description Goode's World Atlas Overview
Goode's World Atlas is a standard educational geographical reference book first compiled by American geographer J. Paul Goode in 1923. It is historically distinguished by its use of the Homolosine projection, a map projection designed by Goode to minimize area distortion while interrupting the oceans. Published by Rand McNally for decades, it provides detailed physical, political, and thematic maps of the globe alongside extensive geographic data tables.
The atlas is primarily aimed at students and educators, serving as a foundational geographic text in many North American classrooms.
help Goode's World Atlas FAQ
Why is Goode's World Atlas common in American classrooms?
J. Paul Goode compiled it for educational use, and Rand McNally first published it in 1923. Its thematic maps and reference material made it a long-running fixture in American geography courses.
Does Goode's World Atlas use the Goode homolosine projection?
The atlas is associated with Goode's interrupted homolosine projection, which presents the continents with relatively low area distortion. Its interrupted oceans make it effective for comparing global distributions on land.
What is the difference between Goode's atlas and a road atlas?
Goode's is an academic world atlas containing physical, political, and thematic maps. A Rand McNally road atlas instead prioritizes highways, driving routes, and detailed regional navigation.
Do older editions of Goode's World Atlas show obsolete countries?
Yes, each edition reflects the borders and place names current when it was prepared. Copies from before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, for example, depict a political world different from modern editions.
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