Customer Reviews

Atlas of the World: Deluxe Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The new Oxford Atlas of the World Deluxe Edition represents a breakthrough in the areas of research, skill, and ease of use. As an author and educator with over 35 years of teaching experience, I found its maps are large and easy to read, and it includes exceptionally vivid depictions of landforms such as mountains, rivers, and deserts. There are so many large scale maps of many places in the news today, such as Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Korea, and Central Asis, that it seemed to bring the world into my own living room with increased awareness. Indeed, it provides more coverage of North America, the United States, Europe and Asia than any other atlas I have used or seen in libraries. The clarity of the maps is truly amazing. There must be over 275 detailed topographic maps as well as a set of six ocean floor maps and maps of the Moon and the night sky. As if this weren't enough, I found the more than 100 metropolitan maps and city center plans for major cities around the world an added bonus. It is great if you are traveling or writing about a specific place. In addition, I found the protective slip case it comes with takes up less space than many other cumbersome reference books. For my money, this Atlas makes a great addition for anyone interested in following world events, and a fantastic holiday or birthday gift for students of all ages.

Contrary to what the first reviewer said, my copy arrived in pristine condition and I really appreciate the very sturdy slipcase that it came with, which will ensure that the binding holds up really well - I've bought atlases in years past without this case, and they get really stressed on the bindings after a lot of use. I don't think that will happen here. This is definitely THE most up-to-date Atlas available, it even includes the new traditional South African city names, which is a change that's been happening over the past several years. I looked at the National Geographic 8th Edition atlas, and it didn't include this information. My kids are using the atlas all the time for homework, and I know I can trust that the information is current, accurate - and they can read the type! The city/place names are really clear. The satellite imagery is absolutely stunning. This is the finest atlas I've ever bought and would recommend it to all.

The one star is from an earlier version of this review in which the atlas came damaged (binding torn clean through for 3 inches from the top) and Amazon made it very difficult for me to exchange it. All that's in the past now, and if I were to rate this again (the Amazon interface doesn't let you change the rating), I would give it five stars.

Recently I bought the 11th Edition of the Times Atlas of the World from Amazon. A couple weeks later this Oxford came out. It is a lot easier to to read than the Times atlas because the names aren't as densely packed (so there are a lot less of them)and even though the pages are considerably smaller than the Times, there are twice as many of them, so the coverage is even better, especially for U.S. users.

The topography is also much more graphic (some might say garish), making interpretation of physical features easier than the Times. Also the topical maps are more interesting in this Oxford than the Times. In fact, I'd say they're downright fascinating! It is a lot of fun looking at this Oxford atlas. The Times I'd say is more business-like and scholarly. The Oxford might be higher on the entertainment scale, and has a terrific section of city maps (almost a trademark of Oxford atlases of all sizes). The Times has no city maps at all. My 8th edition of the Times on the other hand has lots of large and very clear city maps. I don't know why the Times moved away from this feature.

At any rate, I couldn't resist buying the Oxford, the best Oxford atlas I've ever seen, even though I'd just bought the much more expensive Times (which is the 4th edition of the Times that I've bought - 7th, 8th (which I still have and will never get rid of because of its many unique large scale maps that neither this Oxford nor the latest Times has), 10th (which I just sold) and now the 11th). The Times' maps are physically beautiful and tasteful and they are the most detailed available in a world atlas, but this Oxford is easier on the eyes to read. To do the Times justice, I actually need a magnifying glass to read it! When all is said and done, however, it's hard to say which atlas I'll be using more, and unfortunately for my pocket book, I wouldn't be without either of them.

A negative is, I don't trust the binding. For a book this heavy and expensive, it should be more robust. You know that no matter how much you use it, the Times is not going to fall apart (I have years of experience with four different editions to know that this is true). I'm not so sure about this Oxford. After all, my original came with the torn binder. You can bet I'm going to treat this Oxford gently. With the Times, I've never had to treat it with kid gloves. It is a robust, handsome binding, and not about to fall apart with a little careless handling like I'm afraid the Oxford might. My advice: break the Oxford binding in slowly, as it comes new out of the box very stiff. This undoubtedly makes it susceptible to damage if you open it suddenly when you first get it.

The maps may be glorious (although continuing them across a page split is a serious no-no for a putatively "high-end" atlas), but the binding is from hunger. I can scarcely believe that the publisher would see fit to package such a heavy-duty work in flimsy cardboard with cheap contact paper fittings. No, I'm not asking for tooled morocco, but pay a little respect to your content by packing it with due professionalism! I expect this to be reduced to flinders in short order--not necessarily requiring terribly much rough handling! I am profoundly disappointed.

One sees a lot of VERY diverse reviews here. Luckily, some were positive, and led me to order this book. It's truly great!

Of course one wonders why a $150 atlas would be selling for a massive discount here on Amazon ($30 when I bought it). Plus, the shipping was free when I ordered (which is a good thing since it's really heavy!)

Well, at this point, I don't care why it was such a bargain. I'm just happy, period -- especially because not every bookseller is discounting it, as I write this review anyway.

I'm educated enough to expect high quality from a reference volume like this. After all, I don't plan to ever buy another one in the near future. Well, to my eye, the maps are *well* above average. All the labeling is clear, shapes and lines are well-defined, the colors well-chosen, the printing excellent. I couldn't ask for more... but I got more, anyway!

For instance: the satellite and other aerial images are stunning. The availability of diverse levels of detail, such as the city maps, allow one to pursue multiple geographical questions that might come to mind while browsing, all without having to get up and look for some other source.

That encyclopedic quality extends to the inclusion not only of a lunar map, but indeed a chart of the solar system, and maps of the stars in the night sky from both hemispheres. Everything you need to put this one little planet in perspective!

As for "life on earth," the Oxford Deluxe Atlas covers that, too -- not just the land itself. In other words, you can find maps showing population trends, economic activity, and other ways that human beings relate to the planet. That includes climate change, of course, and much more.

Are there faults? I suppose that every individual has some notion of what constitutes a "logical" organization of so much data, so that it can be found without resorting to an index of some kind. For instance, I wanted to show a child where the "Continental Divide" is in North America. I did not see any easy way to find this phrase in the index, and was frustrated at first.

But lo and behold, I discovered that there is a map of North America in which all its major watersheds are marked and color-coded! So, although there was no line marking the somewhat colloquially-termed demarcation line that I was seeking, there was in fact a map that showed the *meaning* of that term -- far better than I might have expected! In a sense, the book made me smarter by showing me the question that I should have asked.

Is the binding a problem? No, not at this price! But I think, IF I had spent the full price of $150, perhaps I would have wished for a sturdier binding. As noted, I figure to own this for a while. I'd hate to drop it, which would be easy considering its size and weight.

In the same regard, I am somewhat nervous about turning school-age kids loose on it. Don't misunderstand me -- the book is not a little wisp made of tissue paper! But it isn't as sturdy as a typical school textbook, or even a child's hardbound reading book. So you might want to give a couple of speeches to the kids and set rules for the book's treatment, to ensure its survival.

After that, then throw caution to the wind and stop worrying. I mean, as an adult I like it a lot! But this publication would be wasted if were only ever used by grownups. Somebody besides me should be buying it, and setting kids free with it. Let them sit on the floor with it, and roam the earth at will. I did this as a child, with atlases that were nowhere near as grand! Just make sure to keep food, drink, and pets away from the book while it's open!

I can't quite relate to the review that criticized the slipcase, of all things! What I care about is mostly between the covers of the book. Is the slipcase adequate to protect the book and its contents? It sure seems so to me.

Geography being what it is, who knows -- maybe an atlas as "old" as this (two years) is outmoded already by some people's standards. But as others have noted, it was very current at the time of its publication, so I'm content with the data it contains.

Above all, it is a visual feast. I opened mine, and after sitting with it and paging through it in awe for twenty minutes, I put it aside and had the sense that I had *already* gotten my money's worth out of it! I recommend it highly.

I am currently living in China and "OH BOY!" this atlas sure comes in handy. It's nice to be able to read maps in english especially where I live. I was amazed that the atlas actually arrived here, I thought it would have been confiscated. The context and texture of the book is very impressive. I dare not let the kids handle it without supervision.

happy consumer

What an impressive book! My goodness! If you want to learn about the world you live in, get a good globe (mine is a 12" from National Geographic) and get this atlas! You can't beat a globe for some things and you can't beat this atlas for all the others. This completely top-of-the-line authority of our planet is truly a gold mine of information. I can't list all the things you can learn from a work of this magnitude. Understanding where you are in relation to all the other places helps you understand so much of what is happening in our world today. If you want to hear yourself say "Oh wow! Look at that." and "Goodness I never knew." and "No kidding", get this book! It is truly an eye-opener. You won't be disappointed!

I looked at all the Atlas that were available in my area and feel the Deluxe Edition of the Atlas of the World is by far the best.

This Oxford Atlas of the World de luxe edition shows some positive things:its very clear but simple cartography ,which makes a very easy and
direct reading;its section about cities maps,the most complete I've ever seen;the very up to date sections of other matters(climate changes,etc..)but... on the contrary,it has a very simple and incomplete cartography of some parts of the world like the always forgotten Africa,South America,Oceania,...except these of North America and Caribbean.I supose it's due to the main destination is the american public...To sum up,a very clear but quite improvable Atlas in comparision with others(the Times for example)though better than this one in digital images and cities maps.You need to buy more than one item to have a complete information of nowadays world.Its weight suggests more...

I am still waiting for delivery. As I told jandj I was inyerested in another for another grandson but I am now dubious.
Francis J. Condon



ASIN:0195374517 Atlas of the World: 15th Edition with free wall map]]