It has been a mission of geographers for many years to explain and convince the general public, as well as students, that geography is not just about places ("place-name geography") but that it is the science of location, and as a science, leads to scientific explanation and understanding. As a result, an almanac, the very epitome of only facts and locations, should require immediate dismissal, possibly even contempt, as a piece of legitimate geographical literature. Such a response is just not possible with this publication. Bearing all the hallmarks of quality one comes to expect of the National Geographic Society, this volume does a great service to the science of geography. Meticulously written, remarkably detailed, fully comprehensive, and lavishly illustrated (maps and photographs), it should stand on every geographer's office shelf but it would be equally desirable on coffee tables. There are a couple of small areas where final editing should have picked up mistakes of pagination and consistency of format (e.g., "Sources of Information" for human geography is on page 358, not 182), but this cannot take away from what is a beautiful, all-purpose volume. This geographer is pleased to own this almanac. ^BSumming Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. R. W. Benfield Central Connecticut State University