Geography of the World: The Essential Family Guide to Geography and Culture

by D.K. Publishing

A guide to countries and continents in today's rapidly changing world.

• Clear, country-by-country layout makes this an ideal reference book for use at home and at school.
• Fact boxes provide at-a-glance information on each country's population, language, religion, government, currency, and more.
• More than 60 large-scale, three-dimensional maps, 900 superb photographs, and 500 detailed artworks, charts, and diagrams bring the countries of the world to life.
• Researched, authenticated, and updated by a team of specialists in human and physical geography and international affairs.

Genres: Geography, Reference, Nonfiction, History, Travel, Science, Education

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 1996

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books back when I was eleven or twelve. I poured over its pages constantly, imagining myself in this country or that one. I was pleased to see that there's an updated edition now, a decade after the original book was published.

From what I can remember from the 1996 book, not a great deal has been changed. They've mainly just updated it for current events -- the brand-new country of East Timor, Hong Kong and Macao's being absorbed into China, etc.

I wish the book was more in-depth and I wish it was more egalitarian in terms of page space. The USA gets eight pages while many countries, Kyrgyzstan and Liberia to name two, get half a page or less. But the photographs are beautiful and this is an excellent book for providing basic geographical information and whetting a child's appetite for more. This would be great for classrooms in particular. HIGHLY recommended.

[Bhakta Kishor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The oldest known world maps date back to ancient Babylon from the 9th century BC. The best known Babylonian world map, however, is the Imago Mundi of 600 BC. The map as reconstructed by Eckhard Unger shows Babylon on the Euphrates, surrounded by a circular landmass showing Assyria, Urartu and several cities, in turn, surrounded by a "bitter river" (Oceanus), with seven islands arranged around it so as to form a seven-pointed star. The accompanying text mentions seven outer regions beyond the encircling ocean. The descriptions of five of them have survived. In contrast to the Imago Mundi, an earlier Babylonian world map dating back to the 9th century BC depicted Babylon as being further north from the center of the world, though it is not certain what that center was supposed to represent.

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[Mira · Rating 1 out of 5]

People who wrote the book should have found out more about Serbia before publishing it. This country has to offer more than these lies from the war. It is ridiculous that people from all over the world can read only about the war there and NOBODY knows the story about smart people from Serbia, nobody mentions that Nikola Tesla was a Serb, nobody knows that Serbs are welcoming and warm people.
The part...''leading to international intervention to bring peace to the region.'' made me laugh so hard :)) hahahaha....
Authors, you should have learned more about Serbia before writing this book.

[Ushmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't rush this book. I looked at every bits and pieces and took my time. And it was worth the time! Writing style is very easy going and enjoyable. Not all of us can be around the world in 80 days😉🙃🙃!!
So we should satisfied with what we can afford. I'm very happy to have a journey around the world (maybe not in 80 days but that's not the point) with this book. ✌️✌️✌️✌️

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an encyclopedia of Geography, it explains maps and places, cities, climate, population, culture, food, and other aspects of people's lives.

It covers the whole thing, but the photos are from several decades ago, so they are old.
I think the information on how to ride the train is also outdated.

[Sâm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Một bức tranh tổng quan về các châu lục và tất cả các nước trên bản đồ thế giới.
Từ vị trí địa lý, địa hình, thời tiết, kinh tế, xã hội, giáo dục, văn hóa đều được mô tả một cách ngắn gọn và trực quan. Sự kết hợp hài hòa giữa kênh chữ và kênh hình giúp người đọc nhanh chóng hình dung được mình đang đứng ở đâu trên bản đồ thế giới. Đáng để đọc.

[Miku · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the photos and how the book was organized. The way the details and images were layout were good. Especially like the details in Climate and vegetation. This was very helpful for me in understanding geography.

At the same time the book makes me want to pack up and explore the world.

[David W.]

Great read, even though the edition I got was post-East Timor but pre-South Sudan. 😅

[Sally Thilthorpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

very basic I suggest only reading if you get more resent publican ie within 2 year of reading

[Kelly Cundiff]

Adams, S., & Ganeri, A. (2006). Geography of the world (Rev. and updated ed.). London: DK.

Reviewed by: Kelly Cundiff

Reference Type: Geographical Reference

Call Number: 910

ISBN 13: 978-0-7566-1952-7

Content/Scope: This book contains maps of every country alongside text boxes that provided important information about each country such as population, climate, social and economic information, etc.

Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book was edited by a team of specialists in human and physical geography and international affairs. The expertise behind the publishing makes it an authority in geographical references.

Arrangement/Presentation: The maps are displayed country by country. The additional images, photographs, charts, and simple text boxes make this book eye-catching and easy to search for specific facts. The index in the back also makes for more simplistic searching of information.

Relation to similar works: This atlas has a visual appeal that would draw students in. The photographs and illustrations are easy to understand and informative. This book also covers more social facts about each country that would be of interest to teens trying to developing an understanding of what life in other countries is like.

Accessibility/Diversity: This book is pleasing for visual learners and easy to read and understand for the struggling readers. By covering countries from around the world, it is a diverse item to increase interest in different cultures for any library.

Cost: $24.99

Professional Review: Books in Print. (2010, April). Annotations Adams, S., & Ganeri, A. (2006). Geography of the world (Rev. and updated ed.). London: DK. Retrieved November 20, 2015 from http://www.booksinprint.com.libsrv.wk...

[Barbara C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geography of the World: The Essential Family Guide to Geography and Culture. Revised edition. DK Publishing, 2003. 304 pages.

Genre: Atlas, reference
Recommended age level: Intermediate (8-12 years)
Subjects: geography, culture, countries, population, languages, religions, governments, currency, maps, international affairs

DK's Geography of the World is much more than a simple atlas; it explains each country's physical geography, people, places, landscape, climate, and place in today's world through text, charts, illustrations, diagrams, and maps.

This book is organized into continents, with each region of the world divided into their countries. Each region is introduced with a detailed map and information on physical features and climate. I liked the unique "Things to Look for on the Map" box, which contained facts such as Longest river, Highest point, and Largest lake. Each country is discussed in-depth, covering topics like agriculture and industry, ethnic groups, everyday life, food, and recent history.

I like that this book takes the atlas to a whole new level, incorporating colourful photographs, illustrations, diagrams, maps, and charts in an eye-catching way that young people will be attracted to. It is highly researched (29 expert consultants are credited as having authenticated the research), and contains great amounts of back material (political systems, natural disasters, world religions, health, education, rich and poor, world trade, a glossary, gazetteer, and index). I would highly recommend this book as an exceptional print resource for classrooms and the home.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love DK. I love atlases and world studies. Awesome reference for any household with elementary school-aged children. Internet is great but being able to teach a child to find an answer in a reference book is awesome.

[Truc-Vien Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good reference for every countries with brief description and general geographical view. Lack of details and explanation for specific terms, natural hazards. However, it is beautifully covered with maps, landscapes and traditions.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gave lots of information in a short amount of pages.

[Crystal-Rain Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for home school. It made a pretty good text book for 6th grade.