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On the Map: Why the World Looks the Way it Does
Simon Garfield
€ 16.99
€ 12.92
FREE Delivery in Ireland
Description for On the Map: Why the World Looks the Way it Does
Paperback. From the early sketches of philosophers and explorers through to Google Maps and beyond, this title examines how maps both relate and realign our history. It explores the legendary, impassable mountains of Kong, the role of cartography in combatting cholera, the 17th-century Dutch craze for Atlases, the Norse discovery of America and more. Num Pages: 468 pages, 60 ills. BIC Classification: HBTP; WTL. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 197 x 138 x 34. Weight in Grams: 426.
Maps fascinate us. They chart our understanding of the world and they log our progress, but above all they tell our stories. From the early sketches of philosophers and explorers through to Google Maps and beyond, Simon Garfield examines how maps both relate and realign our history. With a historical sweep ranging from Ptolemy to Twitter, Garfield explores the legendary, impassable (and non-existent) mountains of Kong, the role of cartography in combatting cholera, the 17th-century Dutch craze for Atlases, the Norse discovery of America, how a Venetian monk mapped the world from his cell and the Muppets' knack of instant map-travel. Along the way are pocket maps of dragons, Mars, murders and more, with plenty of illustrations and prints to signpost the route. From the bestselling and widely-adored author of Just My Type, On The Map is a witty and irrepressible examination of where we've been, how we got there and where we're going.
Product Details
Publisher
Profile Books Ltd
Number of pages
468
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2013
Condition
New
Weight
434g
Number of Pages
464
Place of Publication
London, United Kingdom
ISBN
9781846685101
SKU
V9781846685101
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 5 to 9 working days
Ref
99-99
About Simon Garfield
Simon Garfield is the author of more than a dozen acclaimed books of non-fiction, including the international bestseller, Just My Type: A Book About Fonts, and a trilogy of edited diaries from the Mass Observation Archive, which includes the bestselling Our Hidden Lives. He lives in London and St Ives, with old maps lining the walls.
Reviews for On the Map: Why the World Looks the Way it Does
Garfield has a genius for being sparked to life by esoteric enthusiasm and charming readers with his delight.
The Times
A rollicking sweep through map history, packed with curiosities and written with verve
Independent on Sunday
Garfield allows his varied, expertly researched stories to speak for themselves, and in so doing helps us see that there are fewer things in life more useful, rewarding and beautiful than a map
Daily Telegraph
Garfield's genial prose twinkles with the delight of discovery
Tom Hawker
Wanderlust
There couldn't be anyone better to write about our love of maps than Simon Garfield, who is a master at unearthing strange facts and mixing them with a lively personal narrative . . . fascinating
Giles Foden
Condé Nast Traveller
A stunning celebration of the cartographic. As one of the UK's leading contemporary polymaths, Garfield's always a joy to read for his gossamer-light show of rigorous learning, his shed-dweller precision in research and his infectious glee in passing on the golden nugget of fact.
Robert Bound
Monocle
He takes us on a fascinating voyage . . . and is a lively companion for the journey.
Douglas Osler
Scotsman
He hops around the world, ancient and modern, with glee, dispensing information, both learned and chatty. On the Map is informative and entertaining, and good fun . . . fascinating.
John S Doyle
Irish Times
Beguiling ... Garfield is like the schoolteacher who made the time fly, a one-man Blue Peter team for intelligent adults, a great British explainer.
Andrew Martin
Observer
Utterly charming and engrossing ... A thoroughly enjoyable guide to guides
Sally Morris
Daily Mail
Simon Garfield has a gift for really making us think about things ... Wonderful
William Leith
Evening Standard
Panoramic, erudite and enjoyable
Independent
The Times
A rollicking sweep through map history, packed with curiosities and written with verve
Independent on Sunday
Garfield allows his varied, expertly researched stories to speak for themselves, and in so doing helps us see that there are fewer things in life more useful, rewarding and beautiful than a map
Daily Telegraph
Garfield's genial prose twinkles with the delight of discovery
Tom Hawker
Wanderlust
There couldn't be anyone better to write about our love of maps than Simon Garfield, who is a master at unearthing strange facts and mixing them with a lively personal narrative . . . fascinating
Giles Foden
Condé Nast Traveller
A stunning celebration of the cartographic. As one of the UK's leading contemporary polymaths, Garfield's always a joy to read for his gossamer-light show of rigorous learning, his shed-dweller precision in research and his infectious glee in passing on the golden nugget of fact.
Robert Bound
Monocle
He takes us on a fascinating voyage . . . and is a lively companion for the journey.
Douglas Osler
Scotsman
He hops around the world, ancient and modern, with glee, dispensing information, both learned and chatty. On the Map is informative and entertaining, and good fun . . . fascinating.
John S Doyle
Irish Times
Beguiling ... Garfield is like the schoolteacher who made the time fly, a one-man Blue Peter team for intelligent adults, a great British explainer.
Andrew Martin
Observer
Utterly charming and engrossing ... A thoroughly enjoyable guide to guides
Sally Morris
Daily Mail
Simon Garfield has a gift for really making us think about things ... Wonderful
William Leith
Evening Standard
Panoramic, erudite and enjoyable
Independent