Product Description

Times Atlas of The World 0007157282

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47376 in Books
• Brand: Collins
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

Features

• Times Atlas of The World 0007157282

Customer Reviews

Times atlas of the World - but which one to get?
There is a whole host of books called "Times atlas of the world", and I was terminally confused. Until I did a bit of homework, and came up with the following: (all prices quoted from Amazon, August 2008)

The biggest is called COMPREHENSIVE, costs £75 , is 47x32 cm, has 125 map plates (not pages, as most spread over 2 pages) and a 217-page index.

The next is the CONCISE, costs £37, is 37x27 cm, has 105 plates on 198 map pages, and a 140-page index to 130,000 names. And 32 city maps, which is something the biggest lacks!

The next is the UNIVERSAL, costs £ 33, is 32x27 cm, has 170 pages of maps (not plates - probably 90 plates), an index to 50,000 names, and 32 city maps.

The next is the REFERENCE, costs £19, has 104 pages of maps (not plates - probably 60 plates), an index to 45,000 names, and 46 city maps.

The next is DESKTOP, costs £ 11, 25x19 cm;
then the COMPACT, costs £ 7, 21x15 cm;
then the MINI, costs £ 5, 15x11 cm.

Are those names logical, or what? I don't think so - but I hope this little guide helps. I got myself the CONCISE (that is, number two) and am well-pleased. Beautiful clear mapping, and it just fits into the bookcase; the largest one is very beautiful, but will have to live permanently on some large, weight-bearing surface!

The "Times" Reference Atlas of the World (World Atlas)
I bought 2 copies, one for each of my sons, who go travelling frequently.
I thought the Atlas was very comprehensive and gave sufficient and good information based on the use intended. For research or study, it is not detailed enough, but a good buy all the same.

The Universal Atlas is better
As others have mentioned, there's a plethora on Times Atlases available. The Reference Edition has a long pedigree behind it. However, the Universal Edition is better. It's likely to cost around £10 more but is more recent, has a slip cover, and has a better page format. The shorter but longer pages of the Universal allows the same scale maps to be shown on the taller Reference Edition but with useful information recorded in the margin. Many more introductory pages are included as well including an interesting review of Times Atlas editions from the past.

I think the new Universal is - save the Comprehensive Edition - the best atlas available. On a cost/usability assessment the Reference is probably the poorest offering. I still own a copy however!