Rand McNally Goode's World Atlas (Goode's World Atlas, 20th)

Rating:
Summary: Best for educational purposes.
Review: The twentieth edition of Goode's atlas of the world continues to be a standard for U.S.-educational purposes. The reference maps themselves are not too accurate and detailed, but they provide a reasonably well-balanced coverage of the world, with handy larger-scale inset maps for the more populous regions of each continent. There is an elaborate thematic section on a variety of topics about the world, the continents, and the United States in particular. This is supplemented by a very good statistical section, and the 30,000 entry index gazetteer contains a pronunciation guide for each entry, which is unique for a world atlas. Non-US buyers probably have better alternatives, but for school purposes for North America, this is a very good choice. The publication of this twentieth (!) edition illustrates the endurability of this work since 1922.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent desktop World Atlas
Review: This is a great quick reference world atlas. Contains an extensive and thorough place-name index. Of course this altas does not contain small area details, but at 9"x11" and 1" thick it is well worth it's shelf space.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent desktop World Atlas
Review: This is a great quick reference world atlas. Contains an extensive and thorough place-name index. Of course this altas does not contain small area details, but at 9"x11" and 1" thick it is well worth it's shelf space.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: this is the best atlas. the information in the front on world stats has been very helpful for papers. i've tired others and i recommend this one.

Rating:
Summary: None better
Review: When I took my first college-level geography class, my professor told the class that Goode's World Atlas is the best atlas on the market. Fifteen years and a couple of editions later, it's still the best atlas I've ever seen. The atlas includes a commendable section on map projections, many excellent thematic maps, easy-to-read regional (general) maps, tables of country and landform sizes, and a wonderful index. If you're looking for a road map, this atlas probably won't help. If you want to learn about the world, or teach school-aged children about the world they live in, then this is one of the top resources out there.

Rating:
Summary: None better
Review: When I took my first college-level geography class, my professor told the class that Goode's World Atlas is the best atlas on the market. Fifteen years and a couple of editions later, it's still the best atlas I've ever seen. The atlas includes a commendable section on map projections, many excellent thematic maps, easy-to-read regional (general) maps, tables of country and landform sizes, and a wonderful index. If you're looking for a road map, this atlas probably won't help. If you want to learn about the world, or teach school-aged children about the world they live in, then this is one of the top resources out there.