The class was somewhat of a challenge. I never cracked open the book and still got a decent grade in the class. Go to lecture, take notes on a laptop and form study groups to knock out the midterm review.

Learned so much about geog! Enjoyed the lecture a lot!! I was also proud of myself for memorizing all the countries.

I really liked Montello because he was always open to answering questions and took an actual interest in your life during office hours. There are 2 midterms and a 2 part final (multiple choice and country exam). Go to the lectures, take notes on your laptop because information can come one after another, and just study consistently.

Great professor, entertaining and funny lectures make the content enjoyable. It isn't easy, and he definitely is arrogant about his vast knowledge of geography, but I don't blame him. He is really helpful and open to students, overall a great guy.

Dan Montello is one of the best teachers you are going to have at UCSB. Yes he is hard, but he isn't the kind of teacher who simply reads off of a powerpoint. The tests are entirely off lecture. Just go to class and type your notes.

Don't take this class. It is very hard and he lectures with an outline. He also talks very fast so its almost impossible to write down anything he says. The book is terribly boring too. This class shouldn't be offered anymore.

Extremely boring lecturer - I honestly tried to learn in class but would end up falling asleep. Lots of material to memorize. Not sure if just my TA, but she didn't know what she was talking about half the time and graded assignments unnecessarily hard - would get the same grade if I put a lot of effort into them or not much.

One reviewer said "Dan Montello is quite possibly the greatest man on earth". I agree with this (geographic) statement. He can be arrogant, but is also very cool. This broad course covered a variety of interesting topics. Take good notes and supplement them with reading, know the study guides. I look at the world differently because of this class!

Never used the book->the reading is the exact same as the lectures, so dont waste your time doing both. The subject is very boring and includes many, many different subjects from UV rays to migration. However, Prof Montello is super funny and really cool and understanding in office hours.

This class was so interesting and really made you think. 2 midterms,5 hwk assignments, final+country exam. Go to class, PAY ATTENTION, read, and most importantly if your dont understand something visit his office hours. That is when he is most helpful. The country exam is easy points rewarded to the smart students who actually study ahead of time.

Literally the worst professor ever when it comes to lectures, and it sucks because you MUST attend them otherwise you're screwed for the midterms and final, like I was. I'm retaking this class again with a different professor.

Funny guy. Very easy to follow along during lectures since he outlines them, but he does go quickly thru material at times. Didn't read the book; took good notes every lecture; got an A

Montello is a cool professor. The class definitely isnt too hard, just make sure you go to lecture. his lectures are outlined and easy to follow, plus he writes the important stuff on the board. he's also really helpful during office hours

I'm not sure if it's because I am majoring in Geography/GIS or what, but I actually enjoyed Montello. Yes some of it is unnecessarily hard but I learned a lot. Also yes, if you want to do well you must show up to lecture and take really good notes, and yes must also read the book. Montello is overbearing at times but his lectures were quite good.

I want to make sure that no freshmen makes the same mistake I did.This class is very difficult. There are 2 midterms and the final is cumulative. There is A LOT of information to memorize, so a cumulative final is impossible. Also you have to memorize ALL the countries in the world. Even if this is the ONLY class open, please don't take it.

He gets very sidetracked most of the time during lectures, although he can be very humorous. Definitely take notes on a computer, it helps organize his points, and if you type the outline he gives, it is simply adding bullet points between them. Material seems like common sense, but still be sure to study since midterms can be worded confusingly.

honestly the worst class I have ever taken. material is SO boring. Professor talks SO fast. Midterm=impossible. I can honestly say that i've never taken a class as uninteresting as this. The professor is really nice and funny, but this class SUCKS!! run now..

Montello is a very interesting and enthusiastic teacher. The material is pretty common sensical but you do have to go to lecture since he doesn't post powerpoints. Don't be intimidated by the country exam...if anything it will be easy points on the final, which was actually really easy. I definitely recommend this class!

Professor Montello is very interested in how humans perceive the world, and designs his lectures, assignments, and tests accordingly. If you consider the application of course material to everyday life, the seemingly complex material should be relatively easy to understand. You will likely find yourself thinking pleasantly trippy thoughts.

Dan Montello is quite possibly the greatest man who has ever lived. Easily the funniest, smartest and wittiest man you will ever encounter.

Pretty funny guy and a good lecturer. Doesn't put notes online, so either go to class and take good notes or get them from someone who does. Got a B on both midterms and final with pretty minimal studying, probably could have gotten A's. Homework isn't very relevant but is easy points. Textbook is pretty worthless, save your money, just take notes!

The class is extremely boring and he doesn't help it become more interesting. As a first quarter freshman I did not enjoy being treated so rudely when I visited him during his office hours. The topics are pretty vague and he never wants to help clarify. Begin studying for the country test early and you'll have no problems with that!

This guy is appalling. His lectures are uninteresting and tangential, and one on one he's likely to treat a student like crap. You don't have to use the book at all if lectures are attended. A side note is he lectures while chewing gum, breaths loudly into the mic, and uses donuts as examples for anything with concentric rings... He's a tool.

A quality professor that understands what he's teaching. Can be very overbearing on students at times, especially at office hours. Goes off on random tangents throughout the entire lecture, and often uses these tangents as examples for important terms that are on the test. Make sure to attend lectures, and take complete and full notes.