National Geographic Desk Reference [Hardcover]

National Geographic Society (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999

Compiled by professional geographers from across the United States, this reference is divided into four sections, covering: geography past and present; our changing planet; people; place.'

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Geographers, natural scientists, sociologists, environmentalists, explorers (both armchair and ambulant), and cartographers, take note: National Geographic has put out a desk reference, and it's a beaut. The mere heft of it (3.75 lbs.) is inspiring, and the contents more than live up to National Geographic's reputation for quality.

It was written by five professors with Ph.D.s in geography and geology, natural sciences, and urban studies, and the text adheres to rigorous scholarly standards, nonetheless speaking to a broad audience. In other words, there's much to by gained by professionals, but it's accessible to those who routinely nodded off during high school earth science, too. The Desk Reference is organized into four parts. "What Is Geography?" takes a look at the history of geography and the history of maps and globes, forming Part I. Part II, "Physical Geography," delves into the structure, composition, formation, dimensions, and tilt of Planet Earth, followed by a lucid discussion of weather, climate patterns, geology, and bioregions. Next comes Part III, "Human Geography," which examines the population, migration, culture, politics, economy, and society throughout the world. And finally there is Part IV, "Places," with 216 pages devoted to summarizing the nations of the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, providing relevant statistics and notes on each country's economy, government, transportation, and communications. And these country sketches are followed by 11 superb maps, as well as a glossary.

In a time of change that's affecting our climates and populations, environments and national borders, National Geographic's Desk Reference is a welcome source of information, analysis, and perspective. --Stephanie Gold

From Library Journal

Combining National Geographic's respected reputation with an overall plan and writing provided by prominent geographers and a physically attractive presentation that includes nearly 300 illustrations, this work should become a classic on many reference shelves. The structure is simple, providing the basics of geography and maps, physical geography (such as information on climate, geology, and soils), human geography, an alphabetical listing of the world's 191 nations, 80 maps, a glossary, and an index to the first three parts. About one page is dedicated to each nation--with basic information on physical geography, location, population, religion, language, government, and economy. There is no other reference work exactly like this. A volume that may also find its way into many homes, it is recommended for public and academic libraries.
-Mary Lynette Larsgaard, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 704 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 1 edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792270827
• ISBN-13: 978-0792270829
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #750,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars National Geo Could do Better, December 3, 1999

By 

Thomas P. McKenna (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Desk Reference (Hardcover)

I was disappointed. Perhaps I expected better -- a lot better -- from National Geographic. Perhaps I was looking for something this book is not. Whatever the reason, this is not a book that I will go back to again and again, which is what I expect from something called "a desk reference."

Most of the book is a description of how the earth was formed, the continents, etc. Well done, as such things always are in National Geo publications. But not something the average person would go back to again to find some fact or piece of information.

In several sections, e.g. the one on population, they were just too politically correct by describing the theories of both Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon.

They debated whether population growth was good or bad and the section on migration did not use the "I" word, at least I didn't see any mention of the impact of immigration on the US. Our Census Bureau projects that our 275 million population will double to over half a billion by the middle of this coming century with half of that increase a result of immigration since 1970. But National Geographic doesn't seem to consider facts like that worth including in a desk reference.

What I wanted was a lot of detailed information on every country in the world plus comparative tables that rank them by per capita wealth, etc. What they offered in that category could be found in a good encyclopedia.

Keep looking. There will be other books that do it better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If this is what you want, then this is it., November 27, 2001

By 

K. Weessies (Lansing, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Desk Reference (Hardcover)

True, if you are looking for detail factoids about each country in the world (per complaint in prior review) then this is not the best product out there, I'd go to Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook or Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations or the online CIA World Factbook. Instead, this is more an encyclopedia of the discipline of geography, from Eratosthenes to the European Union. The first three sections, "What is Geography?", "Physical Geography", and "Human Geography" cover theories and processes like a mini textbook. Consider it a grown-up version of Kenneth Davis' Don't Know Much About Geography. Only the last section contains information about individual countries, covering each nation's physical geography, government, economy, culture, etc. Being more of a human or social geographer, I find the sections on physical geography topics to be very handy on such topics as plate tectonics, soils, and groundwater. Why only 4 stars? Like many 'desk references' it has perhaps an identity crisis. Is it a dictionary? An encyclopedia? A directory or a textbook? A little of all rolled into one.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Addition to your National Geographic Library, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Desk Reference (Hardcover)

A National Geographic Book that puts it all together. I have read many college level geography textbooks, and this book has all the information in a much more readable form. The maps and diagrams in this book are great, but if you are looking for a National Geographic Picture Book, buy something else. I have enjoyed reading through this book.