Book Description

Earth Science offers a reader-friendly overview of our physical environment for the reader with little or no exposure to science. The emphasis is on readability, with clear explanations and examples, superb illustrations by the renowned Dennis Tasa, and an incredible collection of full color photographs and topographical maps.Topics covered in this highly readable and interesting book are geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology.For readers needing a basic informational book about Earth Science. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome, not quite college level
I'm using this book for a high school freshman year Earth Sci class, and I love it. It's very readable and clear, with appropriate diagrams that help understanding. It also avoids doing what lots of high school textbooks do, which is showing lots of weird-looking kids in plain T-shirts doing experiments in a doomed attempt to appeal to students. I've learned a lot with this book :)

A great book covering everything
This textbook is one of the best scientific books I have seen. Not only does it cover earth science (like geology), but astronomy and meteorology also. It covers every topic that you possibly want to know about. The authors leave no information out. I had to use this for Science Olympiad, and it helped me so much. The explanations are great, the images beautiful, and the diagrams very helpful. I would suggest this for anyone that has an interest in Earth Science or Meteorology. It is a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Each chapter has been thoroughly revised to reflect the changing cultural, political, and physical landscape of our world.
Increased coverage of environmental change and the risks that the planet faces with 6.2 billion people.
This new eleventh edition places more emphasis on critical thinking, human geography and environmental issues. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Authors biased towards India.
In the chapter about South Asia, the authors have written quite a lot about the "Kashmir problem" but not once have they mentioned the ethnic cleasing of 350,000 Kashmiri Hindus that took place in 1990. I just cannot believe that they don't know about this.

Nice features -- but disorganized
It reads okay, but it is difficult to retrieve information as a resource for homework. The topics are inconsistant from chapter to chapter and are not oriented to the geographical topics defined in the Intro.

The topical structure needs to be rewritten to make it a better resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Physical geography is presented more consistently from chapter to chapter with major revisions to several chapters.
* A foldout map of the world in 1900 is included so that comparisons can be made from the beginning to the end of the 20th century.
* Website highlights approximately 13 Virtual Field Trips which provide the opportunity for readers to travel (virtually) to other areas of the world, while also developing analytical skills. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Expensive but well worth it
I paid quite a bit for this textbook, but in my opinion it is well worth it. The book is highly detailed with lots of nice diagrams and maps. It was pretty easy to follow/understand, but contains so much information that you can be overwhelmed easily if you do not enjoy Cultural/World Geography.

Good learning had a price, be it time and money!!
I just finished my college course "Geography of the World" using this book. Personally I found the 10th edition book very useful and entertaining. If you want to LEARN SOMETHING, get "edumacated" has one of my friends who graduated Sumna Cum Laude from Berkeley would say, buy this book. Pony up the money, bite the bullet and enjoy the reading.

This book is for knowledge and education, it is NOT for the slacker who complains because he has to read 10 pages of text every week for his GEO class. I agree that this book might be a little pricey BUT the quality is there. If you can't afford a new one, buy a used one. The book is very well structure and easy to understand, you get out of it what you put in reading it.

The World is too big!
I read this book and determined that the world is entirely too big! Yeeesh! Also the book was way over priced. It has a lot of info, but often talks in a menagerie of metaphors!

Incredibly tedious book, to be read only by inmates.
Quite long.....too many words

A marvelous world regional text
This text makes teaching world regional geography a breeze, not only because of the well structured and knowledgeable approach to the material, but also because of the vast array of additional materials instructors can receive from the publisher. I used this text every year I taught the course and found it surprisingly modular. Each chapter allows the instructor to introduce a new geographic concept area (e.g. medical geography when discussing the African Continent). I can't imagine teaching World Regional Geography with any other text. Moreover, the writing is so good I can easily see people buying it just to have around the house when the news is on. Well worth the price. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very well-written and illustrated text with great photos
Obviously written by authors who have a deep appreciation for this subject and a desire to pass on their knowledge, this text is useful not just for students of physical geography, but for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of geopolitics, area studies, anthropology, world history, etc. For example, I would have no clue about the culture, history and politics of Central Asia/Afghanistan and vicinity (my area of interest) without having a comprehensive understanding of the physical terrain and climate of this region--and how its inhabitants have adapted to it. I would not have gained this understanding without reading this text.

My only complaint is that I had hoped for more emphasis on environmental issues. The authors may feel that this is beyond the scope of an introductory text; but problems such as the shrinking Aral Sea and tropical rainforest destruction are so widely catastrophic that I believe they deserve greater attention and understanding even at the introductory level.

still on my bookshelf
I remember this book from when I was an undergraduate, lo these many years ago (OK, so it was an earlier edition)! I'm glad to see it is still available and updated -- I enjoyed it then and I am using it now in answering the questions my children throw at me.

This is an excellent resource book. I probably wouldn't pick it up as a light read at bedtime, but if you are interested in this topic you could do far worse than to get _Physical Geography_.

Book is conundrum
Suffice it to say, this text is awful, an arduous task to understand and conceptualize. I'm taking a lower level geography course with this book as the primary text and find myself ready to punch a wall when attempting to read.

Excellent Physical Geography Text for college intro course
One of the most easily understood texts with a great index, glossary, and many illustrations that are very well done.

An excellent, readable source of information/a keeper
Quality textbook,well illustrated,and with a splash of humor that helps emphasize certain points. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When National Geographic published its first Atlas of the World more than 35 years ago, the world was indeed a different place. In order to cover today's world--including its oceans, stars, climate, natural resources, and more--National Geographic has published its seventh edition of the Atlas of the World. With each new edition, National Geographic strives to make its atlas more than just maps. You'll learn that the coldest place in the world is the Plateau Station in Antarctica, where the average daily temperature is minus 56.7 degrees Celsius; the most populated continent is Asia, with more than 3.6 billion people, or 60.8 percent of the world's population; the driest place on earth is the Atacama Desert in Chile; a flight from New Delhi to Rio de Janeiro covers 14,080 kilometers; life expectancy in the Republic of Zambia is 37 years; and the literacy rate in Turkmenistan is 98 percent.

Flip through the pages of this impressive book and you will feel as though the world is literally at your fingertips. Full-page spreads are devoted to more than 75 political and physical maps (political maps show borders; physical maps show mountains, water, valleys, and vegetation). There are many new touches to be found in this edition, including increased usage of satellite images, an especially helpful feature when researching the most remote regions of the earth; more than 50 updated political maps that record the impact of wars, revolutions, treaties, elections, and other events; and the use of the latest research on topics such as tectonics, oceanography, climate, and natural resources. The sheer size of the atlas's index--134 pages--offers insight into just how much information is packed into 260-plus pages. The book is so physically large, in fact, that when it's open, the reader is staring at three square feet of information, a surface area larger than many television screens. The potential uses of this book for a family are vast, from settling a friendly argument to completing a school report. In the end, though, the atlas is still mostly about maps. Pages and pages of maps. Maps that force us to see how wonderful and dynamic our world is. Maps that remind us of where we've been and where we'd still like to go. --John Russell ... Read more

Reviews (23)

National Geographic Atlas of the World
This Atlas is the best reference book I have ever had. Since I received the book 2 weeks ago I can't count anymore how many times I have flipped through the pages. The more I open the book the more I am amazed with how much details it has and the amount of information you can get from the book. The pages are just full with fantastic graphics with wonderful colours, especially the satellites photos which are just out of this world! Everytime I watch any TV documentary programs about travel or nature, as heavy and big as it is I make sure I have the atlas by my side so I can spot the locations mentioned.

Dollar For Dollar The Best World Atlas
The 7th edition of the National Geographic Society (NGS) Atlas of the World is very much "evolutionary" rather than "revolutionary". Besides updated boundaries, etc., compared to prior editions it makes much better use of shading to indicate topography and has more detailed city maps. I buy an atlas primarily for the maps, and it's the maps that make the NGS Atlas superior to all others.

The traditional NGS "look" sometimes seems dated compared to the flashier colors and trendy graphics employed by some other publishers. However, the more I study the maps, the more information I find in them. A few months ago I did a comparison of this NGS with the most recent edition of the much more expensive Times Atlas of the World for a professional geographer's meeting. I was amazed to find that many of the NGS maps of North America had more than twice as many place names and named physical features as the Times Atlas. I also found the NGS Atlas maps equal or superior to the Times' maps for parts of the Middle East and northeast Asia with which I'm familiar (frankly, I found the 10th Edition Times Atlas inferior to the prior edition in several regards; for example, the elevation colors are far less discernable and detailed city maps have been virtually eliminated). Despite contrary opinions by some other reviewers, I judge the National Geographic Atlas maps to be far and away superior in content and sheer volume of information presented to all the other "high end" atlases published by Oxford, Hammond and DK. In fact, I couldn't justify recommending any of the other atlases (except possibly the Times, which, I admit, does offer fantastic detail for village names in the rural plains of India where I hope to never visit) to a library.

The National Geographic Society Atlas of the World is a great investment for travel planning, tracking current events, studying geography and history or just reading maps for pleasure. I recommend it highly.

CHEAPER THAN A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD ... AND JUST AS NICE
Map out your academic studies or armchair travels with this incredible book --- without a doubt, the most up-to-date, comprehensive atlas we have ever seen. This seventh edition puts a changing world, in 140,000-plus entries, in everyone's hands, and boasts state-of-the-art satellite imagery and the work of more than 50 cartographers, designers, editors, researchers and indexers. (The mountain, valleys and other landscape features were digitally painted over a period of a yea by one staff artist!) Expensive? You bet. But much cheaper than a trip around the world. But if you have to go, just don't try and pack it in your luggage; the book weighs close to 15 pounds!

This Atlas Doesn't Shrug!
O.K... not the greatest pun, but at least I got your attention! I wanted to tell anyone who is interested that I have owned this atlas for two years and I can now say in all sincerity that it is one of the best book investments I've ever made, hands down. I keep it in a very handy spot between my computer, my television and my bookcase, and pull it out whenever an unfamiliar geographic reference comes my way. Usually this leads to 20-30 minutes of sheer pleasure as I flip through the pages and bolster my understanding of distant and exotic places. The maps are clear and detailed, and very esoterically pleasing, and the index is one of the best I've ever seen in any book; I am constantly amazed that all of the maps are served by this one simple-to-use index. Bonus Information: I was browsing in a store which specializes in geography products shortly after I bought this atlas, and the salesman suggested a product called the "Magnabrite light gathering magnifier", a small clear glass object which rests on the page and brings small print and details forward clearly and dramatically. If you search "all products" on Amazon, I believe they have a catalog listing which will allow you to order one. Also, you can just Google for it easily. It's the best! Mine says on the box "Precision, Prefocused 4X - Magnifier"...but I believe it's available in four sizes. I hope this atlas serves as a great tool for you to delve deeply into the geography and topography of our beautiful planet. Enjoy it!

Spectacular and practical
This atlas is an excellent balance between spectacular layout and user-friendliness. While still very, very large, the book is not as ungainly to handle as the huge Times atlas and I find the maps in the National Geographic Atlas to be easier on the eyes compared to those in the Times.

The book has a quite satisfying introductory section, especially the part dealing with the universe and earth's relative position in same.

As far as comprehensiveness is concerned, the maps and index serve all of my purposes, and I am very picky. If you need more detail, you probably should buy a road map for the area, especially pertaining to the individual states in the USA section.

In ordering such a tome, I personally suggest the next-day delivery option as it minimizes the time the book spends in transit and the resultant bother of having to secure a replacement for a damaged copy. My own copy arrived in perfect condition but I did use next-day shipping.

The National Geographic Atlas of the World is a worthwhile investment for any home or school and should give years & years of service for any map enthusiast. ... Read more

Book Description

With revised material and new exercises based on ArcGIS version 9, this updated work acquaints geographers and GIS professionals with the principles of GIS as it teaches the mechanics of using ArcGIS software. Conceptual material is followed by scripted software exercises. Necessary GIS skills are presented in a variety of areas-map symbology, data overlay, map projection, and data conversion-as the making of maps and the analysis of geographic data is conceptualized. Spatial modeling exercises using the ModelBuilder technology of ArcGIS version 9 are also provided. Other topics covered include organizing data, planning a GIS project, creating derived data, and presenting results. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Works for me!
I purchased this book as a compliment to the text for an intro to ArcHydro course I am taking at university and find it to be a very useful tool. The software runs on 2000 or NT, however, I called ESRI and they immediately sent me a 60 day full license for version 8.3 for XP. It's a great tool for the beginner starting out in geodatabse design and the exercises are easy to follow and gratifying when completed. If you're new to ArcView this is a good buy.

Includes old version of ArcGIS

The tutorials are a bit weak, especially if you already know something about ArcGIS 8.x and are hoping to learn some more.

My biggest complaint is the out of date Arc software you get, and a 30 day extensions trial demo is not long enough.

I also noticed ESRI is totally embracing MicroSoft: right down to the cover color scheme of the book matching the XP upgrade box graphics. Maybe thats why the first couple incarnations of 8.x are so bad.

Misleading Title
The title of this book is misleading (Getting to know ArcGIS Desktop: The basics of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo). This book is strictly on ArcView, and only briefly mentions Editor and Info. This is for someone who has never worked with ArcView 8.x and needs some info to get started, not for an experienced user.

no support for demo software.
This was a waste of $50.00. I was unable to register the ArcGIS Demo Edition software and there is no support available on-line or on the ESRI website for this problem. When I called ESRI for assistance their response was for me to go to the website. The book is useless because the software is useless. So beware!

This book is intended for learning the GIS basics
I may be a bit biased since I work for ESRI, but I am not a GIS person; I am a web developer. I currently am enrolled in school to acquire my GIS degree and find this book is very helpful for learning the BASICS of GIS. Of all the reviews I have seen here, it looks like everyone already knows about ArcGIS. This is not the book for you then. You need to find the more advanced publications with more in depth tutorials and examples of the software. I see a VBA developer looking for answers here; you wasted your money. Great book for GIS beginners ONLY! ... Read more

Book Description

This mid-edition revision of the seventh edition of The Cultural Landscape has been revised to incorporate the September 11th attack on the United States. The book has an established track record as the leader in the field due to its timeliness and readability. It is widely praised because it is clearly written and organized, up-to-date, and it approaches topics in ways that appeal to the majority of readers.This new editon includes topics such as a geographic tools box titled “Aftermath of Terror”, a new heading in chapter 6 called “Taliban vs. Western Values” which discusses Islam in the context of extremist positions, and a new Key Issue in Chapter 8 called “Why has terrorism increased?”For readers who want to know morwe about geography and the changing world. ... Read more

Book Description

Beautifully written and thoroughly revised by two of the foremost geographers in the field, Introducing Physical Geography, Third Edition , builds upon the decades of success of other Strahler geography texts while incorporating coverage of the new developments in the discipline as well as exciting new multimedia and pedagogy to bring physical geography to a new audience.

The Third Edition features two new chapters. A prologue, "Introducing Physical Geography" introduces geography as a discipline and identifies the realm of physical geography within geography as a whole. Chapter 8, "Biogeographic Processes" adds key concepts from historical biogeography as well as additional depth to the texts previous coverage of ecological biogeography. In addition, the Third Edition features enhanced coverage of the technological changes occurring in geography, with increased emphasis on remote sensing and geographic information systems.

The text features the GeoDiscoveries CD-ROM, featuring its Present-Interact-Assess framework which enables students to animate and interact with maps, view videos, and test themselves, providing them instant assessment feedback on key concepts. GeoDiscoveries for Introducing Physical Geography features an interactive globe, multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop map exercises, key term matching exercises, flashcards, demonstrations of concepts and geographic techniques, critical thinking exercises, interactive animations, and more. GeoDiscoveries is designed to be used both by students for understanding and assessment of key concepts, as well as by instructors for in-class presentations. ... Read more

Book Description

An unsurpassed art and illustration program, with map projections from Goode's World Atlas

Building upon the strength and success of deBlij & Muller's best-selling Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts, this book offers all of the content that has made Regions the definitive World Regional Geography text but in a briefer, technological-rich package. At about one-half the length of most world regional texts, the text offers brief regional descriptions, applications of core concepts, and definitions to acquaint the reader with the spatial interconnections between the human and physical systems of the earth.  ... Read more

Book Description

Diversity Amid Globalization is an exciting contemporary approach to World Regional Geography that explicitly acknowledges the geographic changes that accompany today's rapid rate of globalization. The book's unique approach gives readers access to the latest ideas, concepts and theories in geography while concurrently developing a strong foundation in the fundamentals of world regions.This book covers discussions of environmental geography, population and settlement, cultural coherence and diversity, geopolitical framework, and economic and social development.For anyone interested in world regional geography. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An excellent textbook for an introductory geography class
This is an excellent textbook for an introductory geography class. The first chapter is a general introduction with an explanation of some of the terms and vocabulary used. The second chapter covers world physical geography. The rest of the chapters each covers a different region of the world. Each chapter is divided into five sections: environment, population and settlement, culture, geopolitics, and economic and social development. This book describes the details of the different regions of the world and gives us a good idea of what life is like in these different regions. And, it ties what we learn about the different regions to the overall theme of diversity and globalization. The accompanying maps and photographs are beautiful.

THIS IS AN ERROR REPORT!
NOTE: I am NOT writing a review ... I just want to inform you that you have the incorrect backcover summary for this title.

You have the summary for THE AMERICAN JOURNEY (see below), and, instead, the title is actually:

Diversity Amid Globalization : World Regions, Environment, Development

From the Back Cover Written in a clear, engaging style with a straightforward chronological organization, The American Journey introduces readers to the key features of American political, social, and economic history. It gives prominent coverage to the West and South, highlights the importance of religion in American history, and traces the emergence of distinctively American ideals-and the way the conflict between those ideals and reality has shaped our nation's development. Compelling stories, ample use of quotations, excerpts from primary sources, and plentiful illustrations bring the past vividly alive.This combined volume covers American history from 1600 to present times. Chapter topics include the war for independence; the first republic; Jeffersonian Republicanism; the Jacksonian Era; industrial change and urbanization; slavery and the old South; the Civil War; transforming the West; the Progressive Era; the Great Depression and the New Deal; World War: 1939-1945; John F. Kennedy and the Cold War; Nixon and Watergate; and the Reagan revolution.For armchair historians who appreciate the fact that knowledge of the past matters most of all if we are to understand the present-and shape the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Contemporary World Regional Geography provides a geographical study of world issues through analysis of nine world regions and the countries in each. It integrates the themes of "global connections" and "local voices" and is structured so that within each chapter the global and local tensions are discussed, as well as economic, political, cultural, social, and environmental issues. Each chapter will follow the same framework, allowing students to easily make comparisons from one world region to the next.

Interactive World Issues CD-ROM is packaged with every new text. This CD features five case studies (Oregon, China, South Africa, Mexico, and Chicago) and allows students to view videos, complete inquiry-based exercises, mapping exercises, and quizzes.

Contemporary World Regional Geography is the recommended text for the popular world regional telecourse produced and distributed by Annenberg/CPB. The video tape series that is developed by Cambridge Studios for this telecourse ties directly to this text. ... Read more

Book Description

During the great ages of exploration, "the longitude problem" was the gravest of all scientific challenges. Lacking the ability to determine their longitude, sailors were literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Ships ran aground on rocky shores; those traveling well-known routes were easy prey to pirates.

In 1714, England's Parliament offered a huge reward to anyone whose method of measuring longitude could be proven successful. The scientific establishment--from Galileo to Sir Isaac Newton--had mapped the heavens in its certainty of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a mechanical solution--a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had been able to do on land. And the race was on.... ... Read more

Reviews (209)

Amazing subject, fascinating story
With "Longitude" Dava Sobel has written a very interesting book about the greatest scientific problem of the 18th century.

As a result of the 1707-shipwreck story (with a loss of 4 out of the 5 ships), the English Parliament offered in 1714 a 20.000 pounds reward to the person that could provide a practicable and useful way of determining longitude. (If you have forgot, longitude is the "lines" that runs from pole to pole). Not being able to determining longitude was a great problem. Ships spent excessive time trying to find its way back to port, or worse men, ship and cargo were lost at sea.

John Harrison (1693-1776) spent his lifetime trying to solve the longitude mystery. Harrison was a son of a countryman, with minimal schooling, and was self-educated in watch making. He made several timepieces, which all qualified for the reward, but the reward was delayed several times by the Longitude committee whom believed that other ways of measuring longitude were the preferred ones. Ultimately after a lot of harassment and trouble, Harrison was given the reward money.

Dava Sobel has done a wonderful job in this book, capturing Harrison's fascinating character, his brilliance, preserving and hard working nature. The author has also managed to strike a perfect balance between technical jargon and personal anecdotes, and she does it in such a way permitting the lay readers of the book to admire the elegance of Harrison's discoveries. I believe it is a sign of excellent quality when an author makes learning so interesting.

I was hooked from the first page of this book and I read it in 50-page gulps at a time.

Highly recommended!

John Harrison--an extraordinary person
John Harrison (1693-1776) spent his lifetime inventing and perfecting a series of timepieces to measure longitude. As Dava Sobel relates in her engaging narrative, "Longitude," until the 18th century sailors navigated by following parallels of latitude and roughly estimating distance traveled east or west. Ships routinely missed their destinations, often taking excessive time to arrive or succumbing to reefs off fogbound shores. Thousands of sailors and tons of cargo were lost.

In 1714, England's Parliament offered £20,000 (the equivalent of about $12 million today) to anyone who provided a "practicable and useful" means of determining longitude. Countless solutions were suggested, some bizarre, some impractical, some workable only on land and others far too complex.

Most astronomers believed the answer lay in the sky, but Harrison, a clockmaker, imagined a mechanical solution--a clock that would keep precise time at sea. By knowing the exact times at the Greenwich meridian and at a ship's position, one could find longitude by calculating the time difference. However, most scientists, including Isaac Newton, discounted a clock because there were too many variables at sea. Changes in temperature, air pressure, humidity and gravity would surely render a watch inaccurate.

Harrison persisted. As Dava Sobel writes, he worked on his timepiece for decades, though he suffered skepticism and ridicule. Even after completing his timepiece, an instrument we now call a chronometer, in 1759, he underwent a long series of unfair trials and demonstrations. Ultimately he triumphed.

Sobel, a science writer who contributes to Audubon, Life, Omni and other magazines, captures John Harrison's extraordinary character: brilliant, persevering and heroic in the face of adversity. He is a man you won't forget.

Brief but enjoyable
This slim volume tells the story of John Harrison who, although untrained, built four revolutionary clocks that changed how ships navigate at sea. It also tells about the political fight Harrison was forced to fight to win recognition for his work.

Written in a easy-to-read, "magazine" tone the tale goes quickly, whole years pass in a couple sentences. I wanted more details and this is where the book disappoints but it may not be the authors fault The book hints that many events weren't recorded and more details just aren't available.

One technical note: I think the font used in this tiny, five by eight inch book is a little small and the page numbers, even smaller, aren't readable at a glance. Or maybe I'm getting old.

Great story, but BEWARE of inaccuracies in this book.
John Harrison completes his first pendulum clock in 1713 before the age of 20. He made the gears for this out of wood which was radical for such a use, but as a carpenter, perhaps not to him---which is a mark of genius, I'd say; to reach beyond accepted norms in this manner. This he did after borrowing a book on math and the laws of motion; which he copied word for word, making his own copy. He incorporated different varieties of wood into his clock for strenth and later invented a bi-metal pendulum to counteract the expansion and compression of various individual metals. He also employed friction-free movements so as to do away with problematic lubricants. When intrigued by the puzzle of time at sea and the issue of longitude he contemplated substituting something not prone to gravity, as a pendulum of course is, to track times passing. In 1737 he creates a cantilevered clock 4 foot square. This the longitude board (which had offered a cash bonus to anyone who could devise a method in which time at sea could be kept) admired. Four years later he returns with an improved model; then starts on a 3rd model, like the previous two, also a fairly large sized clock.But there exists a problem within this book: An artisan freemason by the name of John Jefferys at the Worshipful Company of clockmakers befriends Harrison and then later presents to him a pocket watch in 1753. Then in 1755, while still working on his 3rd model, Harrison says this to the Longitude board: I have..."good reason to think" on the basis of a watch "already executed that such small machines[he's referring to pocketwatches] may be of great service with respect to longitude." He then completes version 3 in 1759. His fourth version appears just a year later, however, and is a 5 inch wide pocketwatch! The obvious inference made by the author is that after he received the pocketwatch from Jeffreys he seemingly put his version #3 on the backburner and soon started on the pocketwatch 4th version. The author does not claim Harrison copied anything from the Jeffreys model, but she certainly phrases this section so as to lend one to believe that this may have been the case; that Jefferys had a hand in the masterstroke invention Harrison eventually produced in version #4. This is not true. Harrison commissioned the watch he received from Jeffreys and was based on Harrison's specifications. It seems that Harrison simply asked Jeffreys to test an idea which he himself hadn't the time to attack just then; as he was still working on his 3rd version of a table-top prototype clock. Hence Harrison's above statement to the board in 1755 whence his ideas were validated by Jeffreys. In addition, the author plays up the part of the Astronomer Royal's part in attempting to impede Harrison from convincing the longitiude board of the efficacy of a time-piece solution to this problem over a celestial answer to this conundrum. The author also jazzes up the issue of whether Harrison received the prize the board promised to pay for a successful solution herein; even though the board supported him for upwards of 20 years as he pursued this quest. It's as if the author intentionally omitted some facts (that the Jefferys was a Harrison commission), and pumped up others (of a rival/foil on the board trying to impede Harrison and the compensation issue; implying that Harrison was jipped) just to make the story more compelling. John Harrison's story, however, is extremely compelling as it is and didn't need this extra spice served up by the author.Do read this (very short) book on how this Mr. Harrison solved the problem of knowing where one is when at sea; and if you're in London, visit the Old Royal Observatory and the Clockmakers museum (in the Guildhall) where you can see Harrison's wonderful creations in person. Enjoy!

The Man who Captured Time so Ships could Navigate Accurately
=====>

Note: This review has been written from a city with the following position on Earth:

LATITUDE: (43 degrees 2 minutes North)
LONGITUDE: (81 degrees 9 minutes West).

In order to understand the significance of this remarkable book by Dava Sobel, the reader has to understand some words and phrases in the book's title and subtitle.

"Longitude" along with Latitude are two numbers along with compass directions that are used to fix the position of anything on the planet Earth (as in the note above). Lines of Latitude are the imaginary, parallel, horizontal lines circling the Earth with the equator (fixed by nature) being the "zero-degree parallel of latitude." Lines of Longitude or "meridians" are the imaginary lines that run top to bottom (north and south), from the Earth's North Pole to its South Pole with the "prime meridian" (established by political means) being the "zero-degree meridian of longitude." (Since the mid-1880s, the prime merdian has passed through Greenwich, England. Before this time, the imaginary line that passed through a ship's home port was usually used as the zero-degree meridian.)

Finding the latitude on land or at sea was easy and eventually a device was invented to make it even easier. But finding longitude, especially at sea on a swaying ship was difficult, a difficulty "that stumped the wisest minds of the world for the better part of human history" and was "the greatest scientific problem" of the 1700s. Ways of determining longitude astronomically were devised, but these proved to be impractical when used at sea.

England's parliament recognized that "the longitude problem" had to be solved practically since many people and valuable cargo were lost at sea when the ship's navigators lost sight of land. Thus, this parliament offered a top monetary prize that's equivalent to many millions of dollars today to anybody who could solve the problem.

Enter "a lone genius" named John Harrison (1693 to 1776). While most thought the solution to the problem was astronomical, Harrison saw time as the solution.

To calculate the longitude using time on a ship at sea, you have to realize these two facts found in this book:

(i) The Earth takes 24 hours of time to spin 360 degrees on its axis from east to west.
(ii) Noon (12:00 PM) is the highest point the sun seems to "travel" in a day.

To learn one's longitude at sea using time, as this book explains, it's necessary to do the following:

(1) Know the time it is aboard ship (local noon was normally used because of fact (ii) above).
(2) At the very same moment, know the time at a known longitude (such as at Greenwich, England).
(3) The difference in time between (1) and (2) is coverted to a longitude reading in degrees and direction (using fact (i) above).

Harrison's solution was the accurate determination of time of (2) above by inventing a reliable timepiece. This timepiece, in this case, would be set to Greenwich time. (Note that, as stated, (1) could be determined using the noon-day sun but this was not always practical. Eventually another timepiece was used to determine the ship's local noon for a particular day.) It has to be realized that this was the "era of pendulum clocks" where, on a deck of a rocking ship, "such clocks would slow down or speed up, or stop running altogether." Harrison was to capture time by building a marine clock or "timekeeper" (eventually called a "chronometer") that could be used on a ship at sea.

This book tells the "true story" of Harrison and his chronometers. (There were five built over a forty-year period. Harrison's first timekeeping device was known as H-1, his second was H-2, and so on.) Sobel uses accuracy (as evidenced by her thirty references), extensive interviews, and an engaging, mostly non-technical narrative (only essential technical detail is included) to convey a story that's filled with suspense, heroism, perfectionism, and villiany. All this in less than 200 pages!!

The only problem I had with this book is that it has hardly any pictures (photographs and illustrations). I would have liked to have seen pictures of the various people involved in this saga, maps showing where ships traveled, more photos of Harrison's amazing timepieces (both interior and exterior), and diagrams that explained important concepts. A diagram that actually showed how longitude, using a simple example, is calculated (using the steps above) would also have been helpful.

Finally, there is a good 1999 movie entitled "Longitude" based on this book. Be aware that even though this book is short, the movie is long (over three hours).

In conclusion, this book documents the exciting "true story" of how "a lone genius" solved "the longitude problem." Sobel states this more eloquently: "With his marine clocks, John Harrison tested the waters of space-time. He succeeded, against all odds, in using the fourth...dimension to link points on a three-dimensional globe. He [took] the world's whereabouts from the stars, and locked [or captured] the secret in a...watch."

<=====> ... Read more

Book Description

More than any other, this up-to-the-minute book is dedicated to helping readers understand the world around them. The authors introduce the major tools, techniques, and methodological approaches of geography, and present a wide range of positions currently debated about provocative current issues. Weaves the theme of human-environmental interaction throughout. Demonstrates applications of GIS and GPS in physical geography—includes urban planning, registration of urban and rural landholding, farming techniques. Covers the aging of the human population, and the different ramifications of this fact in rich and poor countries. Expands discussion of Islam, church and state in Islam—includes relations between church and state in various religions. Discusses Islam in Europe and its cultural, religious, and political impact. Covers the spread of Islamic Sharia law across North Africa, the Near East, and Indonesia. An interesting reference for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of major world issues.

Reviews (1)

Exellent text for introducing college students to Geography
I have used this text for approximately a year and found that the students are able to comprehend geography better with a systematic approach than a regional one. One of the things that sold me on this text was the auxillary material, particularly the webpage. The book is very easy to read and has excellent illustrations and photos. Needless to say, I highly recommend this text. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

informative but biased
I took courses with Dr. Lester Rowntree during 1981 and 1990 at San Jose State University. I found him to be very knowledgeable except about Islam. This textbook which is co-authored by Dr. Rowntree contains misleading or inaccurate statements about Islam. For example, It stated in page 180 and 181 (fourth edition), that Islam spread by militaristic conquests while christianity spread by contact conversion. This is not accurate. In page 185 the authors contended that, despite the Muslims belief, the black stone in the Holy Mosque in Mecca is a meteorite. In the next page the authors stated, under the picture of the Ka'aba, that pilgrims come from afar to Mecca, for they believe that the black stone was sent down from heaven by Allah, the Islamic god. The problems with this understatement are, first: Muslims believe that Allah is the personal name of God the creator and lord of all creatures not just Muslims; second: Muslims come to Mecca not for the sake of the black stone, but because they were commanded in the Holy Quran to perform Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes. It is also appropriate to mention that the pilgrimage was first initiated at the time of the prophets Abraham and his son Ismail who built the Holy Mosque in Mecca long before the advent of Islam. Unlike the case with Judaism in page 191 this book ignored, in pages 192-193, the fact that the Islamic taboo on eating pork meat was also decreed by devine revelation in the Holy Quran. It stated that it was a "sour grapes" reaction to the inability of the Muslim nomads to raise and own pigs. Professor Rowntree and his co-author also stated in page 193 that in the seventh century A.D., the Muslim nomads imposed their religion, complete with the pork taboo, on the farming people of the river valleys as a final "revenge". In conclusion, this is a very informative and useful book. However, on behalf of the one billion Muslims in the world today, I strongly suggest rewriting the parts dealing with the Islamic culture. Thank you in advavce.

I give it 2 "horns" up
I am currently enrolled in Professor Terry Jordan-Bychkov's Cultural Geography class, and the book is basically a culmination of his travels all over the world. The majority of the pictures in the book were personally taken by Professor Jordan himself, and it makes the class even more interesting. Professor Jordan's love for Geography emulates throughout the entire book, and it is easy to read as a result. The book is set in very vivid outlines, so it is easy to follow, and each chapter builds upon one another to form the, in words frequently used by Professor Jordan, the "Human Mosiac." The book is intersting, easy reading, and the class is even better. For those of you former, future, or current Longhorns, I HIGHLY reccommend the class; for those of you who cannot have the opportunity to learn from such a brilliant and cultured man, the book is the next best thing ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dry, Misguided
This book is based on many theories as old as some of the pre-historic subject matter. Assumptions are not well researched or thought out. Poor organization and many dead-end trails. Very tiring to read. Skip it.

Just the right amount of info, nice illustrations.
The book gives clear, concise explanations of each aspect of the environment and atmosphere. The Earth, clouds, oceans and soils are covered. Nice illustrations to better comprehend topics in each chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

To understand the power of Geographical Information Systems and Geographical Positioning Systems today, it is essential to understand their background and history, and the needs they were designed to answer .This is the first comprehensive history of GIS for both practitioners and students.From GPS systems that help you find your destination in a rented car, to satellite imaging for locating new petroleum reserves, GIS technology is changing the world. This book brings together for the first time the expert testimonies of the pioneers, key scientists and entrepreneurs who created the GIS field and made it what it is today. It covers both the raster and vector sides of GIS development. From remote sensing to PC-based systems; from Land Information Systems to defense applications, this is the definitive history of GIS.For all GIS and GPS professional practitioners, developers and students. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (49)

Aaargh, shiver me timbers, matey!
UNDER THE BLACK FLAG is the perfect read for anyone who, as a kid, dressed up as a one-eyed pirate and went around waving a cardboard cutlass saying, "Aaargh, speak up bilge rat; where be the treasure?" Or anyone who enters company staff meetings with, "Ahoy tharr, scurvy dogs, shark meat ya'll be." Or, "Are ya feeling lucky, punk?" (Well, perhaps that last is from a more recent era.)

Since he's writing for Western audiences, Author David Cordingly focuses on the pirates, buccaneers, and corsairs of European background, who infested the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries. The book's twelve chapters reveal everything you've ever wanted to know about swashbuckling pirates and piracy: the ships, pirate flags, buried treasure, recruitment, plunderings, pirate violence, famous captains (e.g. Kidd, Blackbeard, Morgan, Rackam, Vane, Roberts), women pirates, pirates' women, pirate life on land and sea, marooning, walking the plank, pirate islands and haunts, pirates in the media (books, stage plays, films), pirate trials and executions, wooden legs and, yes, parrots.

Upon finishing UNDER THE BLACK FLAG, I tried to think of a reason not to award five stars, and couldn't. The volume is extensively researched, well organized, written with the popular audience in mind, eminently instructive, and not without humor. Sixteen pages of photographs complement the text. If you're interested in the topic, I can't recommend it too highly. Aaargh!

By the way, what does "shiver me timbers" mean, anyway?

Interesting and informative overview of piracy
This book gives an overview of the lives of the pirates of the 1700's (mostly). It covers the careers and untimely demises of the most famous (Capt. Kidd, Blackbeard, Calico Jack, and Black Bart Roberts), talks about a number of less famous pirates, and covers some of the semilegal (depending on your nationality) exploits of the privateers (like Capt. Morgan). The book deliberately limits itself to those pirates associated with the Atlantic Ocean/Caribbean Sea, although many of these pirates also operated in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, so there is a wide variety of locales to compliment the wide variety of people.

The descriptions of the pirate life and details of their exploits are well written, using a number of primary sources (logbooks, journals, newpaper articles). They give a good feel for the "reality" of life among the pirates. But what of the "romance"? It's here as well, comparing the real pirates of history with our modern romantic view of pirates, based on Erol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks, Captain Hook and Long John Silver, and the Pirates of Penzance.

It is an entertaining and informative book, especially for someone (like myself) whose previous exposure to piracy has been through Stephen Spielberg's movies and Sid Meier's computer games. I suspect the serious naval historian may find the text someone cursory, but still useful because of the wealth of references. Anyone interested in a general overview on pirates (and privateers) in this era should find this book an enjoyable read.

Aarrr! Good tale of pirates, if a little disorganized
Whenever historical figures such as pirates are so common in popular culture, I often wonder how accurate the representation is. This book engagingly answers these questions. Not surprisingly, there is some truth to the modern image of a pirate. For example, they often dressed with scarfs, lots of guns, and even kept parrots as pets. On the other hand, they were largely brutal criminals, not jovial, romantic figures usually portrayed in stories.

With such a fragmentary history, the big challenge is to present a coherent picture of pirate history. Cordingly doesn't always pull this off. I found the book disorganized in places, and some of the chapters have fairly loose threads holding the material together. A lot of the excursions into analyzing popular culture are not particularly insightful, and interfere with the strength of the book, telling the story of pirates.

Overall, a fun and interesting read on a criminal class that is well recognized, if not well known.

Pirates Ye Be Warned
Ahoy, reader, the pirates you know today from movies and stories are not too far from the originals, but are wonderful and romanticized caricatures of the buccaneers and corsairs of the 18th century. This we learn from the excellent book Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly, in which the author tells the stories of the lives of real pirates of old. Cordingly goes into great color and detail about the reality of pirates and their history.

In the first chapter, entitled Wooden Legs and Parrots, Cordingly describes the actual appearance of buccaneers and corsairs. From the stories of Robert Louis Stevenson we first accepted the image of pirates personified by Long John Silver and Captain Hook. Pirates were linked with, pirate maps, black schooners, tropical islands, and one legged seaman with parrots on their shoulders. Cordingly identifies peg legs, parrots, filth, and harsh captains wearing dashing clothes.

Who were these lavishly-dressed, smelly, unkempt, vagabonds of the sea? David Cordingly catergorizes pirates in two ways. Buccaneers were pirates from the Carribean and Corsairs were pirates from the Mediteranean.He also goes into depth about specific people such as, Bartholomew Roberts, Sir Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Henry Morgan, and Captain Kidd.

In to battle and back to the sea, this is the life of a pirate; David Cordingly elaborated well on this fact in his book Under the Blak Flag. By reading his book you can tell he is an experienced writer and a more-than-credible authority on pirates. He uses sources and quotes very well in this book, and organizes the main points rather well. His writing style is easy to read and you find yourself being caught up in his stories of pirate history and legend. I found that on some points he strayed a little of subject and drew my attention away from the emediate points. Nonetheless I enjoyed his descriptions of the pirates' appearance, their background, and their history. I would suggest reading David Cordingly's Under the Black Flag for all those who idolize, ador, and dream about pirates.

Finally an interesting history book!
For anyone that's interested in the lifestyles of pirates, this is your book. This book is both a good read and informative. Almost everything you want to know is compiled here. I'm currently writing a novel about pirates, and this book is a wonderful reference. It goes into detail about pirate myths and truths, why we think of them the way we do, and what life was REALLY like for these swashbuckling blackguards. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique educational tool introduces learners to the countries of the world and the states of the United States. Through active participation, coloring the maps, users gain a broad understanding of the material—and retain that understanding. Each section begins with a plate containing a political map, a physical map, and regional maps. World Thematic Maps consist of eleven global maps covering climate, rainfall, temperatures, prevailing winds, ocean currents, vegetation, land use, population, racial distribution, languages, and religions—presenting a «global» view of human activity. Flags and Review of Nations groups flags of the world according to continents, with the illustration of the flag placed close to the country of origin. For children of all ages—and their parents—who could benefit from a colorful “crash course”—or “refresher”—in geography, and an enjoyable and informative guide to a greater understanding of the world around them. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Deserves better paper
The second edition of "The Geography Coloring Book" suffers from the use of a slicker kind of paper that does not color well with Berol Prismacolor pencils. The paper also has a tendency to roll up at the edges with use. The publishers should consider reprinting the excellent edition on a paper more suitable for its intended use. It is only for that reason that I gave it four rather than five stars.

Great way to learn Geography
I have taught geography for more than ten years and this is a fun and useful way to introduce new countries as well as concepts like place, direction and distance. I also recommend a great book for teachers and parents to read called Geographical Literacy. Incrediable new ideas for teaching kids the rudiments of geography. Check it out at Amazon.

Excellent for use in the classroom.
I have used the first edition for years and am finally updating. I use it in the clasroom for geography instuction and it is wonderful. The pages are very detailed yet simple to understand.

have used it as ateaching tool at the post secondary level
I first began using this text at Tompkins-Cortland Community College in 1992. Most of my students used the book in the two Geography class that were required in the AAS program for travel and Tourism. Since moving to North Carolina I still use it in the courses that I teach in the Raleigh area. Students find the text a joy to use and it helps with their understanding of the political and physical areas of the subject. Since most students do not have formal Geographic training it is one of the best tools that thay have for self study. Many use the text in the travel industry after they enter the job market. The price is also very affordable. Just a great book. I have at least four myself. Even my wife the Geography hater loves this publication.

Wonderful geography teacher
This is a great way to learn world geography. By coloring and reading about the country, state, river, mountain range, or territory, we learn in many ways at once. It stays with you. There's the visual, the kinetic, and auditory learning, if read outloud, like we do with my jr. high daughter. It's challenging for her, but she's getting it. As a homeschooling tool it can't be beat. It's great for adults, too! ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive look at GIS doesn't overwhelm with details, equations, or computer codes. Instead the author interweaves the ideas of geographic inquiry and spatial discovery, inviting readers to join in the excitement of discovery as it takes place within the computerized world of the digital GIS databases. After discussing spatial and mapping concepts, the author sequentially addresses the components of GIS systems. A final chapter spotlights the process of designing and implementing a GIS system. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Most topics are covered, but this book is barely readable
This book needs help, it is verbose. The book could be cut by a third, and would not lose any meaning. Most of the important topics are covered, but the discussions are often difficult to wade through, it takes forever to get to the main point.

There are better introductory texts out there. The ones by C.P. Lo and A.K Yeung, or by P. Bolstad are both more concise, to the point, easier to read, and just as complete in their coverage of topics.

Useful, but needs editorial work
I am a GIS novice, and am about 1/3 of the way through the book.There is definitely a lot of useful and current information in this book, so I find it worth reading.However, I feel editorial work on it is needed in several ways.There are numerous examples of sloppy use of English (both in choice of words and in paragraph structure), discussions that are overly abstract, and explanations that are lengthy yet unclear.This was not universal, but occurred annoyingly often.On subjects I knew something about already, I was able to see how the book's accounts were accurate, but only after puzzling over the author's choice of phraseology.I will definitely have to look elsewhere for an understanding of map projections, database structures, raster models, and other topics.

Too much time is spent early in the book belaboring an abstract conceptual framework, where some concrete examples would serve much better.It was also disconcerting that certain terms are used without being defined (or only defined very abstractly), forcing the reader to guess meaning from the context.Yet other relatively simple terms are defined at length.The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are sometimes too open-ended, not focussed on the chapter material.

It is difficult to write for neophytes about a subject one knows intimately -- as I'm sure the author does.Important terms and assumptions are embedded in the one's thinking, so one does not realize that some crucial points are unfamiliar to the student, and one tends to skip certain steps.This book has good coverage of GIS issues, but it would benefit from a more severe editor and from more feedback from the undergraduate audience on which areas need clarification.

A comprehensive and very understandable text.
This is unquestionably one of the finest GIS textbooks available today. Itcovers not only the basic input, data management, and reporting concepts,but includes sufficient depth of spatial analysis issues that anyone notable to take additional geographic analysis courses will come away withenough practical knowledge to truly unleash the power of geographicinformation systems.

Excellent, comprehensive textbook on GIS
This is book is the most comprehensive introductory textbook on GIS on the market.I highly recommend this book for any newcomer to the field or any GIS professional. It has 200 pages on spatial analysis, a rarity in intro books on the subject.

The best of the new introductory texts in GIS.
For years it has been impossible to find a balanced text for introductory courses in GIS or to recommend a readable summary to a professional who wishes an introductory overview of this important technology. This is by far the best effort so far and, in my mind, is superior to the other new book by Keith Clarke. The DeMers book is being used in our introductory GIS course at The Ohio State University. The selection decision was made by the inter- disciplinary group of faculty teaching the course. ... Read more

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When Mother Nature rages, the physical results are never subtle. Because wecannot