Concise Atlas of the World, Second Edition

National Geographic Books has just released the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World, Second Edition, a condensed yet complete world portrait.

This edition includes more than 3,000 updates, 32 new pages of expanded content, and 500 maps, charts, graphs, flags and illustrations. All the maps are fresh, newly researched and state-of-the-art, reflecting the latest changes in the world. Topics covered are informative, relevant and interesting, providing readers with the most current geographic knowledge and global trends.

Smart navigational features and intuitive design elements make reference searches easy and quick.The atlas opens with beautifully rendered, up-to-date, thoroughly indexed, political and physical maps of the world. World thematic maps follow, presenting plate tectonics, climate and weather, oceans, population, religion, energy and the economy. Health and education, environmental stress, and conflict and terror are also covered, providing a review of the increasingly complex issues we face today.

A newly compiled time zone map is added, as well as a special section on the United States, providing more in-depth coverage, including population changes, most prevalent religious groups, risk to property from natural disasters, and national parks and reserves. The full-color physical and land cover maps enhance and enrich readers' understanding of Earth's natural features.

New continental maps cover water availability, dominant economies, energy consumption, population density, climate and natural events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Country profiles provide valuable and useful facts for all 193 independent nations of the world. Never-before-published satellite mosaics depict the Earth in high resolution from hundreds of miles above.

It's a fantastic value at $24.95.

160 pages

350 color maps, graphics, satellite images, and photos
10 1/4 x 13 1/2
Softcover

ISBN: 978-1-4262-0196-7

Onion Made Us Cry

A column by Al Lewis about the satirical newspaper The Onion in today's Denver Post mentions their new atlas, Our Dumb World.

Says Onion CEO Stephen Hannah, "Our atlas is doing better than anything Rand McNally or National Geographic has done in a while. They are not on the bestseller lists."

We realize it's The Onions role to tweak, but the truth must out:

For the record, book bestseller lists do not take account of the many thousands of National Geographic world atlases purchased by our members through the mail. And if they included all the Wal-Marts and gas stations that sell road atlases, Rand McNally's would be perennially on the top of the list as they move millions every year.

Among the Onion's many subjects of ridicule in their atlas: our famous Afghan girl. Well, we're really not crying, but permit us to sniff!