Place: A Short Introduction (Short Introductions to Geography) [Paperback]

Tim Cresswell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1405106727 | ISBN-13: 978-1405106726 | Publication Date: June 14, 2004 | Edition: 1

This text introduces students of human geography to the fundamental concept of place, marrying everyday uses of the term with the complex theoretical debates that have grown up around it.

• A short introduction to one of the most fundamental concepts in human geography
• Marries everyday uses of the term "place" with the more complex theoretical debates that have grown up around it
• Makes the debates intelligible to students, using familiar stories as a way into more abstract ideas
• Excerpts and discusses key papers on place by Doreen Massey and David Harvey
• Considers empirical examples of ways in which the concept of place has been used in research
• Teaching and learning aids include an annotated bibliography, lists of key readings and texts, a survey of web resources, suggested pedagogical resources and possible student projects

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a truly wonderful book. It is short but not trite or superficial. It is in depth without being dense. It is timely without ignoring classic issues and debates. There is a clear pedagogy here, which is often missing in texts, and it is well written by an outstanding geographer, and so I predict this book will sell very well indeed." Michael Brown, University of Washington

"The idea of place lies at the heart of most significant geographical issues, yet place can often be a difficult and highly contested notion. There is no more authoritative writer on place than Tim Cresswell, and here he presents a formidable multifaceted introduction...which should be read by every student of human geography." Paul Cloke, Bristol University

Book Description

Place is one of the most fundamental concepts in human geography. This short introduction marries familiar everyday uses of the term with the more complex theoretical debates that have grown up around it. The text makes the debates intelligible to students, using illustrations from the news, popular culture, and everyday life as a way into more abstract ideas. It traces the development of the concept of place from the 1950s through its subsequent appropriation by cultural geography and the linking of place to politics. Substantial parts of exemplary papers by Doreen Massey and David Harvey are included as a focus for discussion, and the author also considers empirical examples of ways in which the concept of place has been mobilised in research. Teaching and learning aids include an annotated bibliography, lists of key readings and texts, a survey of web resources, and suggestions for pedagogical resources and student projects.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (June 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405106727
• ISBN-13: 978-1405106726
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful, January 10, 2009

By 

R. Stander "axisofaccess.blogspot.com" (Grand Forks, ND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Place: A Short Introduction (Short Introductions to Geography) (Paperback)

Cresswell's volume is one of the most helpful for those starting out with discussions of place. He deftly moves between the complexities, central figures, and history of place. Cresswell helpfully summarizes many of the arrayed arguments pointing to differences and similarities. Perhaps one of the most helpful components of the text is the Chapter 5 resources for further study of place including books, papers, journals, other approaches, as well as, student projects and exercises to grapple with concepts and practice of place.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Sense of Humor, March 25, 2011

By 

Maria - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Place: A Short Introduction (Short Introductions to Geography) (Paperback)

The author has a sense of humor that catches you off-guard when you're reading. This a good book to start off a Rhetoric of Place class, or begin your study of place. Most of the authors referenced in the book are people that I come across again and again in my readings. Great summary book that spans across dozens of lead-aways from discussions of the "other" to being "out of place" and "non-places" etc. Cresswell does a brilliant job of making it all cohesive. I wish he would have added more examples for his chapter on Harvey and Massey, but other than that, he makes some wonderful connections that make it easier to delve into a confusing topic.