Top 10 Books About Maps Updated 04 /2024

As a first-time visitor to the Map Division, you'll be surprised to realize how many individuals are drawn to the format and related subjects in the library. The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division of the New York Public Library has an emphasis on maps' informational and scholarly significance, as well as the history of mapmaking. Regular library cardholders cannot borrow materials from the Division because it is a part of the Research Libraries.

Is there a way for the public to read about maps outside of the Library, whether it's for personal enrichment or to help them with schoolwork, such as research or an assignment? Maps are not a feature of any of the branch libraries' circulating collections. Map books, on the other hand, are among their intellectual and popular treasures.

Here's a sampling of the electronic books and audiobooks that are currently available. The summaries of the publishers that appear below have been annotated by members of our team.

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—And How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

During the deadliest cholera outbreak in London's history, Dr. John Snow put his own life at risk in an attempt to prove his previously discredited notion that the epidemic was spread by contagious bodily fluids.

The story of the London cholera epidemic of 1854 was more engaging than one might think. John Snow and Richard Whitehead challenged the science of their period, which was primarily miasmic theory, to propose the concept of microorganisms and water-borne sickness. Steve Johnson gives a portrait of London at the period and expounds on relevant issues such as science, biology, demographics, and economics. To pinpoint the outbreak's origin, a map is an essential resource. —Carmen Nigro is the author.

The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester

This is a glimpse inside the life of William Smith, a nineteenth-century engineer who went on to develop the field of geology. There are many strata to rocks, as he discovers in the process of drawing a detailed map in the book.

Geological pioneer William Smith was the first to map England's subsurface. Though tragic in nature, it tells an inspiring tale of perseverance against all odds. This is a favorite of mine by Simon Winchester, a writer whose nonfiction I can't put down. She is — Serena Troshynski

The Map Thief: The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps by Michael Blanding

This is the story of a notorious crime, a well-known map dealer with a shady past, and the vicious society that overtook him. Both as gorgeous pieces of art and useful navigational aids, maps have always held a special place in people's hearts. In contrast, the map trade is a ruthless business populated by eccentric and occasionally shady persons who are searching for a limited supply of exceedingly rare items. E. Forbes Smiley, a respected ancient map dealer, spent years stealing maps from books in the Yale University library—until he was finally caught. Blanding's exclusive interviews with Smiley and other important figures reveal an astounding narrative of tragedy and redemption. Smiley's adventures are interspersed with the stories of the explorers and mapmakers he knew better than anybody in the book, The Map Thief The Billionaire's Vinegar's oenophiles and Provenance's art heists collide in Blanding's riveting tale of high-stakes heists and a cult of collecting fine wine.

Using the account of Smiley's crime, The Map Thief helps the reader appreciate the value of maps and their importance. Blanding did an outstanding job of gathering information and presenting the facts of the case by drawing on the varied perspectives of those he spoke with. I was engrossed in the novel because of the author's attention to detail. Anyone interested in learning more about maps and their historical significance and how they might be used in museums and libraries should read this book. Further, Blanding discusses how and by whom maps were created as well as how they are preserved in libraries and museums as well as their importance to their collections. In this book, you'll learn more about Smiley's lifestyle and how his activities impacted the public and the institutions we visit to learn. In other words, she is Xena Morales

The Measure of Manhattan:The Tumultuous Career and Surprising Legacy of John Randel Jr., Cartographer, Surveyor, Inventor by Marguerite Holloway

Portrait of the 19th century genius architect of Manhattan's city grid provides insights into his bombastic, irascible nature while examining the contentious inventions that enabled the burgeoning city of Manhattan to overcome natural barriers to infrastructure.

Marguerite Holloway's book about the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 and the people and pastoral landscapes of the island of Manhattan in the years leading up to the creation and gradual implementation of the city's characteristic urban street grid is a joy to read for any New York City history enthusiast. Holloway's history of surveyor, civil engineer, and cartographer John Randel Jr., one of NYC's most important but little-known people, is both entertaining and instructive. —Artis Q. Wright

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall

Each and every leader is bound by location. Mountains, rivers, seas, and concrete limit their options. Geospatial knowledge is essential for a complete understanding of global events, but it's not enough on its own. Ten chapters (covering Russia, China, the United States; Latin America; the Middle East; Africa; India and Pakistan; Europe; Japan and Korea; as well as Greenland and the Arctic) use maps, essays and occasionally the author's personal experiences to provide an essential guide to a major determining factor in world history.

There are various ways in which maps shape our society, from political and military strategy and language to trade and religion. This provides an approachable introduction. It's intriguing to contemplate how geographic variables in international events might help us understand international affairs, even if I don't fully subscribe into the concept that global conflict is inevitable. I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about geopolitics in an understandable way. S. Troshynski, author

A History of the World in 12 Maps by Jerry Brotton

It's remarkable to see how maps have shaped our globe over time, from ancient Greece to Google Earth. Historian and cartographer Jerry Brotton presents a dozen of history's most important maps, from stone tablet to computer screen, in a superb examination. A History of the World in 12 Maps begins with Ptolemy, the "father of modern geography," and ends with satellite mapping, revealing the influence of ancient Greece, Renaissance Europe, the Islamic and Buddhist empires, and more on how we view the world today. To get to where we are today, there was a long and winding route, as Brotton demonstrates, filled with conflict, deception, and the triumph of special interests over science. There have been many imperial, religious, and commercial agendas promoted through the use of maps over the centuries, and they have always represented an odd and awkward union of science and subjectivity. It's not just that Brotton chronicles the story of the people who created, exploited, and abused these significant works of cartography.

History of cartography is a complex discipline that encompasses astronomy, cosmology, mythology, and religion as well as the history of maps and mapping itself. Jerry Brotton's A History of the World in 12Maps is perhaps the most popular book on this topic because it is both entertaining and educational. During the period from 150 CE to the present, this book examines the contributions of Ptolemy and Al-Idrisi as well as the work of Waldseemüller, Ribeiro, Mercator, Blaeu, Cassini, and Mackinder, as well as the Hereford Mappamundi and the Peters Projection. Science, Exchange, Faith, Empire, Discovery, Globalism, Toleration, Money, Nation, Geopolitics and Equality are only some of Brotton's book's many distinct features that set it apart from similar works of the past decade. This arrangement places the maps in the right historical and cultural context, emphasizing both the cultures that created them and the lasting effects they had on the world after they were published. There are many fascinating aspects of cartography that can be found in this book. It's an excellent read for the casual historian, teachers, and students. Ian Fowler, a sportswriter

Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will by Judith Schalansky

There are still unexplored regions of the planet. From the mainland, people, airports, and travel guides, these fifty islands are a world away in every manner. They're also visually spectacular and unique in their design. Each island's lore is influenced by the stories that have been passed down from generation to generation and based on historical occurrences and scientific data, according to the book's author, Judith Schalansky. Atlas of Remote Islands is an ideal gift for the tourist or romantic in all of us, thanks to its magnificent full-color maps and intriguing adventure.

Art and an atlas. Each island is given its own chapter with a separate text and map. Many of the islands are well-known despite their remote location. By fusing narrative and map-making, the author paints evocative visions of exotic lands. Perfect for a day spent cooped up in your abode. Eric Robinson, author

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