The Updated Second Edition provides new materials about recent world events triggered by the September 11th attacks on New York City's World Trade Center and on the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon. It includes new information that helps students understand both the roots of the attacks and the new alliances and strategies adopted by the United States and American allies to combat the enemies revealed and to protect against new tragedies. Additional new material helps students understand terrorism as a concept.

This is the most up-to-date introductory geography text on the market today. The authors provide a firm understanding of the geographic fundamentals behind everyday headlines. They introduce the major tools, techniques, and methodological approaches of the field, and present a wide range of positions currently debated about dealing with provocative current issues. The text emphasizes both scientific and humanistic analytical skills. It demonstrates to students that many basic principles of geography can be studied and demonstrated locally. The theme of human-environmental interaction is woven throughout the book.