The Europeans: A Geography of People, Culture, and Environment / Edition 2

by Robert C. Ostergren, Mathias Le Bossé

Overview

This leading text offers a comprehensive, richly nuanced, and authoritative introduction to European geography. Coverage encompasses the entire region: its physical setting and environment, population and migration, languages and religions, and political organization. Particular attention is given to historic and contemporary features of the diverse urban environments in which most Europeans live, work, and play. Combining vivid description, essential information, and cogent analysis, the text is illustrated with more than 200 photographs and 64 maps.

 
New to This Edition
*Fully updated to reflect ongoing changes in this dynamic region.
*Expanded coverage of timely topics such as emissions and energy policy, aging of the population, migration, religiosity and secularization, ethnonationalism, health care, popular culture, and the future of the European Union.
*Engaging vignettes in every chapter on European places, cultural issues, and daily life.
*Over 45 new photographs and maps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593853846
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	03/07/2011
Series:	Texts in Regional Geography
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

 

Robert C. Ostergren is Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has lived, studied, and traveled extensively in Europe, and is the author of many publications about European and North American cultural and historical geography. He is a recipient of his university's Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
 
Mathias Le Bossé is Assistant Professor of Geography at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches a variety of courses in human, cultural, and regional geography. As a cultural and political geographer, his main publications so far have dealt with issues of identity, regionalism, and nationalism in the context of European integration.

 

Read an Excerpt

1. Introduction: Europe as a Culture Realm
I. People and Environment
2. European Environments
3. Population
4. Human-Environment Interaction
II. Culture and Identity
5. Language
6. Religion
7. The Political Landscape
III. Towns and Cities
8. Cities and Urban Life to World War I
9. Modern and Postmodern Urbanism
IV. Work and Leisure
10. Making a Living
11. Consumption, Leisure, and Popular Culture
12. Epilogue: European Futures

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Europe as a Culture Realm
I. People and Environment
2. European Environments
3. Population
4. Human–Environment Interaction
II. Culture and Identity
5. Language
6. Religion and Values
7. The Political Landscape
III. Towns and Cities
8. Cities and Urban Life to World War I
9. Modern and Postmodern Urbanism
IV. Work and Leisure
10. Making a Living
11. Consumption, Leisure, and Popular Culture
12. Epilogue: European Futures

Interviews

Instructors and students in geography and related fields. Serves as a primary text in undergraduate courses on European geography.

Editorial Reviews

"This accessible text provides insights into historical and current issues in Europe, integrating concepts from physical, urban, political, and cultural geography. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of European geography and get useful suggestions for further reading. The new vignettes in the second edition illustrate concepts introduced in each chapter."—Micheline van Riemsdijk, Department of Geography, University of Tennessee

"Well written and admirably comprehensive, this book covers topics ranging from the retooling of the welfare state in formerly Communist countries, to continent-wide patterns of retailing, to religiosity and secularization. The authors reveal plenty of firsthand experience in the region. Updates in the second edition enhance what was already a fine textbook for undergraduate courses."—John Western, Department of Geography, Syracuse University 
 "The Europeans has quickly become the standard textbook for undergraduate geography courses on the region and its people. Retaining the clear structure, accessible writing, and appealing layout that characterized its predecessor, this second edition has been thoroughly revised to cover recent developments in the region. In addition to dozens of new images and maps, each chapter is accompanied by new vignettes on diverse topics—including urbanization and environmental change, immigration and nationalism, energy use, and health care—which help bring the region and its people to life for students."—Joshua Hagen, Department of Geography, Marshall University
 
 "A superb introduction to European geography, this text is impressive for its expansive breadth and meticulous attention to detail. Each chapter examines historic and contemporary features of a geographic theme, combining canonic knowledge of Europe with critical insights into the construction of our cultural perspectives. The clear and consistent structure, engaging writing, and informative illustrations make this book ideal for undergraduate education."—Paul Stangl, Department of Environmental Studies, Western Washington University
 

From the Publisher

"This volume is an excellent general text for undergraduate students of geography and all others interested in a thorough introduction to this most important region. It is very well written, tightly edited and nicely structured so that it holds the reader's attention....This book's structure is refreshing and engaging....Virtually every important point made in the text is supplemented by a map, table, or photograph. The maps are especially clear, well chosen, and useful."--Regional Studies

Regional Studies

"The book is in general to be praised for being clearly and unpretentiously written, without any 'dumbing down.'...I recommend it for use when teaching the human geography of Europe."--Geographical Review (on the prior edition)

Geographical Review

"Cover[s] every imaginable component of European culture, economics, and politics as well as the historical background needed to effectively understand the contemporary continent. The authors have also incorporated the maps, charts, diagrams, and photographs needed to make the book useful to the undergraduate audience at which the text is aimed. Perhaps most important of all, the book does not shortchange smaller countries such as Iceland, Monaco, or Vatican City, which are all too often considered peripheral to European events....This valuable contribution to understanding the evolution of contemporary institutions is sure to become a standard textbook in the field and will undoubtedly be widely used in university classes on European geography....Highly recommended. All undergraduate collections."--Choice (on the prior edition)

Choice