THE ATLAS OF WORLD CULTURES

This cultural atlas does a yeomanly job of bringing to light the crazy quilt of ethnic and linguistic groups, their associated art, clothes, architecture, culture--and makes a convincing argument that it isn't such a small world after all. Each region is introduced with a brief history highlighting particular moments or themes. Peppering every spread are good situational maps and illustrations of the various peoples who reside there, often in traditional garb and standing by examples of indigenous architecture. While occasionally stooping to absurd abbreviations--the ""Irish troubles"" can't be clarified in three dozen words--the authors conjure up fabulous images of Mongolian tsam dances, six-story mud buildings in Yemen, Karagoz shadow theater, and the stave churches of Norway, and challenge readers to sally forth and discover these wondrous places for themselves.