Product Description

The second edition of this best-selling and highly respected textbook provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the major topics within physical geography. An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment is designed with a range of in-text features such as case studies and reflective questions to aid study. As well as this, students have access to a rich and extensive range of online support resources such as extra weblinks, fieldwork worksheets, interactive models and new video clips of physical processes in action, all of which will help them achieve success in their Physical Geography course.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31409 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 762 pages

Review

"In my 34 years as an academic I have never been nearly as much impressed by a book as I was by this one”

“It is so beautifully and extensively illustrated that it rekindled all my enthusiasm for understanding the natural environment and how it functions”

“The modest title…massively understates the worth and content of the book.  I have no doubt that it will fast become an internationally acclaimed text not just in Geography Departments, but in Environmental Science Programmes too”

"…it discusses a host of topical major environmental issues, and sets them in context in a clear and understandable way”

“…its content will span 3 years of an undergraduate degree programme and beyond"

Professor Malcolm Cresser, Environment Department, University of York

“…the most welcome contrast with other introductory texts is the inclusion of a range of contributors within an edited volume, that ensures each section is written by a subject specialist”

Dr Richard Waller, School of Earth Sciences and Geography, University of Keele

"A superb introductory coverage of Physical Geography and allied environmental disciplines. Undergraduates will greatly appreciate the accessibility of the text, with its well-developed structure, informative box features, and extensive website links”

Richard Michael Johnson, University of Central Lancashire

“It is well written, up to date and at an appropriate level for first year university students”

“The excellent coverage of hydrology and geomorphology sets it apart from many of its competitors. Material is covered in enough detail that I would expect students to come back to this volume as supporting material for higher level courses"

Dr. Martin Evans, School of Geography, University of Manchester

"...there's a most interesting section dealing with human interference with sediment patterns adding a useful dimension to this topic."

"...dryland systems and desertification covering, in a short space, an impressive randge of ideas from natural and human agents to changes through time."

"There are a range of features in each chapter adding up to an impressive presentation."

"There's also a companion website with an impressive range of resources from student flashcards to presentations for teachers"

"Overall this is a most impressive text. It covers a very wide range of ideas noting not just basic concepts but current techniques making it ideal for the student wishing to take the subject further. Coverage of case studies is truly global and not just keeping to one area"

"...thorough and detailed with more sophisticated explanation which would make it ideal for the good senior student, educator and undergraduate (where it deserves to ben seen as one of the key introductory texts)"

Dr Paul S Ganderton, the Teaching Ecology Group's Book Review Editor

http://users.bigpond.net.au/paul_ganderton/index.htm

"Its coverage of topics is perhaps the widest of the four books. I am also impressed by the placement of the acknowledgements at the front, along with detailed further reading in each chapter."

"There is a nice introduction to Quarternary change."

"This book is my favourite of those under review."

James Casford - Durham University

Times Higher Education Supplement. May 27 2005, p.XXI

From the Back Cover

The second edition of this best-selling and highly respected textbook provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the major topics within physical geography. It focuses on understanding processes and is comprehensively illustrated to aid understanding.

Changes for this edition:

·         Brand new chapters on Coasts, Contemporary Climate Change, and Vegetation and Environmental Change.

·         Increased coverage of  weather systems, atmospheric circulation, basic geology and biodiversity.

·         New Hazards feature helps apply understanding to contemporary environmental problems.

·         Each chapter fully updated to contain the latest research 

Main features:

·         Each chapter is written by a leading specialist in the field to provide informative, expert and practical coverage.

·         A range of in-text features aid independent study including case studies, reflective questions, annotated further reading and weblinks.

·         Boxed features, including Techniques, Environmental Change and New Directions help apply knowledge to the real world of physical geography.

·         An impressively wide range of examples from around the world illustrates the physical environment with truly global scope. 

An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment is accompanied by a rich and extensive range of online support resources which can be found at www.pearsoned.co.uk/holden. This includes extra weblinks, fieldwork worksheets, interactive models and new video clips of physical processes in action.

Joseph Holden is Professor of Physical Geography and Director of Research at the School of Geography, University of Leeds.

Comments on the first edition:

‘Aside from the scope of the book, which is to be commended, the strengths are numerous. The clarity of the writing is second to none and never dry. The textbook benefits from excellent colour illustrations, excellent graphs and conceptual diagrams...Hats off to Dr Holden and colleagues for an excellent introductory geography text’

Dr Richard J. J. Pope, University of Derby

'This is a remarkable achievement... any student who fails to be enthused by what this book has to say, and how it says it, must be very difficult indeed to please. This book takes UK degree-level geography textbooks to a new level'

Chris Park, Lancaster University

 ‘I love this book! The layout of the pages and the colours really aid the learning, clear diagrams and explanations to theories and topics help during revision and reading towards essays. If I’m stuck on any part of a topic I look in the Holden book first for an explanation.’

Keele University Student

Customer Reviews

Educational
This is an ecellent book and well worth the money paid for it. I only wish I had this book prior to starting my education.