DK Concise Atlas of the World [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003 | ISBN-10: 0789493624 | ISBN-13: 978-0789493620 | Edition: Revised

Featuring state of the art digital mapping, the DK Concise Atlas is an encyclopedic reference containing 400 accessible maps to every region of the world. Supported by detailed text, photographs and diagrams, this book provides a superb overview of physical, political, economic, and demographic geography of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These well-organized atlases offer clear transitions from more general global information and maps to sections on continents, each of which contains continental and regional close-ups with maps and information. From the most basic Compact, the price increases according to the quantity of additional maps and other materials. Each atlas carries an identical core of maps. The Concise provides the most comprehensive coverage, including over 400 maps, many photos, geographical comparisons, thumbnail information on each country, and a range of topics from the solar system to international disputes. The Essential, including over 60 maps, offers a nifty, easy-to-use ready-reference resource full of geographical and political information. The well-priced paperback Compact contains 60 maps and less additional information. Despite the brilliant map colors and digitally achieved definition, none of these atlases contains detailed maps for each state in the United States, as does the Rand McNally Premier World Atlas (Rand McNally, 2001). Although the measurements of each atlas differ (Concise, 131/4" x 95/8"; Essential, 81/2" x 6"; Compact, 10 7/8" x 81/2"), there is sometimes no corresponding difference among them in the detail shown for a particular area. For example, all three show only seven cities in the state of Connecticut in the U.S. Northeast regional close-up map. However, the Concise shows the Chechenskaya Respublika, while the others do not. Though only the Concise and the Essential contain glossaries, the index-gazetteer at the end of all three contains wonderful comparative and statistical information, country-by-country particulars, and an extensive index. The Compact is a good purchase for individuals, but both the Concise and the Essential are highly recommended for academic, public, and school libraries. Michelle Foyt, Russell Lib., Middletown, CT
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

DK updated three atlases in 2003. Atlas of the World has more than 450 maps, Concise Atlas of the World has around 400 maps, and Compact Atlas of the World has around 60. In the two larger atlases, maps are surrounded by plenty of facts and graphics. Among the revisions is the new name for the former Yugoslavia RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; Revised edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789493624
• ISBN-13: 978-0789493620
• Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 9.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,501,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful graphics, poor layout, October 14, 2003

By 

A. Hartman (Toledo, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DK Concise Atlas of the World (Hardcover)

As usual, DK has produced some of the most beautiful maps and graphics available. Unfortunately, someone forgot to leave gutters (inner margins) and the binding splits most of the maps. Information is often lost, and the maps become very difficult to use. This seems to be common problem with a lot of atlas publishers who should really know better after all these years. Here's hoping DK remembers that bindings must be taken into account when planning an atlas, and produces future layouts accordingly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pages too crammed, lousy binding, paper of inferior quality, July 28, 2004

By 

K. Hofheinz (Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DK Concise Atlas of the World (Hardcover)

What's the purpose of an atlas? - Maps, maps, maps: readable maps, large-scale maps, thematic maps! - An atlas should not, in my view, try to replace geography books. Whoever wants detailed information about a single country should turn to a specialized book - and I think most people will. So the room available in an atlas should be given to the maps. Provided with good keys, the maps will speak for themselves. And it would be possible to reserve more room for maps in larger scale for other countries than the Americas (Europe, Caucasian countries, polar regions, and many more).
Maps, however, should be intelligible and easy to read. But this atlas very often fails to achieve this goal. Just look at the pages on Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and many others: you get maps in piecemeal, so that you can't really locate these islands in their proper context. Consider furthermore, how much text is given to nearly each small island, surrounding the maps at the right, the left, the bottom and the top - and you will have difficulty in finding out where this island is located in the context of the mapping of the Pacific Ocean unless you are keen on finding the exact position only by degrees of latitude and longitude.
You will not be able to find maps filling a complete page or double page without other maps or text inserted in it, so often vital information of the maps themselves get lost. If DK really wanted to give all this information, they would have done better in giving the map a complete page and the additional information relating to it another one, if possible: the two pages facing each other.
Trying to give much information of the physical features to the maps the colouring, especially of mountainous areas, is often rather unfortunate. Place names in such areas are hardly readable, especially in the vicinity of high peaks (Rocky Mountains, Andes, Himalayan regions etc). Another problem common to many other atlases, too, is also encountered in this atlas: in thematic maps the different shades of red, green, blue or yellow are often hard to distinguish,

Dorling Kinderley consider this atlas a "Superb Desktop Reference for Business, Home or School". This is indeed what an atlas should be. But: reference books are books consulted rather often compared to other books like novels etc. Thus, the binding of a reference work should be durable and resistent to frequent use. If you are looking for such an atlas - forget this one! The "Hardcover" is so durable that it could not even stand the shipment.
The Index is quite good although printed on paper of newspaper quality (more than 130 pages). So it is to be expected that in a few years' time it will be very difficult to read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best concise atlases!, March 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: DK Concise Atlas of the World (Hardcover)

Even though the binding may cut off the inner notes and maps, which is somewhat annoying, this book is nevertheless indispensable. A unique feature, the photos and notes are fun, informative, and educational. They tell you geological, cultural, political, and other information. The maps are beautiful and colorful, just what you expect from the well-reputated Dorling Kindersley. Highly recommended!!