Ben Keene provides “some simple guidelines” on how to choose an atlas; since he’s the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World — the 15th edition of which has come out before I had the chance to review the 14th edition — he’s not exactly disinterested, but he is qualified. Bottom line: never mind the fancy front material, go for quality cartography. Buy more than one atlas. And make sure it’s up to date (coincidentally, the Oxford updates annually).

Previously: OUP Year in Geography.

• Buy the Oxford Atlas of the World, 15th Edition at Amazon.com