Human Geography, ninth edition retains the organization and structure of its earlier versions. Like them, it seeks to introduce its users to the scope and excitement of geography and its relevance to their daily lives and roles as informed citizens. We recognize that for many students, human geography may be their first or only work in geography and this their first or only textbook in the discipline. For these students particularly, we seek to convey the richness and breadth of human geography and to give insight into the nature and intellectual challenges of the field of geography itself. Our goals are to be inclusive in content, current in data, and relevant in interpretations. These goals are elusive. Because of the time lapse between world events and the publication of a book, inevitably events outpace analysis. We therefore depend on a continuing partnership with classroom instructors to provide the currency of information and the interpretation of new patterns of human geographic substance that changing conditions demand.