More A level Geography textbook reviews 3

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At first glance this seemed a disappointingly thin book for such a large theme. However there are gems within which make this a reasonable library purchase for A2 students.

The book begins with an overview including a discussion of the meaning of "sustainable development", patterns and options in the mid-1990s (post-Rio and Cairo summits) and the nature of environmental crises. Limits to Growth, the Brundtland report and Agenda 21 all receive specific attention. While all of this is currently useful, it may look more dated after Jo'burg 2002.

Subsequent chapters take themes such as 'population and resources', 'urbanisation' and 'sustainable water', the global issue elaborated using detailed case studies. Among the most useful of the latter are Curitiba's transport system (Brazil), agriculture in Ciskei (South Africa) and the Sukuta women's cooperative (Gambia). Sadly the water resources chapter concentrates on the Thames, although the decision-making exercise might provide ideas for use with other case study material.

The book as a whole was devised with syllabi other than WJEC in mind, probably option papers for long gone AEB and ULEAC manifestations, and as such it does have the feel of an 'add on' designed to supplement mainstream A-level texts. A double column text presentation makes for good readability and the use of clear, decently-sized black and white illustrations is to be applauded. The very short index lists Boserup and Malthus, but not green revolution which earns only a passing reference. Many teaching GG5 may feel such gaps are just too large to ignore.

EPICS topic books are designed to be reasonably priced supplementary resources for A2 topics and 'a fresh approach' to current issues. With two chapters on globalisation, it should provide food for thought for students grappling to understand what globalisation means and what it has to do with them. Like the rest of the series, the presentation lacks bells and whistles and makes do with a very sober plain text supplemented with grey-tone diagrams, maps and tables.

The opening chapter on 'the nature of development', with its discussion of defining and measuring development, is useful for the essay paper GG4. Likewise the chapter on 'states of development' which takes world regions and looks at development patterns across those regions (eg Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Mexico, Indonesia). At a more local scale, there is little material.

As far as GG5 is concerned, this book has more limited use. Large topics such as global water resources, desertification and deforestation merit a short summary and there is very little in the way of place-based material at all. The final chapter on the concept of sustainable development might form the basis of discussion of views of sustainability and the environment (technocentric versus ecocentric), but after that opening salvo you'll need to look elsewhere for the bulk of the material required.

This forms part of Nelson's Focus on Geography series which has taken a modular approach to Geography and provided students with decent case study material alongside theories and concepts. Although the series would work as an 'add-on', refreshingly it doesn't assume students have access to other texts.

At AS the book has material for both urban and rural modules. Topics such as urbanisation, suburbanisation and green belts all get separate chapters. One of the most potentially useful at AS is 'changing cities', which covers decentralisation, segregation, retail change (Merry Hill) and revitalisation. A variety of places is used, but the general concepts can be applied to most UK cities. The chapter on urban planning revolves around an in-depth analysis of Manchester.

The chapter on 'changing rural settlements' was less impressive. Surely the key settlement concept of the 1970s now has limited relevance? However, Cloke's model, the Gower peninsula and a suburbanised villages are all acceptable here. The summary of trends in rural areas in the UK in the 1990s is welcome and perhaps could have formed the basis for the chapter.

For A2 there are two chapters on LEDC cities. Themes such as the formation of squatter settlements, the emergence of world cities and the role of the informal economic sector are all explored and illustrated. Case studies include housing and environmental problems in Mexico city, the development of Rio's favelas and the new town of Barra da Tijuca and traffic in Bangkok.

The book is well presented, the use of colour attractive and photographs have been carefully chosen. Specialist terminology is carefully defined, there is a useful glossary and 'inset' spreads cover basics such as the nearest neighbour index and sampling issues.

The Urban Challenge (2000) by Graham Drake & Carl Lee, Pub Hodder & Stoughton. About £10.99

Urban issues form a central plank in the structure of every one of the new AS/A Geography specifications and this volume seeks to meet the needs of students for material which goes beyond the general textbook. Many grappling with resourcing the new courses, particularly at A2, will rightly be delighted with this useful and moderately priced book which is stuffed with a variety of case studies.

A brief introduction covers current global urbanisation trends, the city-dwelling nations and the growing number of megacities. The book then divides unequally into two parts, the first 15 chapters concerned with cities in more economically developed countries and the second eight with those in less economically developed countries. The MEDC/LEDC shorthand follows on from that used at GCSE and does appear in AS specifications, but it is disappointing to find it used so uncritically here. Surely students at A2 would be expected to have a more mature view of economic development?

All the familiar urban themes are explored, such as morphological models, urban hierarchies and residential segregation. Some less familiar territory now creeping onto the syllabus reaches these pages too. The post-industrial city, urban sustainablity, edge cities, globalisation and city marketing, to name a few.

The case studies are the real strength of this book. Each incorporates tables of data, photographs and maps, alongside a student activity which for once you'd be happy to use. For MEDCs there is a definite bias towards the UK, but also included are Prague, Dublin, New York and San Francisco. The section on LEDCs focuses in on Bangalore, mentioning other cities for comparison, which makes for a cohesive approach.

For the publishers I have a bouquet and a brickbat. Thank goodness for a publisher who appreciates the clarity of black and white. Too many new texts have overdosed on full colour, to the extent of rendering the detail of key maps and diagrams incomprehensible. However, it is a pity to fail to provide any list of further reading, sources and key web addresses. It is obvious the authors have used models and illustrative material drawn from specialist texts, journals and reports, but less obvious exactly where these have been obtained from. This book could act as an introductory springboard for undergraduates new to urban studies as an academic field, but the lack of adequate referencing undermines its potential value.

A slim volume containing chapters on climate, hydrology and rivers, landforms (weathering and slopes), soils and ecosytems. There is much here you could find in a standard text, so its real selling point should be the case study material. There is some good stuff here, but perhaps more could have been made of case studies at the expense of the theory. This would have made it a much more valuable additional resource. The attempt to replace the traditional text with a series of slimmer volumes doesn’t quite come off for me.

The final chapter is on managing environments is particularly welcome and takes a look at the Yorkshire Dales, Studland Beach, the Giant’s Causeway and Killarney national park.

Worth dipping into for those doing the WJEC specification for the hydrology chapter and to put small-scale ecosystems in context (eg British soil types, main vegetation types, urban ecosystems).

A book about how the earth’s ecosystems are being affected by human activities and how they might successfully be managed. This is a favourite of mine. Few glossy colour illustrations, but a well-laid out text with many useful diagrams and tables. Key ideas are laid out at the beginning of each chapter. There are many excellent case studies.

Two of the chapters deal with global ecosystems - not required for the WJEC AS, but useful at A2. However, the chapter on Britain with its emphasis on case studies would make a good starting point for more detailed student investigations of smaller locales (eg the changing distribution of woodland, the threat to peatlands, the fragmentation of lowland heath). Biodiversity, conservation and management issues are examined in the final chapter.

For A2 GG5 generalisation C (synoptic) which requires the study of one area of a biome, this book offers a number of choices. The chapter on forests has material on the tropical forests of the Brazilian Amazon and Malaysia, which includes tables and clear black and white maps. The savanna of S Africa and the Alaskan tundra are other possibilities. For any of these additional up-to-date material might be added from the net on conservation/development issues.

Yet another in this Nelson 'modular' series and yet again a Garrett Nagle production. An obvious candidate for the GG4 essay paper, the text is perhaps more wide ranging than the title suggests. Personally I feel the use of 'underdevelopment' in the title is unfortunate and Nagle does repeat is use within. It is therefore no surprise to find that growth and modernisation models are covered in some detail (Clark and Rostow; core-periphery theory - Myrdal and Friedmann).

The starting point 'what is development?' is a useful one with consideration given to how development can be measured and supporting world maps (GNP, PPP, PQLI and HDI). The maps are rather small making it difficult to pick out some countries, but the diagram showing HDI disparities within nations is welcome. However, for WJEC purposes this is really a taster and teachers will have to provide extra material. Much of it has also been recycled from Nagle & Spencer's OUP 1997 revision handbook and dates from 1993.

Subsequent chapters range across much of human geography with chapters on population, health issues, agriculture, industrialisation, tourism and sustainable development. A recurring theme is South Africa. Having a case study drawn from one region in each chapter is a strength of this book. This does not mean other good examples are ignored - India, China, Egypt, Mexico, South Korea and the UK also recur.

The final chapter on sustainable development starts from the idea of 'crises' and covers the 'limits to growth' model before moving on to Rio and Agenda 21. It then turns to energy resources and water resources (China and Egypt). Parts of other chapters will also be useful for A2 GG5, particularly for food issues. On the other hand there is little consideration of urban issues or much relating to ecological matters beyond the impact of tourism.

Like others in the series this is a well-presented text with the extras we've come to expect (glossary, summaries, clear diagrams, all colour presentation, appropriate photographs). I felt the questions didn't reflect either the data response or essay type students need to experience for exam purposes (and in common with most texts nothing approaching a decision-making exercise). Rather they encourage the student to take structured notes. I did feel bullet points were rather overused and students using this book might have to be discouraged from using this style in their own written work.

Population, Resources and Development (2000) 2nd ed. by Jane Chrispin and Francis Jegede, pub Collins Educational. Landmark Geography series. About £18

Overall, I think the Landmark series of texts has impressed me most and Collins are to be congratulated both for the quality of production and the quality of the authors selected. The volumes tend to be more substantial than the Nelson Focus series and tend to have more authority. I was not surprised to find some of these volumes in Northumbria University's library (presumably for the benefit of first-year undergraduates).