Key Texts in Human Geography

A book that will delight students… Key Texts in Human Geography is a primer of 26 interpretive essays designed to open up the subject′s landmark monographs of the past 50 years to critical interpretation... The essays are uniformly excellent and the enthusiasm of the authors for the project shines through… It will find itself at the top of a thousand module handouts.

- THE Textbook Guide

"Will surely become a ‘key text’ itself. Read any chapter and you will want to compare it with another. Before you realize, an afternoon is gone and then you are tracking down the originals."

- Professor James Sidaway, University of Plymouth



′An essential synopsis of essential readings that every human geographer must read. It is highly recommended for those just embarking on their careers as well as those who need a reminder of how and why geography moved from the margins of social thought to its very core." - Barney Warf, Florida State University



Undergraduate geography students are often directed to ′key′ texts in the literature but find them difficult to read because of their language and argument. As a result, they fail to get to grips with the subject matter and gravitate towards course textbooks instead.

Key Texts in Human Geography serves as a primer and companion to the key texts in human geography published over the past 40 years. It is not a reader, but a volume of 26 interpretive essays highlighting:

the significance of the texthow the book should be readreactions and controversies surrounding the bookthe book′s long-term legacy. It is an essential reference guide for all students of human geography and provides an invaluable interpretive tool in answering questions about human geography and what constitutes geographical knowledge.