Summary

The new edition of ESSENTIALS OF WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY provides both a cultural and physical geographic understanding of the world's eight regions in an easily customizable format designed to fit different course structures while retaining a true global appreciation. The text's hallmark pedagogical feature, "Profile" chapters, provide a brief, thematic overview of each of the eight regions. This pedagogical organization allows an instructor to cover the entire world in thirteen weeks, spending as little or as much time on each region as they need, or even creating a custom book to fit their course. Subsequent regional chapters provide traditional, finer-scale details on a local level, including geographical factors and in-depth observations found in a number of boxed elements; "Problem Landscapes," "Definitions and Insights," "Regional Perspectives," and "Perspectives from the Field." "Geography of..." a new pedagogical feature, introduces students to cultural and regional specifics, with topics ranging from "Ethnic Geography" to the "Geography of Terrorism" and many more. These boxed elements combine to identify common themes across regional boundaries, clarify terms and concepts, and explore controversial world matters. Furthermore, the Fifth Edition integrates active, online learning with GeographyNow, the first assessment-centered student tutorial system developed for any geography course. GeographyNow icons found throughout the book enhance student learning by providing a personalized learning plan that emphasizes the text's global themes through map interpretation exercises, review of chapter objectives, and testing of chapter and regional concepts.