THE NEW STATE OF THE WORLD ATLAS...

THE NEW STATE OF THE WORLD ATLAS by Michael Kidron and Ronald Segal (Touchstone: $15.). Unlike the compilers of most reference books who affect impartiality, Kidron and Segal make no bones about having a definite point of view. In an entry on human rights, they assert: “All states, without exception, are terrorist organizations--in the sense that they use violence to influence the behavior of people unnamed or unknown.” The authors indulge in a considerable amount of America-bashing, but make scant mention of the egregious conditions in Myanmar, Zaire, Kenya and the People’s Republic of China. Although their editorial stance will aggravate some readers, the data they’ve assembled is both revealing and depressing. The stylized maps and graphs describe the effects of overpopulation, pollution, economic inequalities and the increasing concentration of the world’s population in cities unable to provide adequate accommodations and social services. If these statistics accurately reflect the current state of the world, the foyer of Hell must be positively littered with handbaskets.