People who own a copy of the Essential Geography's 1st Edition often ask me how the 2nd Edition differs from the edition they already have. To show the difference between the two editions, I made this comparison, showing the San Juan Mtns of Colorado and New Mexico, with the 1st Edition, left, and the 2nd Edition 2, right.
In addition to being more up-to-date, the 2nd Edition has been redesigned. I brought the expressiveness of my artwork up to the level of professional illustration. The terrain is more colorful and natural, which lets you perceive the form of the land. Instead of merely showing you where mountains and valleys are located, this edition shows, in a general way, what landforms really look like, making geography more intuitive and relatable. Also, the new terrain is smoother and lighter, making lines and type read more easily. The 2nd Edition lets you visualize the elements of land, water and people as an integrated whole, the key to geographic understanding and appreciation.