worldminds provides broad exposure to a geography that is engaged with discovery, interpretation, and problem solving. its 100 succinct chapters demonstrate the theories, methods, and data used by geographers, and exemplify the conceptual and topical richness of contemporary geography. the 150 contributing authors and co-authors address the challenges posed by issues such as globalization, regional and ethnic conflict, environmental hazards, terrorism, poverty, and sustainable development. this volume demonstrates the utility of geography as a conceptual discipline that contributes theoretically; as an applied practice that informs policy-making; and as a coherent set of methodologies to gather and analyze data about earth and its occupants. worldminds is the ideal general reader to supplement textbooks in the full range of academic geography courses. in addition to geography students and instructors, it is relevant to researchers, applied geographers and policy makers.