Book Shelf    

  Must-have GIS Books for Analysts and Generalists

by G. Peterson
Staying current and knowledgeable is a never-ending pursuit.  My bookshelf is teeming with absorbing books on the field and I list a select few of them here. A few off-topic books are included, which I keep around for those times when an extra kick of inspiration or motivation is needed. I hope these book reviews will help you figure out what books to buy or borrow, as I have found little elsewhere on the web in terms of comprehensive GIS book reviews at-a-glance. 

 

 

FUNDAMENTALS

Geographic Information Analysis Written clearly, concisely, and with occasional wit.   An introductory and reference text.  Those already versed in the fundamentals might still want to take a look because the last chapter, "New Approaches to Spatial Analysis," provides a nice knowledge boost.

Geostatistics for Environmental Scientists (Statistics in Practice)  A lot of information about how to apply linear geostatistical tools using least-squares estimation to your work.  The in-depth discussion of kriging is useful.

Exploring Geographic Information Systems  Mine is in much thumbed-through condition.  Marvelous supplementary introductory and reference text.  

Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems  Introduces you to all the basics; fairly comprehensive.  

NICHE

Spatial Databases: With Application to GIS (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems)  A comprehensive, advanced book mainly for developers and database gurus but worth a look by any serious GIS professional.

Thinking About GIS: Geographic Information System Planning for Managers  (note: there is a soft cover edition too)  A thorough guide to GIS implementation in a large organization.  It is written for managers and implementers but all professionals should seek to learn this material on at least a cursory level.  

GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis   Impressively well-worded considering the thick subject manner.  The chapter on sensitivity analysis and its discussion on error is especially important for anyone attempting this kind of analysis.

DESIGN

Envisioning Information   You can't NOT have this book.  Or any of Tufte's books for that matter.  Get it, read it, gaze at it.

How to Lie with Maps (2nd Edition)  Explanations of cartographer's tricks: both harmless and non.  

Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users  First off: go to the author's ColorBrewer website for help in choosing colors.   It is especially useful when I need color-schemes suitable for color-blind clients.  The book is decent; you will pick up the basics and a few tips.  It is heavy on ArcMap how-tos.

A FEW FOR THOUGHT

The Riddle: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Better Ones  Great ideas on gaining creative inspiration.

The Architecture of Happiness  Uses eloquent prose to argue for eloquence in building form.  Not the least bit boring.

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace  Short, sweet, and inspiring.  It is worth it just for the description of the author disregarding a warning sign and ending up on the edge of a cliff: literally.

From Bauhaus to Our House  History behind the Bauhaus movement in architecture.  Absorbing critique from a sassy author.

Marie Curie: A Life (Radcliffe Biography Series)  Extremely interesting read.  A lot about her life along with some detail about the physics.