Books Review

Hello friends!!!

If you are reading this article means you have confused in choosing the geography optional related standard books. And if you think you are reading the right article about review of the books then yes. In this article we are going to review the books as per their relevancy to the geography optional syllabus and need of the Mains examinations.

This article we will analyze only those books which are most needed for the optional preparation. It is applicable to all those who are going for coaching classes and who are preparing on their own, why because the coaching notes are not enough to prepare the optional subject like geography.

We will go from basic to the advanced mode. So, the beginning is from NCERTs.

NCERTS

What is so much divine in NCERTs? Why we should read them? What makes them special?

Most of the aspirants still question whether one must read NCERT books for Geography Optional preparation and if So Old or New NCERTs. These are the questions posed by many aspirants. Let’s analyze why we should read NCERTs.

• We forgot most of the things what we learnt in our school days or sometimes we did not study at all.
• NCERTs are frame work curriculum for school education throughout India.
• Each year in prelims and Mains lot of questions are from NCERTs.
• One can build sound foundation in geography subjects only by reading NCERTs. You can build it by reading other sources but rest of them are all not consolidated and comprehensive manner.
• The books are easy to understand and comprehend.
• And they serve the most essential study material for not only UPSC/IAS but also other exams.

From which class we should read the NCERTs.?

Most of the Coaching institutes suggest reading from 6^th to 12^th standard. And it is valid we should start reading from 6^th till 12^th.

• New NCERTs 6^th to 12^th
• Old NCERTS 6^th to 8^th and 11^th to 12^th

Can we read only summary of NCERTs published by any of the institutes?

Yes, you can read them for other exams like SSC, state PCS, IBPS, but not for UPSC. Questions from UPSC are not only factual but also conceptual. So, don’t go for short cuts instead try smart approaches.

There are some NCERTs which we should review specially because of their importance in geography optional.

11th NCERT (Old) Principles Basic of Geography

By far this covers most needed study material from Physical geography point of view. Most of the geography study material are prepared from this book. How it helps in the mains? It covers most of the fundamental topics in a lucid way and If you read, you can answer most of the previous year questions.

Examples

• Discuss, with examples, the influence of vulcanism and diastrophism on the evolution of landscape. (1992)
• Discuss the processes of mechanical and chemical weathering and show their relationship with soil formation. (1996)
• Describe the landforms which are products of endogenetic forces. (2004)
• Weathering is a complex phenomenon involving a number of the process and is influenced by various factors. (2010)
• Explain the origin, distribution and characteristics of tropical cyclones. (1991)
• Discuss the distribution of precipitation in the world (2000)
• Discuss the basis of Koppen’s climatic classification. Bring out the salient characteristics of ‘Cs’ type of climate. (2015)
• And many more

11^th NCERT Fundamentals of Physical Geography.

This book covers most of the basic aspects of the Physical geography. Most of the points for the previous year questions can be extracted from this book.

Example

• Discuss the limitations of the theory of Continental Drift and show how the theory of Plate Tectonics is an improvement over it. (1995)
• Bring out the distinctions between the ‘continental drift’ theory and the ‘plate tectonics’ theory. (1999)
• Critically evaluate the continental drift hypothesis of A.Wegener. (2006)
• Bring out the relevance of seismic study in determining the structure of earth’s interiors (2010)
• Discuss the nature and composition of earth’s atmosphere. (1998)
• Discuss Dew point and the various forms of condensation. (2013)

And many more questions form each of the modules like geomorphology, climatology, biogeography.

If you want to choose between these two books, then go for the Old NCERT. That books is more comprehensive and detailed than the new one.

12^th standard NCERT read the new ones, the old NCERTs are neither interesting nor easy to comprehend.

Almost we have done with the NCERTs. Now we will go to the standard books for each of the Module.

Geomorphology

The questions below which had been asked in various platforms shows how clueless aspirants about the syllabus and the books to refer. This trend is not only for geomorphology but for all other subjects and both freshers and seniors face these issues.

In this article we have made an attempt to analyze to what extent the book Geomorphology by Savindra Singh will be helpful in studying the geomorphology.

Following topics have been comprehensively covered in the Geomorphology book.

• Geomorphic cycles
• Denudation chronology
• Channel morphology.
• Slope development
• Applied geomorphology

And following questions can be answered only if you read this book.

1. “In explaining the concept of ‘Pediplanation’, King combined the ideas of Davis, Penck and Wood with his own.” Elaborate. (2016)
2. “Present-day landforms bear more complexity than simplicity.” Elucidate (2015)
3. Explain with examples as to how channel dynamics has been responsible for the development of alluvial fans and cones. (2015)
4. Discuss the contributions of the American School of Subaerial Denudation in geomorphology. (2015)

And many more questions.

In few days we will review the remaining books for the other subjects…. Till then stay tuned…. And stay focused…..