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Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks Hardcover – Bargain Price, September 20, 2011

by Ken Jennings (Author)

209 customer reviews

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It comes as no surprise that, as a kid, Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings slept with a bulky Hammond world atlas by his pillow every night. Maphead recounts his lifelong love affair with geography and explores why maps have always been so fascinating to him and to fellow enthusiasts everywhere.Jennings takes readers on a world tour of geogeeks from the London Map Fair to the bowels of the Library of Congress, from the prepubescent geniuses at the National Geographic Bee to the computer programmers at Google Earth. Each chapter delves into a different aspect of map culture: highpointing, geocaching, road atlas rallying, even the “unreal estate” charted on the maps of fiction and fantasy. He also considers the ways in which cartography has shaped our history, suggesting that the impulse to make and read maps is as relevant today as it has ever been. From the “Here be dragons” parchment maps of the Age of Discovery to the spinning globes of grade school to the postmodern revolution of digital maps and GPS, Maphead is filled with intriguing details, engaging anecdotes, and enlightening analysis. If you’re an inveterate map lover yourself—or even if you’re among the cartographically clueless who can get lost in a supermarket—let Ken Jennings be your guide to the strange world of mapheads.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, September 2011 Ken Jennings, best known for his epic winning streak on Jeopardy! in 2004, returns to the writing world with Maphead, a charming, funny, and of course, informational book about the world of maps and the people who love them. Even if maps are not your thing, Jennings writes about them with such affection and humor that the topic becomes fascinating; the clever captions for the maps in the book alone are worth the read (the first map in the book compares shapes of places that were “separated at birth” and are therefore soul mates. Included: Lake Michigan and Sweden). From the politics of geocaching to the ups and downs of the contestants participating in the National Geographic Bee (which, according to Alex Trebek, should have its own prime-time show like the spelling bee), Jennings captures the excitement and wonder of places. --Caley Anderson

Review

“Jennings is a very witty, insightful writer and has written an entertaining and educational book about maps and the geeks who obsess over them.” —Pauline Frommer, travel writer and founding editor of Frommers.com

“It’s a fun read that’s not just for wonks.” —The Salt Lake Tribune

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Product details

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Scribner; Later prt. edition (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439167176
ASIN: B00740G620
Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 209 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,277,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5247 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Trivia
- #8485 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Human Geography
- #10282 in Books > Science & Math > Earth Sciences > Geography

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Benjamin Knight

Jennings is not a writer

November 7, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I was really excited to find a book specifically written for weirdos like me who "read" maps and atlases like a book, love to navigate, and have a strange fascination with globes. Sadly though I couldn't make it past a few chapters of this book. Frankly, Ken Jennings, although a wiz at knowing every obscure worldly fact, is not a writer. The worst part is the hokey jokes inserted as a lame attempt to make this a lighthearted and fun read. The topics seem directionless and mostly sensational than insightful. I'm really disappointed I couldn't enjoy this read more. Maybe I'll skip ahead a few chapters and see if it can still maintain my attention. If so, I'll come back and update this review.

Also, the paperback cover design has a hole in the shape of a cutout head, which makes it really uncomfortable to hold because it's right in the center where your fingers grip. Sounds silly but I actually think this matters a lot since you're going to be holding this book for hours.

65 people found this helpful

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Robert J. Woolley

I have enjoyed staring at maps and globes

November 16, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed staring at maps and globes, and noticing all the weird shapes and place names and features. Ken Jennings apparently likes this sort of stuff even more than I did, and this book is a delightful celebration of not only a bunch of the specific things he has learned about, but of the whole phenomenon of map-loving.

I bought the Kindle edition, and in case you're wondering (as I did) whether it would be a problem seeing the maps and other necessary illustrations in sufficient detail, rest assured that it's not a problem--at least not with a Kindle Fire device, which is what I was using.

14 people found this helpful

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Kenzo Yasuda

but it's ruined by Ken Jennings constantly trying to make terrible puns throughout the book

April 17, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The information provided in this book is interesting, but it's ruined by Ken Jennings constantly trying to make terrible puns throughout the book. I found myself sighing or rolling my eyes more often than I should have for a book like this

67 people found this helpful

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K. Campbell

My Maphead Son Loved It!

November 16, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

My son is a HUGE geography buff and he completely devoured this book. I wasn't sure there would be anything in there that he didn't already know, but there was plenty. And just reading a book about geography written by an author who also loves geography was a huge plus. When my son was done reading it, I read it and it helped me understand my son's obsession a little bit more. Thanks for that, Mr. Jennings!

5 people found this helpful

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Ida's GirlTop Contributor: Knitting

A Lively and Engaging History of Maps

May 2, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a fun and fascinating read about the history and lore of maps. Every arm chair traveler will enjoy the history, and adventures recounted in telling the story of the development and use of maps through the ages. Exploration, adventure and even crime are all a part of the tale. It is an engaging tale well told by the author.

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Fun book about all aspects of maps and why we love them.

June 8, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is lots of fun. I have recommended them to all my friends. If you love maps, you'll enjoy this book. It's humorous, too.

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Dikqueeze

But overall broad overview of geography is great, multi-perspective approach works well

January 10, 2018

Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase

Felt rambly to me, lots of rabbit holes and such. But overall broad overview of geography is great, multi-perspective approach works well.

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Terry H

Cries to be made into a documentary

May 3, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Fun, quick read. Really enjoyed it. Would add to my Read Again shelf but many of the fun facts will likely be out of date in a few years. Read on a Kindle, I would have liked more photos & illustrations. Would make a great documentary. Cmon Travel Channel!

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