Book excerpt: This well established text provides both a thematic as well as regional look at Latin America and the Caribbean. The thematic approach surveys the physical environment, historical geography, demography, agriculture, communications, industry, urban and political aspects of Latin America. The regional approach covers chapters on Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Andean America, Brazil and the Southern Cone, which have all been revised in the fourth edition, as well as the inclusion of a new chapter on Brazilian Amazonia.