Publisher: National Geographic
ISBN:978-1426220586

“In this time of rapid global change, the atlas fills an ever more important role in providing an overview of the state of our planet,” geographer Alexander M. Tate writes in the forward of the book, National Geographic Atlas of The World, Eleventh Edition.


This 448-page large hardbound targets those who want to have a better understanding of our world, its 195 countries, and the expansive universe. Weighing 7.8 pounds, it measures 12.72 by 1.62 by 15.92 inches and comes with an attached ribbon marker. After a forward by Alexander M. Tait and twenty one-page articles, it is divided into ten sections that cover all continents, the poles, oceans, space, and nations. There is an appendix and an extensive index with credits.

In this book mainly about Earth, there is a plethora of information that includes topics such as climate change, urbanization, borders, and energy in its beginning. The plates have detailed mapping with small cities and towns included, especially in the United States. The ocean floors are dissected, and the universe is explored. Flags, facts, comparisons, time zones, and foreign terms with tables are added. The index is 146 pages and contains over 140,000 place names.

This is is a beautiful, detailed, and thorough atlas of the world as anyone would expect from National Geographic. I appreciated I could find easily smaller towns such as Keizer, Oregon, or Waukesha, Wisconsin. There are fine details of the oceans’ fracture zones, ridges, and seamounts. The flag sections have extensive data listed, and the index is extensive.

This edition is dated 2019 so it may already be outdated, yet it is more conclusive than the tenth edition that was published in 2014. Some may notice that there are more pages dedicated to the United States than other countries (for example, Mexico is covered on only two pages).

This is a massively huge book that is heavy and awkward, so it will not fit on a bookcase or shelf. It would be thoughtful if it was less cumbersome in size yet had more pages.

If you are looking for a comprehensive world atlas designed by National Geographic, you cannot go wrong with this edition, but do note it is from 2019 and has more detailed information on the United States than other countries.

Thanks to National Geographic, Litzky Public Relations, Inc., and Bookpleasures for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.