On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (original 2012; edition 2012)

A guided tour of specific maps through the ages, with diversions featuring cartographers and anecdotes. Without providing a canonical history or careful analysis of either cartography or even any specific concern within it, Garfield's short chapters and conversational style introduce many intriguing ideas and historical trends.

Afterwards, it occurred to me there was not as much on design apart from the special difficulties of constructing a globe, and generally the problems of various projections. I realise now I'd like to know more about iconography, such as the various ways mountains have been depicted on maps: idiosyncracies of them, shading versus stylised symbols versus satellite imagery versus isobars, why some cartographers might prefer one option over others, the relative advantages or implications of using one over another (do placenames work better with some? does the human eye exaggerate the scale of a range when using others?). And so forth, for the various aspects of cartographic design. One of Garfield's more celebrated sidebars deals with Beck's tube map, and which most directly addresses these concerns but only for this one situation. (Garfield uses an adaptation of Beck's design for the endpapers.) He also mentions the preference for filling in spaces on a map, whether with notations or by stretching letters for placenames. Another book, perhaps.

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The UK's Ordnance Survey and its impact on modern society, let alone cartography.

An unintended consequence of early cartography relying upon report rather than direct observation or empirical data: ghost features in maps, the most notorious perhaps the Mountains of Kong, stretching the length of West Africa, but which actually were never there. People who outright lied / invented places, a prime offender the American Captain Benjamin Worrell. (Will he feature in Aubrey-Maturin, I wonder?)

The uses of maps beyond orientation, in particular as a graphical representation of data a la Tufte: the Cholera Map, the Mappa Mundi, maps of imaginary places such as in fantasy literature or video games.

"Here Be Dragons" has not been confirmed as actual usage on a map to designate Terra Incognito. Rather, it is used in literature and colloquially as though it had been (earliest sighting: Dorothy Sayers's 1928 story, "The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head"). On the other hand, pictures of dragons appear aplenty, with various meanings. ( )

I have been fascinated by maps since childhood. This is a fascinating book about the history of maps and map-making from the very earliest representations on stone, clay tablet, papyrus and parchment through the classics like Eratosthenes, Claudius Ptolemy, Mercator and a host of Dutchmen, to Google Maps and Skyrim, and even mapping of the cerebral cortex. It is never less than intriguing, though I thought some parts were a little trivial and the vignettes at the end of most chapters often jarred rather with the content of the chapters before and after and interrupted the flow. More seriously, the reproduction of the many illustrations was rather poor and it was often hard to make out much detail. There were no colour illustrations, though there was a fold out colour map in the Waterstones exclusive edition of the book which I borrowed from a colleague (thanks, Ian!). Overall, though, a great read for anyone with curiosity about the world about them. 4.5/5 ( )

I've loved poring over maps and globes for as long as I can remember so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Garfield takes readers on a fascinating, informative, and entertaining tour of cartographic history. ( )

I rushed out to purchase this book after reading good reviews. Am I sorry!
The text is interesting and informative, but the maps to which Garfield refers are illegible. This detracts greatly from enjoyment of the book. I read the first 100 or so pages and likely will not read any further. ( )

Super interesting book about the history and evolution of maps, including those who created them from BC years to present day. ( )