It is only on the globe that geographical locations can be accurately depicted. The challenge to mapmakers, say the editors,
is to represent the globe on a flat surface. The solution arrived at by Mercator – and still in use today – is to use a method of
projection known as cylindrical projection.
In an era of Google Earth and satellite imagery, the (Reader’s Digest)
Atlas of the World is something of an anachronism. However, if you are not comfortable using computers, this is probably the next best thing… As the maps are large, detailed and exhaustive; and the artwork is soothing to the eyes. The strongest point of the Atlas is its use of three-dimensional shading to indicate the elevation of the area.
The
Atlas of the World consists of two sections –
A World of Wonders (a section on basic geography) and
The World in Maps (the Atlas proper). It is apparent that the genius of the editors has gone into designing the first section alone; for the Maps are nothing out of the ordinary. The editors have conceded that the Maps must form the core of the Atlas; but it does not appear that they have followed their own advice.
Though the
political and state boundaries are indicated, this is essentially a geographical Atlas. This is both its strength – and its weakness; geographers and environmentalists will find it very useful, but students of economics and political science would be better advised to refer to another (Philips Modern School) Atlas.
In the final analysis, the utility of a reference book - such as a dictionary or an Atlas – must be its ease of use. But this Atlas is too large to be handy, and locating the place names (by means of the index) is not all that easy. This Atlas would, undoubtedly, form an excellent “coffee table” book; but, surely, that cannot be the purpose for purchasing this Atlas. Besides, the world has changed with such stunning speed post 1990 that the Atlas is no longer up-to-date. And, surely, the editors could have included more data in the
World Information Table (in the appendix) that they have done.