It's a great big world out there.

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - National Geographic Atlas of the World, 9th ed. - Book review

Yes, the Internet is great for looking stuff up and we are by no means technophobic. Still, there are times when going old-school feels better. There's just something about the printed page that remains irresistible. This is never more clear than when perusing the ninth edition of the National Geographic Atlas of the World. This huge masterpiece--some books can be used as doorstops, this one is almost big enough to double as the door itself--has nearly 100 detailed map plates of the Earth, oceans, and outer space, as well as 20 thematic spreads, covering topics from urbanization trends and the impact of cities on health, human rights, and climate change.

World cultures, religions, languages, and habitats are described in maps, images, and narratives that put a human face on statistics. Through its pages, readers see the trends that are transforming populations and economies around the world, while gaining a deeper understanding of the globe's hot spots--climatic and geopolitical. Eleven of the 20 world thematic spreads cover new topics, and the topographic relief of the volume's physical and continental maps has been revised using the latest digital terrain data. The atlas also...