The first edition of this Atlas was published in 1973 by Professor Arno Peters (1916‐2002). A German journalist, he is best known as a cartographer creating Peters World Map by developing a range of methods for incorporating historical, cultural and geographical information into maps. This edition updates the previous 2002 edition (RR 2003/157). The previous atlas had 246 thematic maps compared with 212 in this volume.
The first 85 pages show each country and continent at the same scale (one square centimetre equal to 6,000 square kilometres) with the maps maintaining fidelity of area, axis, and position, something never previously achieved, or, as stated inside “The world in 43 maps at the same scale. Each map shows one‐sixtieth of the Earth's surface”. This means that you can compare each page, e.g. Great Britain on page 32 with Madagascar on page 47 – the idea that you have of an area is questioned as I would have assumed GB to be so much bigger than Madagascar. The four double page maps of Antarctica and then four covering the Arctic are particularly interesting seeing the top and bottom of the world in reality.
As you open the book on the inside cover and facing page is the “World Map” à la Peters. South America and Africa are elongated, the northern countries of Canada, Russia and Greenland are squashed at the top of the world – it all looks very strange and not the usual distortion that we are used to and which has been in existence for 400 years. Often in many atlases up to 40 different scales are used with the industrialised countries depicted on an exaggerated scale – this atlas is totally different.
In a review of the previous edition the binding was criticised as each map is on a double‐page spread so some of the maps are lost in the gutters! In this new edition this does not seem to be so much of a problem.
For this new atlas, the publisher has generalised the projection principle upon which Peter's world map was based. Thus, each regional map represents the maximum possible freedom from distortion. The atlas also has realistic 3‐D reliefs, satellite imaging that incorporates digital vegetation data showing the current state of world deforestation and desert encroachment.
The very useful part of this book is the 212 Thematic Maps “nature, humankind and society”, under 48 subject headings. Each map presents a single subject expressed entirely in terms of colour: dark for high values; light for low ones. This makes it easy to see and assimilate the maps' content – an important feature since up to sixteen maps can be dedicated to a single subject. Over 40,000 pieces of individual information have been compiled for these 212 maps. Most information is from the United Nations with other international organizations also providing statistics. The data collected is from 1980 onwards – if no data is available estimates have been used. Subjects in the thematic maps include: hours of sunshine, arable land, languages, religions, publications of scientific books, mobile phone users, available hospital beds, world trade, prostitution and even the percentage of housework women do! The Religions maps show Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism, among others with 22 per cent shown as Christianity and 43 per cent with no religion. Another set of sixteen maps show the different types of animal husbandry such as pigs, bees and turkeys. These maps really are fascinating and they give a good depiction of the world today.
The Atlas ends with a traditional place alphabetical index. This book would be useful in many libraries especially as it is very affordable. Schools, colleges, universities and public libraries alike would benefit from its purchase.
