Book reviews: The 21st Century World Atlas

This review examines the Croatian edition of The 21st Century World Atlas, published by Naklada Fran in 2003 and edited by M. Lapaine and collaborators. The 751-page volume revises and supplements parts of the original; numerous toponyms translated by S. Frangeš appear above the maps, preserving their English labels. It covers global physical and socioeconomic themes and continental geography, with a glossary and an index exceeding 60,000 geographical names. Reviewer Josip Faričić praises the clarity and informativeness of its thematic maps and its consistent continental organization. He notes poor label legibility in mountainous areas, limited coverage of Croatia, and errors in some place names or locations. Despite these shortcomings, he recommends the atlas as an excellent compendium of current scientific knowledge about the world’s countries and Earth as a whole.