My kingdom for an atlas...
December 13, 2011 6:23 AM Subscribe
Recommendations for best, recently published world atlas?
I need to purchase a world atlas as an xmas gift for my dad. I would like to get something recently published (within the last 2-3 years) as this atlas will replace the one I got him around 10 years ago. I was looking at the 13th ed. of the The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, but apparently there is some controversy surrounding it and I'm not sure I should buy it. Or maybe I should just buy it and not worry about the Greenland business?
$150 is my upper limit.
I need to purchase a world atlas as an xmas gift for my dad. I would like to get something recently published (within the last 2-3 years) as this atlas will replace the one I got him around 10 years ago. I was looking at the 13th ed. of the The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, but apparently there is some controversy surrounding it and I'm not sure I should buy it. Or maybe I should just buy it and not worry about the Greenland business?
$150 is my upper limit.
Best answer: The ninth edition of the National Geographic Atlas of the World came out last year, which isn't new enough to include South Sudan. National Geographic is unique in that it doesn't go with the brown-and-green relief map palette that most other atlases use (wherein green indicates low elevation rather than vegetation). I reviewed it when it came out (warning: self-link). It lists for $175; Amazon has it for less.
A new edition of Oxford University Press's Atlas of the World comes out every year. At $90 list (Amazon has it for nearly half off), this is smaller, less expensive and less extensive than either the Times Comprehensive or the National Geographic. At least in terms of size and pages, it's more in line with the next one down in the Times atlases, the Times Concise Atlas, though the Concise is much more expensive.
There are, in fact, a whole whack of Times atlases at different price points, not just the flagship Comprehensive. The Concise came out in 2009 and the Universal (next step down again) came out in 2008. They do not appear to be as readily available in the U.S., though.
As for whether you should worry about the Greenland business, I'm not sure how important it is. If nothing else, the publisher will be releasing an insert with a corrected map. At least it'll have South Sudan.
posted by mcwetboy at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2011
A new edition of Oxford University Press's Atlas of the World comes out every year. At $90 list (Amazon has it for nearly half off), this is smaller, less expensive and less extensive than either the Times Comprehensive or the National Geographic. At least in terms of size and pages, it's more in line with the next one down in the Times atlases, the Times Concise Atlas, though the Concise is much more expensive.
There are, in fact, a whole whack of Times atlases at different price points, not just the flagship Comprehensive. The Concise came out in 2009 and the Universal (next step down again) came out in 2008. They do not appear to be as readily available in the U.S., though.
As for whether you should worry about the Greenland business, I'm not sure how important it is. If nothing else, the publisher will be releasing an insert with a corrected map. At least it'll have South Sudan.
posted by mcwetboy at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2011
Best answer: > A new edition of Oxford University Press's Atlas of the World comes out every year.
Yes, that's a very nice atlas; it's not detailed enough for my needs, but if your dad doesn't need a really detailed atlas I'm sure he'd be happy with it. The National Geographic Atlas doesn't appeal to me, but it may to you; in fact, you should compare as many atlases as you can find before making a decision. A good atlas is a wonderful thing!
posted by languagehat at 7:31 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, that's a very nice atlas; it's not detailed enough for my needs, but if your dad doesn't need a really detailed atlas I'm sure he'd be happy with it. The National Geographic Atlas doesn't appeal to me, but it may to you; in fact, you should compare as many atlases as you can find before making a decision. A good atlas is a wonderful thing!
posted by languagehat at 7:31 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
In 2003, I bought the Second Edition of the Dorling Kindersley World Atlas after reading some laudatory reviews, and I've been very happy with it. I don't know if their later editions are as good, however.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:40 PM on December 15, 2011
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:40 PM on December 15, 2011
Response by poster: I went with the Oxford Atlas of the World. I can't believe I can't believe I didn't think to actually go look at atlases! I think he will be happy.
Languagehat, thinking about my dad monitoring the Greenland glaciers had me giggling for quite a while so thanks for that added bonus!
posted by ephemerista at 6:42 AM on December 17, 2011
Languagehat, thinking about my dad monitoring the Greenland glaciers had me giggling for quite a while so thanks for that added bonus!
posted by ephemerista at 6:42 AM on December 17, 2011
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That "controversy" is idiotic. The Times Comprehensive Atlas is the best atlas ever made, bar none. I own the ninth edition and have the latest on my wishlist. Seriously, look through it if you're near a bookstore/library that has one; examine the level of detail and the way the graphics present a maximum of information with a minimum of distraction. Like the OED people, they've been doing it a long time and know what they're doing. If the main reason your dad will be using the atlas is to monitor the Greenland glaciers, you might want to get him a more specialized work about them; otherwise, ignore the people yammering about it. (Not to say it's not unfortunate that they made a mistake, these things happen and need to be corrected, but the people saying that therefore the atlas is BAD and NO ONE SHOULD BUY IT are crazy and should be ignored.)
posted by languagehat at 7:22 AM on December 13, 2011 [1 favorite]