This important book, put together by a team of editors and contributing authors who are specialists in different regions of the world, explores major cities of the globe. The introductory chapter examines the patterns of world urban development, urban economy, theoretical aspects of cities, urban services, problems, and challenges. The 11 chapters that follow provide key urban facts, historical perspectives, profiles of distinctive cities, spatial models, urban problems, and prospects for each subregion of the world. The concluding chapter then presents five scenarios of future cities. This updated edition explains and interprets major cities of the world by using the perspectives of space and human-environment relationships, emphasizes issues such as climate change and international migration, and contains color photographs of over 100 cities around the world. This well-organized, one-volume study of major and distinctive cities from around the world should be a must read for both instructors and students. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.