Atlas is the best atlas on the market. Fifteen years and a couple of editions later, it's still the best atlas I've ever seen. The atlas includes a commendable section on map projections, many excellent thematic maps, easy-to-read regional (general) maps, tables of country and landform sizes, and a wonderful index. If you're looking for a road map, this atlas probably won't help. If you want to learn about the world, or teach school-aged children about the world they live in, then this is one of the top resources out there.

this is a real atlas, not a picture book

I've been using this since the 17th edition. if you want to impress people with pretty maps, skip it. Road atlases are for family vacations.if you have a child in school, and you want to get them the best reference atlas in the US, then this is it.Don't be put off by the large index and odd-looking maps in the front- they all contain valuable information. I learn something new every time I open this book up.