Skip to content

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks Paperback - 2013

by Simon Garfield


Summary

Cartography enthusiasts rejoice: the bestselling author of the Just My Type reveals the fascinating relationship between man and map.
Simon Garfield’s Just My Type illuminated the world of fonts and made everyone take a stand on Comic Sans and care about kerning. Now Garfield takes on a subject even dearer to our fanatical human hearts: maps.
 
Imagine a world without maps. How would we travel? Could we own land? What would men and women argue about in cars? Scientists have even suggested that mapping—not language—is what elevated our prehistoric ancestors from ape-dom. Follow the history of maps from the early explorers’ maps and the awe-inspiring medieval Mappa Mundi to Google Maps and the satellite renderings on our smartphones, Garfield explores the unique way that maps relate and realign our history—and reflect the best and worst of what makes us human.
 
Featuring a foreword by Dava Sobel and packed with fascinating tales of cartographic intrigue, outsize personalities, and amusing “pocket maps” on an array of subjects from how to fold a map to the strangest maps on the Internet, On the Map is a rich historical tapestry infused with Garfield’s signature narrative flair. Map-obsessives and everyone who loved Just My Type will be lining up to join Garfield on his audacious journey through time and around the globe.
 

From the publisher

Simon Garfield is the author of fourteen acclaimed books of nonfiction including Just My Type. He lives in London and St. Ives, Cornwall.

Details

  • Title On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks
  • Author Simon Garfield
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition 1st
  • Pages 464
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Avery Publishing Group, New York, NY
  • Date 2013-11-05
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Maps, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9781592407804 / 1592407803
  • Weight 1.15 lbs (0.52 kg)
  • Dimensions 8 x 5.4 x 1.3 in (20.32 x 13.72 x 3.30 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Themes
    • Aspects (Academic): Historical
  • Dewey Decimal Code 912.09

Media reviews

Praise for Just My Type:

“This is a smart, funny, accessible book that does for typography what Lynne Truss’s best-selling Eats, Shoots & Leaves did for punctuation: made it noticeable for people who had no idea they were interested in such things.”
—Janet Maslin, The New York Times  

"An engaging look at the world of fonts. […] Just My Type urges us to put on the brakes and take in the scenery as far as typography goes. Whether you're a graphic designer or a layperson with no background in this area, reading what Garfield has to say will change the way you perceive the written word forever."
—The Los Angeles Times  

“Reading Simon Garfield’s Just My Type can transform your daily life into an endless quest for knowledge of the typefaces in which signs, books, magazines, newspapers, etc. are set.”
—The Washington Post

“Highly entertaining … Garfield takes readers on a rollicking tour of the world of typography, from book jackets to road signs, TV shows to computers.”
—USA Today 

“A deliriously clever and entertaining book”
—The Boston Globe

“Informative, delightful — and essential reading for word geeks everywhere.”
—The Seattle Times 

“Lively […] intriguing […] a cheeky book about the human side and our reaction to fonts.”
—Seattle Post Intelligencer 

“This is a book for typography lovers who just can't get enough of their favorite fonts. In this well-researched book, Garfield takes a look back at the history of typefaces and how they've influenced consumers throughout the years. Using specific examples, Garfield shows just how powerful different fonts can be.”
—Philadelphia Intelligencer 

“For typomaniacs […] who can't rest until they've identified a font, Garfield's engaging history of letter design will be eye candy.”
—NPR.org 

"Irresistable."
—The Huffington Post 

“Garfield’s romping history (with multitype text) is zestfully informative.”
—Booklist 

“Garfield dances across 560 years of typographic history, sprinkled with fascinating anecdotes and vignettes, to infect you with his own inability to walk past a sign without identifying the typeface and some curious factoid about it. Funny and fascinating, irreverent and playful yet endlessly illuminating, the book is an absolute treat for the type-nerd, design history geek, and general lover of intelligent writing with humor.”
—The Atlantic 

“A thoroughly entertaining, well-informed tour of typefaces”
—Kirkus 

A “lively romp through the history of fonts. Garfield’s evocative prose entices us to see letters instead of just reading them.”
—Publishers Weekly 

“Whether you’re a hardcore typophile or a type-tyro, there’s something here for you: be it the eye-opening revelations of Eric Gill’s utter and complete perversity, or the creation of the typeface that helped Mr. Obama gain entrance to the White House.”
—Chip Kidd 

"Just My Type is an entertaining romp through the world of type design. Mr. Garfield explains the angst and the joy of typography; this is a great book for design geeks to press into the hands of the uninitiated in hopes of conversions, like missionaries with a religious tract."
—Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife 

“With wit, grace and intelligence, Simon Garfield tells the fascinating stories behind the letters that we encounter every day on our street corners, our bookstore shelves, and our computer screens. As someone who's worked with typography for over three decades, I kept finding lots of surprises.  So will anyone who cares about the culture of reading and writing and this most ubiquitous of design forms.”
—Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram Design, New York

"There is even a photograph of a quick brown fox literally jumping over a lazy dog. What a clever, clever book."
—Lynne Truss 

“Did I love this book? My daughter's middle name is Bodoni. Enough said.”
—Maira Kalman 

"Mapping out the historical intricacies of the ampersand and the short-lived interrobang, the serif and the sans serif, Simon Garfield reveals an invisible world behind the printed word. From Trajan's Column to the ubiquitous Helvetica to the latest typefaces, like Dirtyfax, the lives of the designers and the letters they've created have never been more clearly detailed with so much flair."
—Jessica Kerwin Jenkins, author of Encyclopedia of the Exquisite 

About the author

Simon Garfield is the author of fourteen acclaimed books of nonfiction including Just My Type. He lives in London and St. Ives, Cornwall.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Simon Garfield

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Youngtown, Arizona, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 5.80
SGD 7.16 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery, November 2013. Trade Paperback. Used - Good.
Item Price
SGD 5.80
SGD 7.16 shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 6.51
SGD 5.44 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Item Price
SGD 6.51
SGD 5.44 shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 6.51
SGD 5.44 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Item Price
SGD 6.51
SGD 5.44 shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
4
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 8.19
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery Publishing Group, 2013. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
SGD 8.19
FREE shipping to USA
On the Map : A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map : A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 9.09
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
SGD 9.09
FREE shipping to USA
On the Map : A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map : A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 9.09
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
SGD 9.09
FREE shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Garfield, Simon

  • Used
Condition
UsedGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Rotterdam , New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 9.79
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedGood. Shows minimal wear such as frayed or folded edges, minor rips and tears, and/or slightly worn binding. May have stickers and/or contain inscription on title page. No observed missing pages.
Item Price
SGD 9.79
FREE shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Garfield, Simon

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Tucker, Georgia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 10.71
SGD 6.13 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New. All orders ship by next business day! This is a new paperback book. For USED books, we cannot guarantee supplemental materials such as CDs, DVDs, access codes and other materials. We are a small company and very thankful for your business!
Item Price
SGD 10.71
SGD 6.13 shipping to USA
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks (ALA Notable Books for Adults)

by Simon Garfield

  • Used
  • very good
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Champaign, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 11.60
SGD 6.13 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery, November 2013. Trade . Very Good/Very Good. Very Good Hardcover with Very Good Dustjacket. Light shelfwear to DJ. Light shelfwear to covers. Spine ends bumped. Pages clean and tight in binding. Pictures available upon request. A locally owned, independent book shop since 1984.
Item Price
SGD 11.60
SGD 6.13 shipping to USA
On the Map - a Mind Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

On the Map - a Mind Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

by Simon Garfield

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Paperback
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First Paperback Edition.
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592407804 / 1592407803
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
SGD 12.96SGD 11.67
Save SGD 1.29!
SGD 7.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Gotham Books, 2013. First Paperback Edition. . Soft cover. Near Fine. pp.464 with index clean tight copy with minuscule corner wear Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Item Price
SGD 12.96SGD 11.67
Save SGD 1.29 !
SGD 7.00 shipping to USA