Peter Haggett: Geography - A Global Synthesis. Pearson Education, Harlow, 2001. XXI 833 s., ill. 27 cm. Pris ej wpi^i.

Peter Raggett's weighty book is much more than a "book for the newcomers to the city' (as he modestly says in the foreword): it is a brilliant overlook of the theme Geography and at the same time a credo with a message even for old aficionados. It takes a Peter Raggett with his scientific foundation to cover the range of subjects with such a degree of insight, and more than that: inspiring and universal overview. - To begin with the prologue: it is apparently simple, yet it has several, deep layers. We are asked to imagine a beach and that well-known scene is used to introduce the geographical optics, but consistently within a broad philosophical awareness. On a few pages we learn that the beach - as any place - has aspects pointing to as well physical as human geography, including the problems of scale, time, changes etc. gradually unveiling the most fascinating side of geography: its capacity for 'explaining' the visible world to us. - The main contents of the book aim at deepening the aspects, constantly involving perspectives of scientific history. Part one is used to 'set the scene": the global environment. In part two the human population is entered, developing, multiplying and spreading all over the world. Human activities necessitates application of the resource-aspect to the world's ecosystems, and it is seen how landscapes change from its utilisation. This is described part three. One of the effects is the formation of geographical structures, which is described in part four in a very palatable way. It is

noteworthy, that this essential side of modern geography is excellently described . Part five, on geographical tensions, introduce some of the problems of the modern world in relation to some of the geographers, who have wrestled with the related methodological aspects. The great finale is a presentation of the geographer's toolbox, including its recent additions: remote sensing and GIS-techniques. Finally, in the epilogue, students are given advice on how to handle the modern world of geography. - 'Geography. A Global Synthesis' is a great performance, given by a master, who knows his art. It brings Mozart to one's mind. The themes are presented with modest simplicity, but when one listens further, one is surprised by their multilayered complexity and the beauty of the whole composition. The parallel to Peter Haggett's book is evident. Immediately it makes easy reading, so well explained. Still, it may be hard for young students to catch up with. Perhaps they will lose precisely those dimensions of the book, that makes it a pleasure to read for the initiated - and good for rethinking the essential message of geography.