Review: North Carolina: People and Environments, 2nd Edition
Tom Ross, Professor of Geography, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, has written widely about North Carolina. His publications include: "American Indians in North Carolina ," "An Annotated Bibliography of Carolina Bays," and a chapter in the "North Carolina Atlas.", reviewed in Our state's cultural and natural landscapes, Fayetteville Observer, Sunday, October 5, 2003
'The authors have masterfully depicted North Carolina 's cultural and natural landscapes in 602 pages. North Carolina : People and Environments, Second Edition is a geography book, and as such makes ample use of the primary tool of geographers: maps. More than 250 maps (31 in color) explore the physical, cultural, social, economic and political geography of the state. But the book is much more than maps. Also included are almost 400 photographs, of which 234 are in color, which give an excellent visual portrait of the state's geography.
The book is divided into 13 chapters. The first three are devoted to physical environments: Chapter 1. Physical Environments; Chapter 2. Weather and Climate; Chapter 3. Soils, Natural Vegetation, Soils, and Wildlife. The next four detail human environments. Chapter 4. A Changing Mosaic of People; Chapter 5. Primary Activities (agriculture, forestry and mining); Chapter 6. Secondary and Tertiary Activities: Manufacturing and Services; Chapter 7. Social Capital: Earning Power, Health, Education, and Civic Justices, and Chapter 8. A Fragile Environment.
The final five chapters focus upon the major regions of the state and individual counties. Chapter 9 looks at the emergence and nature of North Carolina 's regions. Chapter 10 provides a detailed inventory of Tidewater region; Chapter 11 surveys the Coastal Plain; while Chapter 12 reviews the Piedmont . The mountains are examined in Chapter 13. For a more detailed account of the chapter and book contents, please visit www.geo.appstate.edu . The volume also includes about 30 'boxes' that accentuate such topics as barrier islands formation, kudzu, nuclear power, El Nino, and the prison system.
The authors have created a thorough analysis of North Carolina . It seems that no subject is left untouched. If something exists in North Carolina , it is likely to be discussed, or at least mentioned, in this well-documented volume.
Because of its magnitude of coverage, the book could be used in a variety of ways. For the general public, it would make a great reference source; for college and university classes on North Carolina , it would serve well as the principal text. For students in middle and high school, particularly those in advanced classes, the book would make a fine textbook.
Professionals in planning, political organizations and the media would all find an abundance of information that would justify having a copy of this book on their personal bookshelves. And, finally, the volume would also look good as a coffee table book.
Although the book is about North Carolina , it could be used to help understand geography as a field of study because the authors discuss and explain topics and concepts important to geography. In some instances it appears that they have used North Carolina as a case study to help us learn meaningful geographic concepts.
Libraries throughout the state and the country, need to acquire this book for their general collections. It is a gem that has been polished much since the first edition of several years ago.'
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