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How to Lie with Maps (2nd Edition) Paperback – May 1, 1996

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 111 ratings

There is a newer edition of this item:

Originally published to wide acclaim, this lively, cleverly illustrated essay on the use and abuse of maps teaches us how to evaluate maps critically and promotes a healthy skepticism about these easy-to-manipulate models of reality. Monmonier shows that, despite their immense value, maps lie. In fact, they must.

The second edition is updated with the addition of two new chapters, 10 color plates, and a new foreword by renowned geographer H. J. de Blij. One new chapter examines the role of national interest and cultural values in national mapping organizations, including the United States Geological Survey, while the other explores the new breed of multimedia, computer-based maps.

To show how maps distort, Monmonier introduces basic principles of mapmaking, gives entertaining examples of the misuse of maps in situations from zoning disputes to census reports, and covers all the typical kinds of distortions from deliberate oversimplifications to the misleading use of color.

"Professor Monmonier himself knows how to gain our attention; it is not in fact the lies in maps but their truth, if always approximate and incomplete, that he wants us to admire and use, even to draw for ourselves on the facile screen. His is an artful and funny book, which like any good map, packs plenty in little space."—
Scientific American

"A useful guide to a subject most people probably take too much for granted. It shows how map makers translate abstract data into eye-catching cartograms, as they are called. It combats cartographic illiteracy. It fights cartophobia. It may even teach you to find your way. For that alone, it seems worthwhile."—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt,
The New York Times

". . . witty examination of how and why maps lie. [The book] conveys an important message about how statistics of any kind can be manipulated. But it also communicates much of the challenge, aesthetic appeal, and sheer fun of maps. Even those who hated geography in grammar school might well find a new enthusiasm for the subject after reading Monmonier's lively and surprising book."—
Wilson Library Bulletin

"A reading of this book will leave you much better defended against cheap atlases, shoddy journalism, unscrupulous advertisers, predatory special-interest groups, and others who may use or abuse maps at your expense."—John Van Pelt,
Christian Science Monitor

"Monmonier meets his goal admirably. . . . [His] book should be put on every map user's 'must read' list. It is informative and readable . . . a big step forward in helping us to understand how maps can mislead their readers."—Jeffrey S. Murray,
Canadian Geographic
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About the Author

Mark Monmonier is distinguished professor of geography at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Mark Monmonier is distinguished professor of geography at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0226534219
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 2nd edition (May 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 207 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780226534213
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226534213
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 111 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
111 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book informative and useful for explaining maps. They say it provides a decent overview of the subject and is great for map makers. However, some customers feel the book is outdated.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Information quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and useful for learning basic principles. They say it does a good job at explaining maps and how data can be skewed through different channels. Readers also mention it makes learning geography less boringly factual and more tangible.

"This is an excellent, easy-to-read overview of challenges and choices that face cartographers... and how those choices can be used to get across..." Read more

"...Also, a map carries some sense of authority and may even inspire a kind of loyalty - surely you know at least one map fanatic?..." Read more

"...Makes learning geography less boringly factual and more tangible and story-like." Read more

"Great for map makers or people who use maps s very informative." Read more

3 customers mention "Use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book useful and interesting. They say it's very useful in their case.

"...grammar school geography and map lessons but, like a good map, loaded with useful and interesting information." Read more

"I work in Crime Analysis and this book is very useful in my case. I don't know what anyone would do with it if they didn't work in a similar field." Read more

"A useful addition..." Read more

4 customers mention "Staleness"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book outdated.

"...As many reviewers have noted, the book is massively out-of-date...." Read more

"...Overall it was a good book but it is terribly outdated. This especially shows toward the end when talking about maps and computers...." Read more

"Excellent book, but a bit outdated. I would go for the 3rd Ed. published in April 2018" Read more

"Out of date. Difficult to read. Lots of long, off topic detours.Avoid if you have a choice." Read more

A brilliant book with applications outside of cartography
5 out of 5 stars
A brilliant book with applications outside of cartography
I have always loved maps. When I saw the entry for "How to Lie with Maps," I imagined that it talked about how well meaning cartographers occasionally conveyed the wrong information to the unsuspecting public.While there is some of that, Mark Monmonier is more "on nose" by pointing out how one can use maps to paint the picture that you want to show.(Please see the enclosed pictures.)Mark is someone that knows his way around a map. He understands the governing bodies, rules, regulations, and common conventions - and, how to use those to get your point across.The first chapters cover the point that all maps are inaccurate, but some convey useful information. The triumvirate of scale, projection, and map symbols must necessarily be somewhat inaccurate. Mark gives the example that if a road was the width shown on the map then it would be a mile wide on the ground.The techniques Mark described in this "Eleven Rules for Polishing ..." apply to almost any graphical medium.I will be a more careful consumer of graphical images in the future.Well done Mark Monmonier!
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
I have always loved maps. When I saw the entry for "How to Lie with Maps," I imagined that it talked about how well meaning cartographers occasionally conveyed the wrong information to the unsuspecting public.

While there is some of that, Mark Monmonier is more "on nose" by pointing out how one can use maps to paint the picture that you want to show.

(Please see the enclosed pictures.)

Mark is someone that knows his way around a map. He understands the governing bodies, rules, regulations, and common conventions - and, how to use those to get your point across.

The first chapters cover the point that all maps are inaccurate, but some convey useful information. The triumvirate of scale, projection, and map symbols must necessarily be somewhat inaccurate. Mark gives the example that if a road was the width shown on the map then it would be a mile wide on the ground.

The techniques Mark described in this "Eleven Rules for Polishing ..." apply to almost any graphical medium.

I will be a more careful consumer of graphical images in the future.

Well done Mark Monmonier!
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book with applications outside of cartography
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
I have always loved maps. When I saw the entry for "How to Lie with Maps," I imagined that it talked about how well meaning cartographers occasionally conveyed the wrong information to the unsuspecting public.

While there is some of that, Mark Monmonier is more "on nose" by pointing out how one can use maps to paint the picture that you want to show.

(Please see the enclosed pictures.)

Mark is someone that knows his way around a map. He understands the governing bodies, rules, regulations, and common conventions - and, how to use those to get your point across.

The first chapters cover the point that all maps are inaccurate, but some convey useful information. The triumvirate of scale, projection, and map symbols must necessarily be somewhat inaccurate. Mark gives the example that if a road was the width shown on the map then it would be a mile wide on the ground.

The techniques Mark described in this "Eleven Rules for Polishing ..." apply to almost any graphical medium.

I will be a more careful consumer of graphical images in the future.

Well done Mark Monmonier!
Images in this review
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3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023
In very good conditions for a used book.
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2015
This is an excellent, easy-to-read overview of challenges and choices that face cartographers... and how those choices can be used to get across particular messages using the language of maps. Although it could be enhanced if another edition ever came out, this 2nd Edition is still relevant to understanding and interpreting maps.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2005
Maps are one of hte commonest kind of information graphic. They occur in many forms, in many contexts, and commonly carry more data per square inch than just about any other kind of diagram. Also, a map carries some sense of authority and may even inspire a kind of loyalty - surely you know at least one map fanatic? That carrying capacity and authority can be used badly as easily as used well: incompetently, to make some point at the expense of others, or intentionally to misdirect.

The book's first section reminds us that every map contains mis- or missing information - if only because the world is round and the map is flat. Later, Mommonier gives examples of incompetence showing how information, especially in color, can be illegible.

He also shows how maps can affect political decisions as close as your own back yard, the maps used to make land planning and zoning decisions. He works up from town hall politics to the international scale, including some remarkable Cold War artifacts. He mentions esthetics only briefly, mostly to point out how the decision to make a map look nice can corrupt its data content. This is a loss since esthetics don't inherently conflict with the message, but good illustrators already know how to create visual appeal and bad ones should not be encouraged.

This is a useful addition for anyone who creates or uses information in picture form. It's not as broad as other books, but adds depth to discussions about one particular kind of information graphic. The wide ranging and well categorized bibliography is just an extra.

//wiredweird
17 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2019
This was a clear, enjoyable book about the use of white lies, propaganda, subtle manipulation, and other distortions of the truth in map-making. The beginning of the book focuses on the basic fact that all maps, to be effective, need to lie - it is impossible to faithfully project a 3-D world on a flat surface, and it is impossible to record every possible detail of real life onto a map. The book describes basic visual variables and the common generalizations (smoothing, selection, displacement, etc.) that are necessary to make a functional map. The rest of the book describes a variety of different ways that maps can distort the truth - honest mistakes, propaganda, deliberate disinformation, and even variations in data aggregation. A map is not a neutral document, but rather an argument, produced by an author for an audience - this book is a guide to help map-users navigate this reality.

I liked this book, but I did not love it. As many reviewers have noted, the book is massively out-of-date. The University of Chicago is threatening to publish a new version "for the digital age" later in 2018 - I am curious to see if that version is actually better. In addition, I wished that the author spent more time exploring the rhetoric and ideology of map-making. While he touched on the topic, I think a deep exploration of historical and contemporary maps would have been fascinating - what do maps say about how people view the world, about their values, about what they view as significant and insignificant? I also think the book would be improved by exploring non-Western maps and mapmaking traditions.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2013
I am passionate about cartography, and geology, so when I found out about this book I had t have it. It was examples how data could be manipulated to show different things on the map. But before you "break the laws you need to make sure that you know the laws", as one of my professors would say.
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2015
Great social reading book. Can pick up and put down with no train of thought broken. Makes learning geography less boringly factual and more tangible and story-like.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018
Great for map makers or people who use maps s very informative.

Top reviews from other countries

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Mônica
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom
Reviewed in Brazil on February 1, 2018
Recomendo a todos que gostam de cartografia.
Não é um livro grande nem extenso. Traz alguns conceitos teóricos de cartografia que são importante para os estudantes da área, como projeções, simbologia, generalização. Junto com a teoria mostra, com figuras, como é fácil produzir e usar mapas de modo errado. Basta usar cores diferentes para ter um mapa do censo 'errado' e isso leva a decisões erradas....
Como aluna de doutorado, acho necessário ter esses livros, considerados clássicos.
Não li inteiro, apenas os capítulos que considero mais urgente para minha tese e para concursos.
Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2015
Great resource. Opened my eyes to so many of the constant map issues i see in government maps
T.R.Ramaswami
4.0 out of 5 stars Mapmaker, Mapmaker Make Me a Map
Reviewed in India on March 22, 2015
This is a book that anyone who is interested in maps must read. It tackles all aspects related to instances where impressionable misinformation or better named as 'cartographic sleight of hand', is disguised in maps to give a picture that suits the agenda, political or otherwise, of the map-maker or the principals.
Antonina Contocra
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for GIS students
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2014
It's very well-written! The author clearly explains difficult concepts! It is a book I have referred to often, with my GIS courses. I highly recommend it!!
Milhaud
5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best book about maps
Reviewed in Spain on October 6, 2013
This book has almost everything you need to know about maps: How to create one, how to interpret one and how to avoid taking wrong decisions to keep the map as realistic as possible.

It is full of examples going from 'hard' cartography to the proper use of colours or textures.

This is a MUST for anyone interested in any kind of maps.