DK World Reference Atlas

Including more than five thousand plates, diagrams, and illustrations, a comprehensive one-volume full-color atlas combines the features of an atlas, a gazette, and an encyclopedia and offers a Global Issues series analyzing subjects by international importance.

More an illustrated fact book than a true atlas, this desk-sized reference work furnishes encyclopedic material about the world and its nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The country profiles, which comprise the bulk of the book, vary from two to eight pages depending on the country's importance, and include concise data on 18 basic topics, e.g., climate, communications, people, politics, defense, economics, crime, and education. Much of this material appears in chart form. Each country has a small-scale map showing major physical and political features; larger nations are also accorded simple economic and regional maps. Attractively produced, this book offers clear, current, reliable information at a fair price. It nicely complements such standard sources as Statesman's Year-Book (St. Martin's) and Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Wiley, 1988. 7th ed.).
Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.