Part of the ever popular Complete Idiot's Guide To series, this publication tackles world geography in its updated third edition. The book goes deeper than the "this-country-is-here" approach that one may expect, and thematic sections discuss physical, cultural, and human geography, population growth, atmosphere, and energy and water needs. Three parts section the globe not by location but by development: the developed world, nations in transition, and the developing world; the bulk of the text lies in these sections and provides a look at the areas' natural world, people and culture, history, and politics. Writers Sherer, Werthman, and Gonzalez have penned an easy-to-read basic geography textbook for those in dire need of an understanding of the world. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)