Citation World Atlas

Agree with most of the reviewers here. I like the countries presented all separately. That way the index lists the cities and populations, provinces also, on that and the previous page. Color overview maps describe rainfall etc physical phenomena. Roads, railroads etc are not shown for the world section (shown for N America), so the text you see is clear to sort thru. No countries are chopped into two pieces to seek thru. Looks a lot like the Hammond United States Atlas. Perhaps not as detailed on data as needed for a college level atlas, but more than enough for most of us.

Ignore the clueless School Library Journal review. This atlas is perfect for basic reference and school projects. It is not intended to be a highly detailed ultra-refined reference work, and it is confusing to see people faulting it for that. Most maps are on ONE page (a miracle!), with small but helpful topographic, land use and agricultural maps. For the U.S. maps, state flags are reproduced, and basic state facts and gazetteers are along side the maps. This is an affordable, very useful basic atlas, with wonderfully clear maps that have county boundaries, county seats and larger cities clearly marked. Highly recommended for use at work, school or home.

Let me begin with some minor critical points: I believe that, for the book's price, the color quality is primitive and tacky. Also, a portion of the maps are too small. That said, however, there are several qualities that make this, in my opinion, the finest World Atlas ever printed: One: if you enjoy atlases for precise political detail, the Hammond Citation Atlas is the most precise of them all. After surveying every atlas in Borders and Barnes & Noble, I found that 99% of the "prettier" and more expensive books failed to present the political subdivisions of nations, except the US, Canada, sometimes Australia, and, once in a blue moon, Mexico. Hammond Citation, on the other hand, gives you EVERYTHING, no over-simplification, no mediocrity, no pretty but academically useless movie-poster maps. If you believe, as I do, that reference books should provide reference, this fine volume is the only one that fits that bill. Two: This Atlas does not ignore the existence of small territories, as many of the "finer" atlases do. If you want to find St. Helena (UK) in the South Atlantic, by George, you will find it. I have great respect for Rand McNally, a source of good atlases. Unfortunately, they often don't place Navassa Is. (US), south of Guantanamo, anywhere on earth. Details such as those are the reason I appreciate Hammond. Three: This book does not run its maps into the book seam. I cannot put into words what an importance difference this makes. Four: Most of the maps are excellently proportioned. A few of them are uncomfortably small, like the Caribbean, but these belong to a very small minority. Five: Outside of National Geographic maps, which I consider the best, Hammond's color scheme for political maps is the most clear, logical, useful, and pleasing to the eye. Political maps are their finest accomplishment. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for those who appreciate concise and precise geographic knowledge in an affordable format, and reject prettier but unscholarly maps in an expensive book you can't use.

Forget School Library Journal. I've had a version of this same atlas for 25 years, and when it became outdated--I looked until I found an updated version. Why? Because this Atlas has so much information, so clearly printed and accessibly arranged, that I couldn't find a comparable book (in the same size) without getting an updated version of the same thing. I just couldn't buy anything else until I found my old friend. One of the very great virtues of this book is that it's fully packed with info and doesn't weigh a ton. Great as a reading reference for light history or heavy fiction.

I own the book of Hammond Citation World Atlas b/c I had to buy it for a recreation class in college in the past. When I got done with that recreation class with the Hammond Citation I went ahead and kept the book instead of sold it back to the college book store since the book was very helpful to me in the future! I can alway use that book to look up what city/town or village population and etc. Kim