Basically, the author could use assistance. There is also a need for more images, in some cases - fewer maps provide table of data instead particularly where the maps do not provide much detail , and Boxes which could highlight a case study or example for a region for example, El Nino and Disasters in Latin America; Migration Challenges.
The regional approach follows the typical organization and topics of a world regional text. There are fewer maps, tables, and pictures than you typically see since the author is reliant on open sources and Creative Commons licenses.
The topics The topics covered in the text are comprehensive, but some chapters are light on economic activities and focus more on globalization.
The text addresses different specialties in geography, such as biogeography, population geography, and economic geography, in the different regions and uses each region to address certain aspects of human geography throughout the text rather than examining and illustrating them in the introductory chapter.
This is helpful to not get bogged down in the beginning and introduction, but can be a drawback. For example, the population pyramids are not explained or introduced until you get to South Asia, so the first pyramid you see is in chapter 8. Some regions are that are separated out in other texts are combined, such as the Caribbean, Central America, and South America into Latin America, as well as East and Southeast Asia, so this inherently means it goes into less detail about some of these combined regions and individual countries in the regions.
I like some texts that include tables or statistics to compare countries within the region, and I think this easily be added to the text or the instructor would supplement. The physical geography section is usually the first section, but other topics do not follow the same format. This is a matter of personal preference, but it does take more time to find a particular topic. There are different headings and topics for each chapter, which can be good to avoid repetition and the need to cover every topic in every region, but a little more difficult for modularity.
The text makes it easy to assign shorter readings for topics not covered in class or to supplement lecture. Organized by region with about subheadings, typical of other world regional texts. This is personal preference, but it does make it easier to cover all content, rather than what seems like skipping whole chapters or regions to students.
I would like a list of each section at the beginning of the chapter, not just in the table of contents. Currently the text is only available in a pdf, with few imbedded functions other than the chapter bookmarks. The pdf is quite large, 81 mb, so can be difficult to download, open, or save on some hardware. Some images are too small to be readable or properly analyzed because of lack of detail. I found no issues with culturally insensitive content and addresses ethnic groups and diversity in each region.
I really enjoyed reading the text myself, and I used it in my summer class. I found it easy to assign just a section or two to reinforce lecture or address a topic I could not cover in class. It is more of a resource and reference for the class, and there are no supplemental materials that correspond to it. Likely useful for an instructor that already pulls material from multiple sources and is looking for a complementary and supplementary text. The textbook has an outline for the chapters and sections.
Each section has the respective page numbers labeled in the table of contents. The first chapter goes over geographic basics and terminology that is utilized throughout the semester.
Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less. The remaining nine chapters explain the physical and cultural aspects for each realm through introducing new terminology.
A couple of important geo-political topics are missing from the book. There are others but these are the current topics that should be within the book. Overall, it does contain the necessary information and terminology utilized within a typical World Regional Geography class.
The content is mostly accurate and contains the correct information for specific terms. The climates are accurate in each chapter giving a brief description as to why each realm contains these specific zones.
The historical events and cultural phenomena for each realm are explained in detail. The book can be a little bias over some topics. For globalization, the book only mentions Western cultural influences; nothing is present over Eastern cultural influences, with the growth of China.
The chapter over Latin America contains liberation theology, this is not geography term and can give the perception this is the authors personal beliefs.
The topic over Israel and Palestine focuses more on the Palestinians than the Israelis, not giving both perspectives equally. Information on the topic is very short when compared to other books. There are other instances of bias but these topics stuck out. The book has up-to-date information including recent occurrences within the world, especially over the Ukraine, Arab Spring, and the Refugee Crisis. The book is set-up so future impactful global events can be added.
Every chapter except for the first contains information over current events and problems within each realm. In the future, information over the current crisis in Iran could be added at a later date. Another example would be potential changes with the diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea. The book is very well written for an introductory course. Easy to follow and has a nice flow. The terminology is explained thoroughly using specific examples. The book is laid out in an easy to follow fashion.
Besides the introduction chapter, each chapter has a specific order. Every chapter starts on the physical landscape, going over physical features and climate. Historical information is presented for every realm, this allows the reader to connect how historical events were shaped by the geographic landscapes.
All of the sections within each chapter allows an instructor to assign specific pages to cover important topics from the table of contents. The glossary contains all the terms described throughout the book. As stated before there should be an index to aid students in looking up specific information. The book follows the order of most World Regional Geography textbooks. It starts with an introduction to what geography entails, explaining basic human and physical geographic terms.
Overall, the order is effective. East and Southeast Asia should be separate chapters because of their economic and cultural differences. Though it is understandable the author is trying to condense the information. Having the book in a PDF format to download is helpful for students; especially if they have slow or minimal internet access. However, there should be an index to reference specific topics and terms. Some map legends are hard to read. The legends in figures 6.
If the student has eyesight problems this can be problematic. The book does not contain any grammar errors after reading it several times. Overall it is very well written. There are no instances I situated in which the author used insensitive or offensive terms for various cultural groups within our globalized world.
Attention was given to the Mayans and Aztecs within Latin America, though there should have been information over the Incas. The author effectively explained the beliefs of the three Western religions and extremists within each religious group while utilizing sensitive language. This is an effective textbook and recommend for any World Regional Geography course.
Though it is somewhat bias, it is important students are exposed to all perspectives. Having students read these perspectives shows other viewpoints, allowing for greater discussions on various topics. The text covers the regions and realms well and includes basic coverage for lower division courses. This text has a glossary that is helpful, but there is no index. Some important issues for Some important issues for specific regions are missing, such as traditional agricultural methods, and explaining issues with tropical soils and deforestation, in the chapter on South America.
The information appears to be accurate. However, since it is a few years old populations have changed by several million. Tables for statistics that change would make updates easy to implement. It would also be helpful to have dates for statistics e. The text is well-written, easy to read, and does a great job of defining terms as it goes.
Chapters cover similar basics per region physical geography and settlement, for example and then vary slightly, with some having a section on natural hazards, and others on biogeography, or religious conflict, for example. Though the textbook lacks an index, it does have a detailed table of contents that should make it easy to assign specific sections to students.
Easy to navigate to sections via the table of contents. For some reason I had a difficult time using the search or find function in my PDF viewer and web browser for this textbook. If this problem is duplicated for others, this is a major downside for the instructor and students. I did not find the text to be culturally insensitive.
That said, I do think the textbook could do more to look at indigenous practices prior to and since colonization in different regions. Overall, this is a good textbook for covering many basics of regional geography, with room to supplement.
The text is only available in pdf format or online, and in both cases, the text stays on a particular page, rather than adjusting based on size. The addition of ePub and other formats would be helpful compare with another World Regional Geography textbook, where there are multiple formats. The introduction offers an exploration of the role The introduction offers an exploration of the role and importance of the spatial perspective as well as a guide to the different themes that will be explored in the text.
In the text, Finlayson goes beyond the traditional approach in world geography and not only includes descriptions of geographic features of regions such as climate, physical features, culture, economics, etc. The learning objectives presented at the beginning of each chapter offer the instructor and reader a way to navigate the text. Thought the chapters are shorter than a traditional regional geography textbook, they provide depth in context of the themes discussed and offer a way for instructors to utilize supplemental material to make the course more present and relatable to the students.
The figures that are provided in each chapter are up-to-date and relevant to students, making it easier to relate to the text. The author also includes current trends in the discipline of geography, such as in chapter five with her discussion of income inequality in South America and the current research on urban development.
The text is also a living text, in that it is updated. Finally, the text does provide an in-depth glossary of terms bolded throughout the text, but there is no index provided from the book. The book is written up-to-date and provides an instructor opportunity to add supplemental material to help include more current themes and case studies in their course.
Using globalization as a major theme of the text makes it quite easy for an instructor to keep the text current with their own content with the text as a springboard. The chapters often use case studies of different places within a region, which can seem like an over generalization or a region, but it must be remembered that this text should act as a guide and more detailed examples and case studies should be brought into the classroom to interact with the students.
A beneficial element in using this textbook is the requirement to from each based on the students and the time when the class is being taught. The book is also being updated and I have seen the edition, which shows that the author has written a text that facilitates updates, which only enhance the book. The book is well-written, and the prose are quite clear. The language used in the book makes the text approachable by the instructor and their students. The author provides an important introduction to the text to be upfront and clear about her approach in her writing, which is important to the clarity of the entire book.
The use of figures, images, and maps helps to clarify many of her points and therefore appeals to the visual learner. The textbook presents an interesting view to the study of world regional geography at the undergraduate level, one which is not often take, that of a thematic approach. In traditional undergraduate textbooks on world regional geography, each chapter represents a world region, often not all of them.
Then within each chapter physical features and generalized cultural aspects of a country are discussed. To structure her text, she does rely on the traditional approach of regions as chapters, but I believe it helps provide consistency not only in the text itself, but for how we have taught geography in the past. This approach along with her framework of subdivisions between physical and human geography makes the text easier for students to read and follow along.
The structure and flow of the text along with its regional organizational schema makes it a great text to model to any world regional geography course. There are ten chapters, which is perfect for a fifteen-week course allowing for some chapters to be divided into multiple weeks.
The objectives that are presented at the beginning of each chapter also allow the instructor to use different strategies when exploring each chapter with their students. The book provides a good overview of the physical and human settings for each region before jumping into the theme that will be discussed in the chapter. For example, in chapter two the author provides a description of the physical geography of Europe and the development of the human setting a focus on the Industrial revolution , before exploring the theme of migration and identity.
This type of structure allows for the instructor to begin where they like and add material to the course as they see fit. The organization of the book is very clear, well thought out, and easy to follow. The author divides the book into regional chapters. Within each chapter, there are subsections which explore the physical geography, human geography, and historical setting of the region. Then each chapter includes a thematic discussion of the region focusing, for example, on globalization or inequality.
The prose is clear and easy to read and would make any reader comfortable to learn about this detailed and important subject matter. Finally, the bolded key terms make for an easy way to find the important points from each chapter as well as providing concepts that will return throughout the text. The pdf format for this textbook is great both for the instructor and students. Having the material in this format facilitates easy of reading, note-taking, and intext searches.
The students also enjoy reading online as they are used to using screens, so the text is perfect for the students of this age. In my reading of the text through multiple times I did not find any grammatical errors that were obvious. This textbook is culturally sensitive and providing material that is understood and appreciative of all cultures.
In chapter eight, her discussion of cultural groups in South Asia takes care to explore the migratory patterns and development of culture and ethnicity in the region. As a geography of religion scholar, she provides detail on the various religious groups in the region. The maps and photos are beautiful color images that bring to life the text to highlight the cultural identity of the individuals discussed. This textbook provides an innovative way to teach students the spatial perspective and the importance of studying geography not for memorization of place names and physical features, but to understand how to study the world through the discipline of geography.
The clear and conscience writing style of the book proves attractive to instructors and students who can easily open to any chapter and clearly understand the approach, theoretical foundations, and regional diversity. I would not look at this textbook as a separate alternative to costly textbooks just because it is an open access text, but rather, I see this book as holding equal ground with any textbook on world regional geography.
It is engaging, thought provoking, and relevant to our modern world and the society in which our students are learning. The text presents a solid foundation suitable for introductory Geography courses. Unfortunately it does not provide an index, but it does include a useful glossary.
While updating any maps will have to be attended to as states change, they are currently accurate, with, for example, South Sudan shown appropriately. The book is written is a lucid style, providing adequate context for any specialized terms used. It avoids getting into terminology more appropriate for upper division geography courses. For instance, it mentions and defines geomorphology, but not aeolian geomorphogy.
The author uses a, "thematic approach Instead of repeating the same several themes each chapter, this text emphasizes depth over breadth by arranging each chapter around a central theme and then exploring that theme in detail as it applies to the particular region.
As noted, "In a traditional World Regional Geography textbook, chapters are arranged around the various regions of the world with each chapter focusing on the geographic features of the particular region.
In keeping with contemporary pedagogical fashions, the author organized the text, "with the backward course design model in mind and the content of each chapter was structured around these learning objectives. Because of this backward design focus, the length of each chapter is considerably shorter than most traditional textbooks. The intention is for the instructor to supplement the text with problems, case studies, and news articles and to use the text as a springboard for discussing deeper issues.
Several of the maps include details that are, quite frankly, impossible to decipher. Page 99, for example, shows something about population, but? This is okay, as long as the on-line zoom function is available and doesn't distort, but many of the maps would be useless if printed out.
It would also be helpful to include the names of countries on many of the maps rather than just their shaded-in shapes. Most students will not know, for example, that Eritrea is being referenced on pg. The text is quite culturally sensitive and inoffensive. Here, the author goes out of her way to err on what some readers may feel is an overly "political correct" way. The author feels that the Middle East is an "awkward" lexical choice as it is "privileges the European perspective," which it certainly does.
The challenge here, though, then involves a series of other discursive gymnastics to get to "North Africa and Southwest Asia," which, paradoxically, carry their own Eurocentric baggage. Is it really necessary to spend words to get there? This is an issue that geographers go back and forth on, but the point is that the author certainly takes care to be sensitive.
Rather than present students with a broad, novice-level introduction to geography, emphasizing places and vocabulary terms, this text approaches geography as experts understand the discipline, focusing on connections and an in-depth understanding of core themes.
This thematic approach, informed by pedagogical research, provides students with an introduction to thinking geographically. In addition, while chapters are designed to stand alone and be rearranged or eliminated at the instructor's discretion, the theme of globalization and inequality unites all of the regions discussed. This core focus enables students to draw connections between regions and to better understand the interconnectedness of our world.
Furthermore, the focus on both globalization and inequality helps demonstrate the real-world application of the concepts discussed. Colonialism, for instance, rather than a historical relict, becomes a force that has shaped geography and informs social justice. This thematic approach is also intended to facilitate active learning and would be suitable for a flipped or team-based learning-style course since it more easily integrates case studies and higher-order thinking than the traditional model.
Each chapter begins with a list of learning objectives. This text was written with the backward course design model in mind and the content of each chapter was structured around these learning objectives. The chapters are written in an accessible style, often addressing the student directly, and the author's voice has intentionally tried to remain present in the text. Following the Washington Post's gender-inclusive style guide, the singular they is intentionally used throughout the text.
Rhetorical questions are also used to help students reflect on concepts and to encourage them to dig deeper and consider concepts from different perspectives.
Caitlin Finlayson earned a Ph. She is a broadly trained Human Geographer specializing in Cultural Geography. She is a member of the Association of American Geographers. Content Accuracy rating: 4 Each chapter provides sufficient detail and generalized perspectives that are not overtly biased. Clarity rating: 5 The book does an excellent job of succinctly providing background and introducing complex concepts. Consistency rating: 5 The text is consistent without being overly routinized.
Modularity rating: 4 The chapters are well organized. Interface rating: 4 I like that bolded concepts can be clicked and defined without navigating away from the main text.
Grammatical Errors rating: 5 While I have not read every page carefully, it appears to be well edited and written. Cultural Relevance rating: 5 The text offers diverse perspectives and celebrates multiculturalism. Comments Very nice online textbook and the best open-source book I've found for World Geography. Content Accuracy rating: 5 I have not found any glaring errors.
Clarity rating: 5 Very clear, and the addition of highlighted vocabulary terms that can be clicked on for definition is a real plus when dealing with the issue of the lack of common vocabulary among students. Consistency rating: 5 Very consistent throughout. Modularity rating: 5 Chapter broken into logical sections.
Interface rating: 4 Everything looks good, but the term search function seems a bit clunky and doesn't always give the desired outcome. Grammatical Errors rating: 5 No grammatical errors I have seen. The reading level is accessible but not simplistic.
Cultural Relevance rating: 5 Finlayson takes great pains to approach issues of exploitation and equity throughout. Comments The book is certainly brief, but gives a more than adequate foundation for my course. Privatejobshub Wednesday, January 03, 0. Best Geography Books will help applicants to qualify this section easily. The reasons for Geography being a famous optional are the well defined IAS Syllabus for Geography, its semi-scientific nature, map based questions that are simple to score high.
Name of Authors. A Geography by Population. Agricultural Geography. Majid Husain. Economic and Social Geography — Made Simple. Rupa Publisher. Economic Geography. Environmental Awareness. Environmental Geography. Savindra Singh. General Climatology. Human Geography. Evolution of Geographic Thought.
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