The Student's Companion to Geography

"The Student's Companion to Geography" is designed as a clear, accessible and comprehensive guide to the discipline, written for geography students in all types of institution through the English-speaking world. Organized in six parts, it contains contributions from some 50 leading geographers from Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. "What is geography and why is it worth studying?". "Who are the key geographers?". "What should I read?", "What are the exciting growth areas in geography?". These are just some of the questions the authors address. The first part of the volume includes a number of personal views of the subject, explaining why geography is worth studying today. Part 2 provides a review of a number of key areas in human and physical geography which outlines contemporary debates and future research issues. Part 3 is a guide to the methods and techniques of geography. It includes helpful information on how to conduct undergraduate research, covering such topics as remote sensing, laboratory and archive work, questionnaire surveys, and interviewing. Part 4 includes a bibliographical directory of leading geographers, a guide to reading geography and a summary of the major themes and debates which cut across the field. Part 5 contains a directory for geographical information and data sources, including libraries, censuses and on-line systems. It also gives useful names and addresses for students interested in overseas travel and exploration. Part 6 explores the numerous options open to geography graduates, offering advice on careers and how to apply for postgraduate research in different countries. Illustrated with some 40 photographs, numerous tables and diagrams, and thoroughly referenced throughout, this is a source-book for anyone studying or planning to study geography in the 1990s.