National Geographic Atlas of the World, Ninth Edition

It is what it should be

I was surprised to see the rather low overall rating of this atlas. Then I read further and saw the heated debate about some of the content, specifically what to call the Persian/Arab Gulf. With no desire to step into this argument, I do feel the need to convey that this one point of contention represents less than 1/100 of 1% of the entire information presented in this atlas. If you really disagree, write the publisher, then move on to the rest of the book - there is an abundance of objective material on every other page. I have some issues with how Tibet is (not) represented, but I don't let that keep me from enjoying every other part of the book. I think you would be hard-pressed to find any book of this size and depth without at least one potentially inflammatory bit. That said, I love this book. Truly, it is my favorite reference, along with my OED. I easily lose myself for hours in its pages. Almost any topic relating to our planet is in here somewhere. Plate tectonics? Sure! In fact, if you wonder where your continent will be in 150 million years, this atlas will show you! How big is our solar system in relation to our galaxy? To our supercluster? Its in there -if you can grasp these heady dimensions! Ever wonder what Slovenia's chief exports are? Or what Cambodia's flag looks like? Or which kind of maps show the least distortion, and why? And did you know there are deciduous needle forests? (Larch, in Russia) If you can ask it, this book will probably answer it. Even more, this book will answer questions you never knew you had. So, please, put your quarrels about a place name aside, and focus on what this tome does have to offer - an amount of accurate, breathtaking knowledge that you couldn't gain from a stack of college textbooks and a year of globetrotting. Yes, 'tis the ultimate resource. Oh, and my binding is holding up fine. Maybe that one fellow had a bad one that could be exchanged? So, purchase without hesitation. It will serve your family well for years.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

not a forum for political correctness

NG should strive not to cave in to the shifting fashions of the political correctness, although it seems that the society has been gradually doing just that over the years. A World Atlas should be an objective document striving to represent geographical detail to the highest possible degree and it troubles me to read political debates when I look for comments about the quality of this publication. Accordingly, I should not have to wonder whether a certain geographical name I read in this book is historically correct or if it is just the flavor of the month. Aside from inflammatory references to nazi bakeries, a few points are in order: 1. The Persian Gulf is an international body of water, it belongs equally to all, therefore it should be even less subjected to the political egos of a nation than a land feature may be. I am not opposed to change, but before calling it differently, let either history or a world's consensus decide so we all may know where or what in the world a referenced place actually is. Precisely for that reason we do not call the Baltic Sea the Scandinavian Gulf, nor the English Channel the French Straits 2. The Atlas should also not be skittish about being an English language publication which writes using the Roman/Latin Alphabet even if some names are written differently in their respective languages and/or alphabets. So, no, although I am foreign born, I do not have a problem with Calcutta, or Bucharest or any other name being spelled in English. In fact, even for just the sake of consistency, I much prefer that to any other alternate spelling deriving out of an arbitrary attempt to somehow relate a certain pronunciation to a totally different alphabet, which does nothing but leaves one wondering over how the darn thing is actually pronounced. Ever tried to spell Beijing in Mandarin? To add insult to the injury, the gentleman¿s remark that the atlas is coming loose at the seams after just one week of use, was the real eye-opener to me as to where the NG priorities are, or are not. I respect the genial work of all the professionals who gathered and produced all that amazing amount of information, but someone higher on the NG¿s executive ladder should be less ideological and more practical.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great Content, Poor Hardcover Binding

In March of 2007, I purchased and received the National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition. I bought the hardcover version with a protective slipcase (ISBN: 0-7922-7543-8). The GOOD: The content¿all maps, the keys and abbreviations used, format and layout, photographs, detail summary of countries, and the 134 page index. The paper is of good quality and the sewn-in ribbon placeholder is very handy. I really like the maps which portray the Moon, our Solar System, and the Universe. I¿m not an expert cartographer, so I can¿t attest to correctness of geographical placement and names, but the detail evident on all maps is outstanding. In summary, for a large atlas of the world, this one has truly exceptional content. The BAD: The seam¿internally, some place names disappear into the seam in the middle of the book where the two pages meet. Some details in the seam simply aren¿t readable. Although perhaps a minor problem, print spacing could have been improved along the seam. The UGLY: The binding¿ it¿s not strong and absolutely not of good quality. I treat all my books respectfully well, just like a strict librarian. After reviewing my new NG Atlas of the World each evening for only one week, the spine is already breaking down and coming apart at one end. This leads me to believe it will be in tatters relatively quickly, which is extremely disappointing, considering the fine quality of information contained within its shoddily crafted shell. It appears National Geographic poured huge amounts of money into creating the content and spent minimal cash to create a quality hardcover to match the interior. In RETROSPECT: Softcover¿may be the way to go. I should have purchased the softcover edition to obtain all the great content, without paying a premium price for the poor quality hardcover. The life expectancy of each is probably comparable.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful

I received this atlas for Christmas, and I love it. I've been reading obsessively about foreign countries, their different cultures and stories and conflicts, and it has contributed enormously to the experience being able to follow the locations of events in relation to the landscape and surrounding peoples. I was surprised at the summaries of countries in the back of the book. The section on America is one third pre-9/11 and the remainder deals with events in the last couple of years. One of the major wars (Civil or Revolutionary, I don't remember which) is not even mentioned. Quite a strongly telegraphic view of American History. I was delighted to see that cities throughout the world were given their proper names. Calcutta was relabeled as Kolkata. Finally, our society is beginning to acknowledge that other people had their own cultures before we got there to examine them. On that note, K. Arfaian, you really had to stretch hard to get Nazis in your tantrum over the Persian Gulf. You segwayed directly from the name of a body of water in the Middle East to Auschwitz. Wow. I must express my amazement at the awesome power of your determination to be offended.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Innovative Atlas

I was concerned about buying the atlas because of some negative reviews. However, I looked at the atlas in a nearby Barnes & Noble and found innovative graphics, along with informative and easy to read maps.It seems most of the negative reviews came from members of Iranian groups over the use of Arabian Gulf, with Persian Gulf, on the maps.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

More of an encyclopedia than atlas

Blockbuster size offers great maps, but fills way too much space with glossy photos and narrative. Felt like I was reading a glorified edition of National Geographic Magazine more than reviewing anatlas. More over, city maps faileda test which comparable atlases past: no sign of nor listing for the Londonsuburb where I grew-up. The problem is city map focused on details ofcity center at expense of inner suburbs. Fewer postcard-like photos and less narrative might have made space for broader detail of cities.However, I will buy the National Geographic Atlas for my interest inpassenger train travel: it gives rail routes worldwide, going so far as to give special distinction to high speed inter-urban service. No othergeneral purpose atlas came close to this.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

1+1=2

Prove why 1+1=2. State your arguments clearly.

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Inaccurate, depicts cities that don't exist!

I was quite disappointed to see how inaccurate and biased this atlas is. The big pro: it is the most beautiful atlas I have ever seen, and with excellent graphical charts (astronomy, data from nations etc).
However, after flipping some pages, come the cons:

1. It depicts cities that don't exist: for example, on page 51, P13. There is a town called "Crato", highlighted in comparison to nearby towns. Crato simply doesn't exist. On the other hand, just beside it lies a "small village" (as depicted in smaller fonts) called Humaitá. Actually, Humaitá is a town with around 40,000 inhabitants and it should have been portrayed in boldface. "Araras" on the same page, Q10 is also an invention.
Amazingly, the National Geographic has an online map which correctly shows the entire region.

2. Cities with different "weight" in politics/economics are shown as if they had the same importance. By seeing the map of the UK, I can assume that Manchester is as important as Wakefield (page 57, P14) or Barnsley. On the big US map (page 29), we have the impression that New York has the same weight of San Antonio, Texas.
Also, urban sprawl and conurbations are not depicted in this atlas.

3. The atlas is evidently biased towards North America and Europe. On page 59, we can see villages of 7,000 people (Jauche, Belgium, N6) under a 1:1,112,000 scale. However, you won't see important Brazilian cities such as Guarulhos, with over 1 million people, because the most detailed map of the country is to a scale of only 1:6,965,000. India, with over 1 billion inhabitants, is shown in only one map (!) under a scale of 1:6,450,000.

If I can see villages of Belgium or Nunavut, why can't I see villages of India? Or Brazilian cities of 1 million inhabitants?

If you are just looking for beautiful maps with a focus on US/Canada and Europe, then this may be the map for you. However, if you want to see the rest of the world, choose another one.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Revisionist? = Accurate

In regards to the argument that this book, and any other 'revisionist' material is somehow anti-semetic is absurd! Do you honestly think that the United States was called the United States by our many Native peoples before the current settlers came? Do you think that throughout time place names have not changed? If a people desires that there territory be named something less offense to them (ie. Arab Gulf) it should be respected. Aside from that, this book is what it is, and is a good one.

inaccurate information

I have found a few inaccurate information, at first I was surprised but I double checked and found them wrong.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Do not buy. Too many mistakes. Wait for the next release.

Do not buy this new atlas. It has too many mistakes. I had to give it a star, so I could submit my comments. If they correct the mistakes, purchase the corrected version.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Arabic Goegraphic Society

This society is in business of altering our history and geography for the interest of thier rich Arab friends. Those who alter history are called revisionist, they deny historical facts about Holocaust and the name Persian Gulf. They are subject to prosecution, jail and big fine in Europien countries. NGS(Arabic geogrphic society) has decided to be a revisionist. Thier next alteration in thier world Atlas would be to name Dachau and Aushwitz just a baking factory for Natzi germany and not a concentration camp to systematicly exterminate the Jews.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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