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Summary: I've worn out two sets of these atlases
Review: I have worn out two sets of these atlases. Every time I read a book of history, historical fiction, alternative history, or one with historical references, or watch the history channel, this set of books has allowed me to envision the geographical aspects of what I was seeing or reading. It has satisfied my curiosity on countless occasions. No other historical atlas has been up to this standard. It reports the facts, ma'am, just the facts. Others have included politically correct opinions. I wish I could find another set. It is disappointing to find that they are out of print.
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Summary: Amazing amount of information in a small volume
Review: The amount of information in this small book is mind-boggling. The maps are numerous and detailed, and each one is accompanied by a few paragraphs describing what was going on in the world at the time, so in addition to the maps (if you don't mind small print with some abbreviations) you get an outline history of the world. This book makes all of the huge and expensive coffee-table-sized atlases of world history, with such inferior maps and so much less information, look stupid and wasteful.
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Summary: Fortunately, an updated version is available...
Review: These enjoyable little pocket books take a Cliff Notes approach to history. In a highly abbreviated text, the authors summarize everything from the Cambrian explosion to the Stamp Act of 1763. No important detail is left out.Now this level of historical detail is available in many formats. What really sets the Anchor Atlases apart is the superb maps and diagrams. The power structure of Byzantine Rome, the campaigns of Alexander and Hannibal, 16th century Indian internecine warfare, etc., are all finely laid out in easy-to-understand, surprisingly comprehensive, illustrations. The book's major limitation is it's 1975 publishing date, leaving out not just the past 3 decades of history, but also the significant advances in historical learning that have been made in that time as well. Nonetheless, wonderfully informative and enjoyable.
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Summary: Little giants
Review: These two volumes pack an remarkable amount of information! The books trace world history from its dawn up until the mid-1970s. Each chapter reviews the major events of a given era, moving steadily around the globe. The text of each chapter is not limited to citing battles, reigns, and biographies, but also makes sure to address the relevant social and cultural trends of each time and place. The authors use an amazing number of abbreviations in the text to maintain conciseness together with breadth. The text is excellent but limited by space constraints. The maps, on the other hand, earn these books a place beside far larger hardcovers. The maps, which are usually two to a page, maintain a balance between too little and too much detail. In addition to the hundreds of maps, there are many diagrams and charts - and all are color! Color, multiple colors, multiple shades of multiple colors! Where else will you find a 4 1/2 x 7" paperback atlas with so many maps in so much color? My only disappointment is that the books end at the Bicentennial. Hopefully the authors will produce a millennium edition. Any student of history will return to these books again and again. I have had mine for 15 years now. This is a great gift - if you can find it!
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Summary: I wish it was still in print...
Review: This and its companion volume is very interesting to anyone interested in history. I like maps a lot, so it is very nice to have pictorial descriptions of things as well as the prose. Volume 1 covers the Stone Age to the eve of the French Revolution. I don't have volume 2, but I hope to acquire it soon. I recommend it highly.
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Summary: a splendid book
Review: This atlas is so good (much better than its all imitators) that it has to be out of print. So good books cannot be permitted. Each volume is worth hundreds of dollars.
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Summary: Anchor Atlas of World History Vol. 1 & 2
Review: This book is indispensible for any historian or anyone intrested in understanding historical events. It is ambitious in scope and very successful. It is packed full of valuable political, economic, and religious maps revealing countries at key historical time periods. Diagrams of major political structures are included. The accompanying time table is intricate and detailed. It is unsurpassed going beyond the mere rise and fall of nations and rulers but of cultures, science, and trends. You have the important names, places, and dates at your fingertips. I can't understand why this valuable book is out of print. If you can find this book, keep it. Do not lose it. Pass it on. It's pocket size makes it easy to carry around anywhere. I still have my first copy I purchased in 1977 and brought it with me all around the world.
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Summary: Fortunately, an updated version is available...
Review: This excellent resource is no longer out of print. Penguin is publishing soon in Britain an updated two-volume, paperback version (see the Amazon.co.uk site). A one-volume, hardback French version is already available in Canada and France (cheaper in the Amazon.ca site). In both cases, search for the authors, Kinder & Hilgemann.
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Summary: surely can't remain out of print for long.. it's too good
Review: This, the first volume of two pocket atlases on world history (prehistory-1792, 1792-present), is the perfect handy reference for rapid historical factfinding. The dozens of maps are gorgeous; the annotation is densely packed but well done; the graphs and charts that accompany the maps are very illustrative. (Example: on one page, a flow chart showing the structure of the government of the Late Roman Republic; shortly thereafter, a similar chart set in the Late Empire.) For anyone who is interested in world history, both volumes are tremendous bargains. Well worth a search.
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Summary: WHY IS THIS OUT OF PRINT??????
Review: You can't read a history book without these two volumes. You get not only maps but a terse narrative (nearsighted people without their glasses only, please) of everything pivotal that ever happened. How could they take these (in paperback form, very portable, as someone else pointed out) out of print?????
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