Customer Reviews

Questioning Geography: Fundamental Debates

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I have used several of these chapters in both undergrad and grad classes, in everything from statistics, to GIS, to human geography, to land use. All around great book! Apparently this comes out of a push in the U.K. to write upper division geography textbooks. I wish we had such a push here in the U.S. (and that it was lucrative). Some of the topics are Britain-specific, so it takes a bit more work to explain the context to undergrad students. The idea that geographers should have some sort of "capstone" course at the end of the BA/BS degree to review and synthesize what they have learned, and apply to real world, policy relevant problems (e.g., interpretations of census data) is a good way to go, in my opinion. I also like the divisions: debates, key issues, the discipline itself. Very useful! Anyone who reads this book should have no problem thoughtfully and compellingly answering the question: what do geographers do?

This text was used in my Geography Capstone class. It provided me a lot of insight into Geography. We didn't cover the whole text so I can't say I loved every article. In fact, I can't say that I loved any article. The text served its purpose of introducing me to issues in geography. I think I will be able to use it again during my graduate studies.

It's all here: the disciplinary debate over cultural versus physical geography, professional relevancy, marxism, etc., (topics that seem to get the juices of geographers flowing). But it's getting old.
Economists at Tufts just released a report CLIMATE CHANGE: THE COSTS OF INACTION which states that without immediate government action on climate change, the env. and scoial costs will be incalculable. Geographers take notice: this should be the obvious issue the profession could rally around. In this book, you never would have guessed it. Take warning geographers: debate all you want, but the costs of inaction on a grand and unified scale to address global warming will be the cross geographers--with all of their expertise on global environmental change-- bear.