Mapmatics
A Mathematician's Guide to Navigating the World
Published on 17. September 2024
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-674-29423-3 (ISBN)
Description
"I love maps. I love math. And gosh, do I love this book, which so beautifully and clearly sounds the depths of both." -Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings
Explore the surprising connections between math and maps-and the myriad ways they've shaped our world and us.
Why are coastlines and borders so difficult to measure? How does a UPS driver deliver hundreds of packages in a single day? And where do elusive serial killers hide? The answers lie in the crucial connection between maps and math.
In Mapmatics, mathematician Paulina Rowinska leads us on a riveting journey around the globe to discover how maps and math are deeply entwined, and always have been. From a sixteenth-century map, an indispensable navigation tool that exaggerates the size of northern countries, to public transport maps that both guide and confound passengers, to congressional maps that can empower or silence whole communities, she reveals how maps and math have shaped not only our sense of space but our worldview. In her hands, we learn how to read maps like a mathematician-to extract richer information and, just as importantly, to question our conclusions by asking what we don't see.
Written with authority and compassion, wit and unforgettable storytelling, this is math exposition at its best. By unpacking the math behind the maps we depend on, Mapmatics illuminates how our world works and, ultimately, how we can better look after it.
Explore the surprising connections between math and maps-and the myriad ways they've shaped our world and us.
Why are coastlines and borders so difficult to measure? How does a UPS driver deliver hundreds of packages in a single day? And where do elusive serial killers hide? The answers lie in the crucial connection between maps and math.
In Mapmatics, mathematician Paulina Rowinska leads us on a riveting journey around the globe to discover how maps and math are deeply entwined, and always have been. From a sixteenth-century map, an indispensable navigation tool that exaggerates the size of northern countries, to public transport maps that both guide and confound passengers, to congressional maps that can empower or silence whole communities, she reveals how maps and math have shaped not only our sense of space but our worldview. In her hands, we learn how to read maps like a mathematician-to extract richer information and, just as importantly, to question our conclusions by asking what we don't see.
Written with authority and compassion, wit and unforgettable storytelling, this is math exposition at its best. By unpacking the math behind the maps we depend on, Mapmatics illuminates how our world works and, ultimately, how we can better look after it.
Reviews / Votes
An expansive journey through time and place to reveal how the human experience has been - and continues to be - intrinsically linked to the maps we use to navigate our way through the world...a comprehensive work. -- Hannah Beckerman * The Guardian * The historic meeting of geography and imagination sets the tone for the book, which moves briskly through time and space. -- Anna Aslanyan * Times Literary Supplement * An engaging look at a fascinating subject...Rowinska clearly has a deep knowledge, both of maps and the mathematics behind them. -- Sarah Hart * New Scientist * Engaging and original. -- Andrew Robinson * Nature * A friendly and accessible introduction to the science that draws how we view our world. -- Nikolas Mavreas * Open Letters Review * What a delightful book! On the surface (no pun intended), this book looks like a fun exploration of problems that arise as we create, navigate, or otherwise interact with maps. Along the way, we encounter many curious characters and learn a surprising amount about history and psychology. But at the end of our journey, as we follow the twists and turns of Paulina Rowinska's marvelous and often humorous prose, without the use of any formulas, we come away with an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics. Highly recommended! -- Arthur Benjamin, author of <i>The Magic of Math</i> A wonderfully readable adventure through the mathematical poetry of mapping. Paulina Rowinska has created something really special, a book that celebrates the science and ideas behind the cartographic art with tales of everything fascinating, from criminal geography to ancient earthquake detectors. An essential guide that illuminates how much of our understanding of the world, the past, and indeed the people around us is shaped by the mathematician and the mapmaker. -- Edward Brooke-Hitching, author of <i>The Phantom Atlas</i> This book blew my mind, again and again. Paulina Rowinska covers an astonishing range of topics, from our brain to our planet, with personal stories and, yes, math, but she also scrutinizes the social and political impacts of maps on our lives. -- Roma Agrawal, author of <i>Nuts and Bolts</i> I love maps. I love math. And gosh, do I love this book, which so beautifully and clearly sounds the depths of both. -- Ben Orlin, author of <i>Math with Bad Drawings</i> A highly readable account of how mathematics and mapmaking have joined forces to inform not only our view of the world, but our view of ourselves. The historical insights and human stories bring the whole topic vividly to life. -- Ian Stewart, author of <i>What's the Use?</i> Paulina Rowinska spins a fascinating story about the development of maps and mathematics. It's no exaggeration to say I learned something new on almost every page. -- Kit Yates, author of <i>The Math of Life and Death</i> Guides you elegantly, like a beautifully drawn map, through the fascinating stories behind centuries of mapmaking . . . Highly entertaining. -- Tim James, author of <i>Fundamental</i> A delightful journey into the mathematics of maps, globes, and world travel. Paulina Rowinska has a beautiful writing style and a wealth of important knowledge-she will keep you engaged on every page. -- Jo Boaler, author of <i>Limitless Mind</i> What an incredible book! I was completely blown away by the sheer depth and profound impact maps have on how we humans see things, find things, make decisions, and even play politics. Paulina Rowinska's storytelling is pure magic, effortlessly bringing to life the history, science, and mind-bending mathematics behind it all. This book is an absolute gem! -- James Tanton, Cofounder of the Global Math Project Opens our eyes to the use of 'mapmaking' in the broadest sense . . . If you have ever wondered why an airliner bound from London to Los Angeles flies over Greenland, how we know what lies inside the Earth, or how computers correct errors, then this is for you. I learned a lot. -- John Gribbin, author of <i>Six Impossible Things</i> Blends broad subject expertise, magical storytelling skills, and a splash of humor to ensure that the reader can joyfully navigate the mathematics of mapmaking. -- Bobby Seagull, author of <i>The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers</i> Tackles the connections between mathematics and maps with aplomb . . . Engaging, thought-provoking, and perfectly encapsulates much of the essence of mapmaking. -- Kenneth Field, author of <i>Cartography</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge, Mass.
United States
Publishing group
Harvard University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
13 photos, 41 illus., 2 tables
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
636 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-674-29423-3 (9780674294233)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Paulina Rowinska is a science writer with a PhD in mathematics. Her 2017 TEDx talk "Let's Have a Maths Party!" explained that mathematics is all around us. The recipient of the Imperial College President's Award for Excellence in Societal Engagement, she previously created interactive content for the educational website brilliant.org.