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.

the comments about his office hours behavior are true, what kind of professor chews you out in office hours saying that you're wasting tax payers money and asks how you got into UCSB among other things

Understanding this dude's research will help you understand how he approaches teaching. Can be overbearing but also high quality educator.

Don't ever go to his office hours he'll put you down and discourage you. Should be fired from UCSB for his out of line behavior that I and other students dealt with. WORST Professor I've ever encountered!

Really good professor. I enjoyed his sense of humor, and he really knows what he's talking about. The tests are based off of his lectures, and are not too bad if you pay attention to lectures. I hope to take a class of his again.

The class is pretty interesting. Tests are not easy, tested on pretty much everything and the textbook is crappy (i think they changed it though). Good professor, he kept things interesting and i liked his sense of humor

Liked his dry sense of humor at first, but it got old pretty fast. Tests you on pretty much every word said in class, even things that don't seem important. Book was not really necessary, and I was really mad when he took Africa off of the country test for the final, i knew that one the best!

AMAZING professor! So funny and entertaining! class was not too difficult, anyone can pass if they go to lecture and section. don't need the book at all

He is funny and keeps lecture interesting. The tests are a bit confusing though.

this class seems easy, but its really not. not interesting at ALL unless your interested in the randomest facts about geography. i liked going to ALL my classes this quarter except this one. going to this class was torture for me. the questions were tricky on the tests and generally confusing.

This class is fine if you go to lecture. Most of the questions on his tests are straight from your notes. Two midterms. Second one is way harder than the first but still not terrible. Country exam is easy if you put in the time. Overall pretty interesting class.

You need to go to lecture to get a good grade on exams, he draws most questions from the lecture. Take good notes! Start studying for the country exam early and you'll be fine. He gives two midterms which are a couple of weeks apart, that's kind of stressful. An interesting professor who genuinely cares for his students and is very approachable.

Pay attention during lectures, they are extremely beneficial.Save your money, don't buy the textbook. Dan is a genuine guy that actually cares for his students

His class was really easy. Attend lecture, if not then read the book. Sections are super easy. There is a small homework assignment about every other week. The tests are multiple choice. There is an exam testing the countries of the world. Start studying early and you will do fine.

Excellent professor. Secrets to success: study for the country exam early and review frequently, attend every lecture. His tests are based almost entirely on his lectures. Go over study guides piece by piece to make sure you know everything. Visit him in office hours prior to final. He will let you go over past midterms and copy questions.

wasnt that hard. map test wasnt that hard just study early. go to lecture it helps alot on exams. notes are easy to follow because of the outline.

tricky test questions.../ youll see. don't have to read pretty much at all. go to section and do homework though! and learning the countries isn't that bad

Prof. Montello is a pretty good guy, he tells some pretty lame jokes, but i chuckled a few times. There's a lot of textbook reading, but I never read. Just study for the tests, do the homework, go to section. The class material was interesting as well.

The lectures were actually very interesting and he has a sense of humor too. I never used the textbook, just go to lecture and discussion and you'll be fine. Exams were fair, just study and it won't be too bad. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. It adds up if you don't do it, and generally they are simple and questions from them are on the exams. Highly recommended

His lectures weren't so boring but he does tend to go off on tangents. He's funny but sometimes he can be a jerk. The tests were pretty easy and i never used the textbook. My recommendation would be to take very good notes to study off of..

He's a pompous self-righteous teacher. I'm begining to wonder if the students are paying him in order to pass his class.

avoid the guy. means nice but cant stand his teaching style. the course was pretty dry