Writers know only too well how long it can take--and how awkward it can
be--to describe spatial relationships with words alone. And while a map
might not always be worth a thousand words, a good one can help writers
communicate an argument or explanation clearly, succinctly, and
effectively.
In his acclaimed How to Lie with Maps, Mark Monmonier showed how maps
can distort facts. In Mapping it Out: Expository Cartography for the
Humanities and Social Sciences, he shows authors and scholars how they
can use expository cartography--the visual, two-dimensional organization
of information--to heighten the impact of their books and articles.
This concise, practical book is an introduction to the fundamental
principles of graphic logic and design, from the basics of scale to the
complex mapping of movement or change. Monmonier helps writers and
researchers decide when maps are most useful and what formats work best
in a wide range of subject areas, from literary criticism to sociology.
He demonstrates, for example, various techniques for representing
changes and patterns; different typefaces and how they can either
clarify or confuse information; and the effectiveness of less
traditional map forms, such as visibility base maps, frame-rectangle
symbols, and complementary scatterplot designs for conveying complex
spatial relationships.
There is also a wealth of practical information on map compilation,
cartobibliographies, copyright and permissions, facsimile reproduction,
and the evaluation of source materials. Appendixes discuss the benefits
and limitations of electronic graphics and pen-and-ink drafting, and how
to work with a cartographic illustrator.
Clearly written, and filled with real-world examples, Mapping it Out
demystifies mapmaking for anyone writing in the humanities and social
sciences.
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.--Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times
