Designed to help readers truly understand places and to cultivate a life-long geographical imagination, this innovative introduction to human geography gives readers access to the latest ideas, concepts, and theories while concurrently developing a strong foundation in the fundamentals. Its exciting contemporary approach gives people and places meaning by covering compelling topics that integrate today's local, regional, and global perspectives. It provides not only a body of knowledge about places and regions, but also a deep understanding of the interdependence of places and regions in a globalizing world. Hundreds of maps and special boxes bring topics to life and show how and why specific geographic perspectives are important.