Choosing Textbooks

White discusses two categories of textbooks for courses on the geography of Europe. The first group follows a traditional format, which seeks to explore the complexity of Europe's interlocking geographies. Some take a systematic approach, beginning with physical geography, transitioning to human impact on the natural environment, and then finally exploring the region's human geography. The second group comprises specialized books by authors who prefer to emphasize their research and focus on either a sub-region of Europe or on a narrow range of topics, usually within human geography. Some even restrict themselves in terms of both area and topic. Moreover, White suggests that for those teaching a course for geography majors, traditional textbooks work best because they are well-rounded topically; however, the specialized books are a better choice for those teaching interdisciplinary courses and seminars.