Atlas of the World, 13th Edition

By Keith Lye and Oxford University Press

Book Overview

When Oxford's Atlas of the World debuted in 1992, it was widely praised for the incredible beauty and accuracy of its maps as well as for its wealth of geographic data, and it has only collected more praise with each edition since. The New York Times Book Review called it a "veritable encyclopedia of geographic and demographic information, profusely illustrated with multicolored maps and graphs," while the Baltimore Sun has declared it "a handsome, useful, inspiring thing to have." Building on the integrity of its first edition and the strong sales of the twelfth, the Atlas should remain at the forefront of essential geographic resources. Full of maps of urban areas worldwide, the 13th edition adds Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Montreal, Quebec for a total of 70 cities. As ever, the colorful 48-page "Introduction to World Geography" section-beautifully illustrated with tables and graphs-provides a wealth of information on such topics as climate, the greenhouse effect, plate tectonics, agriculture, population and migration, and global conflicts. Plus, as in past editions, the Atlas has been thoroughly updated to reflect the changing world around us. The completion of the Tibet Railway linking Tibet with the rest of China, the opening of five new international airports, the appearance of new regions in Denmark and new provinces in Rwanda, and dozens of other improvements make this the most reliable atlas on the market. The 13th edition also boasts several new features: the latest nameforms in Korea and Greece, new maps of Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Taiwan, as well as additional map detail in Australia showing aboriginal areas. Current census statistics produce a table showing the most up-to-date population figures for major world cities, and a redesigned index makes searching the book easier than ever. Providing the finest global coverage available, the Atlas of the World is not only the best-selling volume of its type, it has become the benchmark by which all other atlases are measured. The Chicago Sun-Times went so far as to proclaim "you can't do better than the Atlas of the World, 12th Edition, " although the 13th may very well prove them wrong.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195313216
• ISBN13: 9780195313215
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 7.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 14.3" x 1.3" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Great for a 5th grade geography report

This is a VERY low level Atlas with just the very basics about different countries and what they produce. There is no info on religion, or type of government, just a few facts here and there about the country. I would not buy it if my child was older than 5th grade.

Wonderful

The last good atlas I bought was a Readers Digest atlas in 1963. I loved it! The maps were excellent and the index was good. I've looked for newer atlases since then, but never found any I like. I prefer basic atlases with good maps! The Oxford Atlas of the World is just as good as my old favorite one. The maps are supurb and it has an extensive index. That's all I ask for in an atlas, but it also has other features. It doesn't have extensive US maps but I didn't need that as I have a very good road atlas of US. If you just want to look up places this one is excellent.

THE GOLD STANDARD

In choosing a world atlas for my family, I looked at all that were available: from Oxford, National Geographic, Rand McNally, Hammond, DK, and other publishers. This new edition of the OxfordAtlas of the World is clearly the gold standard. Just published, it is of course the most up-to-date atlas available. More importantly, it is accurate and detailed, exquisitely produced (a joy to look at)and very readable. Unlike other atlases, for example, the maps do not run into the gutters. The introductory section containing informational maps and data (country population, income, products,languages, etc.) and stunning satellite photos is virtually a book in itself and worth the price of admission. And for all that one gets, the price is more than reasonable. This is more than a reference book--it's a good read. I highly recommend it.

NOTHING BEATS THE VALUE

I just purchased Oxford's atlas and I'm amazed. It's half the price of comparable atlases and delivers everything my family needs. Clear, easy-to-read, and attractive. The city and satellite maps are also spectacular. Street names, major points of interest, train and subway stations, hospitals and police stations, you name it. I photocopied San Francisco for an upcoming trip. The reviewer who doesn't like the atlas is right--the colors are wonderful. But he's wrong about why they are there. It's not just eye candy. They allow for instant recognition of geographic features and altitude. I highly recommend buying this atlas. For the price there's nothing better.

(Oxford) Atlas of the World

In choosing a world atlas for my family, I looked at all that were available: from Oxford, National Geographic, Rand McNally, Hammond, DK, and other publishers. This new edition of the Oxford Atlas of the World is clearly the gold standard. Just published, it is of course the most up-to-date atlas available. More importantly, it is accurate and detailed, exquisitely produced (a joy to look at) and very readable. Unlike other atlases, for example, the maps do not run into the gutters. The introductory section containing informational maps and data (country population, income, products, languages, etc.) and stunning satellite photos is virtually a book in itself and worth the price of admission. And for all that one gets, the price is more than reasonable. This is more than a reference book--it's a good read. I highly recommend it.