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Contemporary Human Geography

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For courses in Human Geography Eye-catching learning modules get students straight to the important concepts Contemporary Human Geography is a beautifully crafted, modular springboard into essential human and cultural geography concepts, designed for the contemporary geography student. This brief, innovative text explores current human geography in the bold visual style that distinguishes Dorling Kindersley (DK) publications. Topics within each chapter are organized into modular, self-contained, two-page spreads. Together with the graphics, Rubenstein’s efficient writing presents information clearly without sacrificing the high-quality geography content essential to students and instructors. The Third Edition offers an updated cartography program, new pedagogical tools to help guide students, and the latest data and applications. Also Available with MasteringGeography ™
This title is also available with MasteringGeography -- an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with Contemporary Human Geography to engage students and improve results. Interactive, self-paced coaching activities provide individualized coaching to keep students on track. With a wide range of visual and media-rich activities available, students can actively learn, understand, and retain even the most difficult concepts.
You are purchasing a standalone product; MasteringGeography does not come packaged with this content. If you would
like to purchase both the physical text and MasteringGeography search for 0321994302 / 9780321994301 . That package includes 0321999010/ 9780321999016 and 0134007956/ 9780134007953.

MasteringGeography should only be purchased when required by an instructor.

408 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

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About the author

James M. Rubenstein

50 books4 followers
James M. Rubenstein is a geographer, known for his work on human geography and specifically on the U.S. automotive industry. Currently, he is Professor of Geography at Miami University in Oxford OH. He also works as consultant in the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Rubenstein obtained his B.A. in public affairs from the University of Chicago, his M.Sc. in city and regional planning from the London School of Economics, and his Ph.D. in geography and human engineering from the Johns Hopkins University.

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5 stars
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4 stars
16 (28%)
3 stars
15 (26%)
2 stars
8 (14%)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Juliana Crotta-Cox.
40 reviews3 followers
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July 15, 2025
Yeah yeah yeah, this is a textbook. But you know what? I’m counting it, because I read every single word cover to cover.

(Please pray that this content was encoded into my long term memory)
Profile Image for indigo ྀི.
157 reviews9 followers
May 7, 2025
AP hug test is over 😍😍 hopefully this will have helped me pass
Profile Image for Melissa Kidd.
1,308 reviews35 followers
August 10, 2022
This was a bright and colorful book. When I first opened it I was almost daunted by all the little text boxes and visuals all over the pages. It made a very cramped page. However once I started reading the textbook as a supplement to my geography class lectures, the visuals helped immensely. I like to learn visually so all the charts, maps, and photos helped me retain the information I was reading. The content helped too. I didn't think I would be that interesting in geography but it turns out the information is really fascinating. There were all kinds of topics in this book: development, political geography, human services, food industries, populations, ethnicities, etc. There is a ton here, all about humans. And most things about humans are fascinating in my opinion. The text was very easy to read and the sections short, only two pages. Although the sections were short I didn't feel I was missing much. There was a lot covered here, all of it relevant. I'm glad I took the class, and I'm glad I read this book. It opened my eyes even wider to the wide world.
Profile Image for Leah Markum.
333 reviews43 followers
September 22, 2019
This is a good introductory text to human dimensions of geography. As a hardcore geography nerd this book is oversimplified, but it's not thick, so it's more of an abridged text. It surveys all the subtopics in human geography and takes a visual approach with plenty of pictures and diagrams that tickle one's curiosity. It's also easy to understand for anyone that has difficulty with social sciences. (Strange thought, but they are out there and there's nothing wrong with that.) True to geography, as opposed to another social science, the visuals and descriptions cater to spatial understanding i.e. regional and thematic maps, linguistic trees, etc.

If I had little understanding of human geography beforehand I would give four stars. As it is I give a three because the book is too simple for someone serious in the subject.
Profile Image for Diana.
1,563 reviews85 followers
November 28, 2016
Textbook for my Human Geography class. I learned quite a bit from the book, and the class itself was enjoyable. The professor, on the other hand, was a menace. I'm glad the faculty picked this book, I believe it was the only reason I learned anything about this subject. It's set up like any other DK book, paragraphs of information broken up by diagrams, maps, and photos to help you understand the subject. The book is interesting enough to be read on its own, and the chapters are fairly quick reads. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Mandy.
906 reviews16 followers
November 23, 2015
It would be impossible to incorporate all things human geography into one text, but I think this text does a great job of grazing all of the important elements. I really enjoyed the layout of the text.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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