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
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
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!
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.Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
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
Top reviews from other countries
extero
Was manche Kartographen so treiben und wie man sie durchschaut
Reviewed in Germany on November 7, 2012Marco Bourdeau-Villeneuve
Bon livre pour technicien en SIG & étudiants en géography/ good book for GIS & Geography students
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2013
