Understanding Cultural and Human Geography

By: Paul Robbins, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Paul Robbins

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

No one is an island. The community where you live, the food you eat, and the people you know are all part of a global chain of connections. Over the past 10,000 years, humans have transformed the planet - yet the planet has also influenced human life in myriad ways. In these 24 eye-opening lectures, take an interdisciplinary voyage across time and around the world to consider the dual nature of our relationship with "place".

With insights drawn from ecology, anthropology, economics, geopolitics, and more, Professor Robbins reveals the underlying structures that explain why the world is the way it is. Understanding global trends and connections - from environmental changes such as deforestation to the way money and labor slosh around the globe - will give you new insights into the story of human civilization and current events.

One key theme of this course is that "place" is a construct. People make (and constantly re-make) places in response to myriad circumstances, ranging from economic conditions to changes in the ecology around them. Indeed, humans have taken over the Earth so completely that some geologists now refer to our era as the Anthropocene - the "human era".

While it is tempting to despair over humanity's takeover of the planet, you see how the picture is surprisingly complex, and that there is reason for optimism. Much of the human impact on the Earth, from deforestation to rapid urbanization, is not an inexorable march of destruction without any means of revitalization.

In addition to the study of the environment, Professor Robbins examines the wide-ranging implications of a world economy. You'll explore the wellspring of culture and delve into the thorny issues of geography, ethnicity, and statehood. When you complete this course, you'll have all the tools you need to look beyond the headlines and analyze world events in a whole new way.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses

narrator sublime

the narrator was amazing. his text was word perfect but he delivered it as fresh thoughts extempore. with passion and authority. what a man

This is a must listen!

This was the best Great Courses I have listened to. And I have listened to many. Every human should listen to this lecture series. This series opened my eyes and has me rethinking my place in world geography.

Out of date

Suggest population lectures were written with political bias instead of political science.

See more recent BBC documentary(s) on population

Intersting group of cultural geography lectures

Intersting collection of cultural geography lectures that demonstated how 'place' helps define a culture and how a culture helps define a place.

Critical Thinking Maps edition

Never take anything at immediate face value, no map is perfect and there always has to be a compromise, thus all maps are biased whether by accident or not. I truly feel like I learnt a lot.

Very nuanced introductory level course

Paul Robbins did a good job intoducing many of the basics concepts of modern geography with a lot of the nuance of every issue. One pre-caution is to remember that you're listening to the audio off of a video series on the wondrium (great courses) website. The accompanying pdf helps with that a little, but watching the video may be easier for some listeners. If you're not capable of handling the actual nuances of political topics, this may also not be for you.

Incredible

This is not my field of expertise by any means. I learned a lot and was surprised how much geographies affect the world we live in.

Essential, Engaging & Data-rich - 1 big complaint

This is an absolutely essential listen for anyone interested in having an informed, historical and science-based understanding of how geography impacts human civilization. The professor is extremely cogent and engaging.

My only complaint is his early rushed and mischaracterizing critique of Jared Diamond's work. It does everyone a disservice - especially future readers.

A must for whoever is interested in social and political science

The first five lectures weren’t my cup of tea. However, later lectures drew me in. I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Fascinating choice of topics the lecturer provided enough information both to inform and to raise interest in the subjects he discussed. As an economist and a social scientist I never appreciated or understood the work of geographers. This course changed my perceptions and instilled in me an appreciation for geography as a discipline and geographers in general.

freshmen or sophomore level info

The course was well executed but it was not the detailed information I was looking for. His intended audience is brand new students of geography. He provides interesting case studies to make his point. Its worth the money if you have never read a book on the topic.