The title of the book makes a bold claim that it didn't live up to. I liked the historic maps but there were a lot of types of map included and there didn't seem to be any consistent reasoning behind which ones were picked; it was more, "this is a map, this is why it is cool", but the accompanying text wasn't that interesting. I found the book disappointing.

A perfect gift for anyone curious about the world. The maps collected here will surprise anyone, no matter how well read. Beautiful illustrations are combined with short essays explaining what makes each one special - and bear in mind that even the definition of what one considers a map is challenged here. Great idea and great execution.

Thanks to the publisher, Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a very beautiful book that definitely changed my perspective after seeing the different maps.

I had heard about several of the things mentioned and shown in the book myself, but it was an awesome eye-opener to share with my tween, and it also gave us so much to talk about for several weeks. Although some of the info feels like random facts just added to the book because the author had come across those, overall it’s a great source of various bits and pieces of information. And, the more you know – no matter what the subject – the more you know, you know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ivy Press for my copy of 40 Maps That Will Change How You See the World by ALASTAIR BONNETT
This is a fascinating book that makes you rethink what you already know.
I have been dipping in and out of this since I was lucky enough to receive my copy and I truly believe this book will be by my side for many years to come.

Thank you to the author, Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this book intrigued me, as I enjoy maps, as well as getting new perspectives on familiar things, but I definitely found this book a mixed bag. The historical maps give the reader insight into the view of the earth the people/nation that created the map had, which is fascinating. The other maps were a collection that wasn't in any way coherent, but seemed to be whatever the author came across - some interesting to me, others not at all interesting or much too nerdy for my taste. Some of the accompanying texts were very good, others seemed a bit too simplistic, but if you like maps you may enjoy this book. Overall, it didn't really work for me.

A new way of looking at the world

The appeal for this book is obvious. It will interest people into art, illustration, design, geography, history and cartography. Each map has its dedicated picture and long form text over two pages. It’s like visiting a museum of maps, with each map given history, context and reasons why it is important. It’s packed full of curious facts and references, and placed in the context of how it relates or differs from the modern day.

The tone is very much like the introductions to exhibitions. I enjoyed this book as I would a trip to a museum, only the book allows the time to stand before each map, only in a relaxed setting of your own home. It brings together maps from many continents and periods that you couldn’t see in one place.

It’s an accessible book and enjoyed reading it cover to cover in two sittings.

This book would also appeal to someone who enjoys long form journalism or national geographic magazine.

For me my favourite maps were the stick chart of the Marshall Islands and the carved maps of Greenland. Sculptural artworks that contain information for the right observer. I also liked the idea that they could be made for oneself, with information specific about them or their experience.

My mind was blown when I read that Google maps shows boarders differently depending on where the user is, eg northern Cyprus is just the northern part of Cyprus for the world aside from turkey who gets to see it called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus following the landing of Turkish troops in 1974. The same is true for Chinese and Russian audiences for land they’ve claimed that the rest of the world doesn’t acknowledge.


I also enjoyed that these maps are not earth centric, we travel out to Mars and the moon Titan before zooming right out to the strands of the universe.

“Only maps can move mountains”

I have a degree in maps so this book was a must read for me. This book features 40 the each tell a unique story. Some are scientific, some are estimations for the future, some are data driven, some are divine, some are political, some are a snapshot into the past, and some are fake. Each map is accompanied by an explanation of when, where, and how it was created as well as insight to its literal and cultural meanings. The descriptions are easy to read and the photos of the maps are absolutely beautiful. the book is easy to flip through and find the maps that interest you and does not need to be read linearly. Several of the map I was familiar with, but a lot were new to me. The map of the world centering the ocean surrounded by land was one I recognized from college and it never ceases to send me into an existential crisis.

I really enjoy maps but this book is a mixed bag. If you like historical maps there are eight of them covered. It shows the view of the earth the people or nation that created the map knew about. It gives you a glimpse into the time period. I’m often amazed when I look at historical maps at how much of the world was known and recognizable. The other maps are more eclectic covering things like; who owns Alaska, modern China train map, women friendly map of NYC, noise maps of Mexico City. My interest was mixed. Some were very interesting and worth reading the attached text, others didn’t catch my interest. The author also shows some personal bias in the text writing. It is the kind of book that you can flip through and find things that interest you and does not have to be read straight through. I’m giving a lukewarm recommendation if you like maps. And it may change how you see the world just as the title says.

Thank you Ivy Press and NetGalley for the eARC of 40 Maps That Will Change How You See the World! All opinions in this review are my own.

This book was absolutely fascinating! While 40 maps may not seem like a lot, they span from the ancient world to today to even outer space! It even covers issues like women's safety in New York City, the rise of tourism in Antartica, and what Europe will look like if all of the ice in the world melts. I do wish some of the explanations delved a little deeper into the topics they were covering because some of the maps were so interesting, but I do understand that this is supposed to be more of a visual representation. Overall, this is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in how your perspective can change when shown something that you might already know in a new way!

A mixed bag: some maps and accompanying texts were fascinating, some not so much. Some statements seemed too simplistic but I’m not an expert. Overall, I don’t think the selection works well together and complement each other, so it’s not a book you need to read from start to finish. The book was also rather difficult to read in ebook format and would certainly work better as a physical coffee table book. The text was tiny and weirdly formated.

This engaging collection of maps offers a fresh perspective on global history. While some of the maps may be familiar, many are lesser-known gems that provide unique insights into past events. The accompanying commentary is informative and accessible, making the book enjoyable for both casual readers and history enthusiasts.

The variety of maps included in the book was wonderful. It was interesting to compare the maps shown to what information I am usually presented with. As a teacher, I know that maps have changed over time and can easily be skewed to the creator's perspective. It was still interesting to read about this collection of different maps.

As a geography graduate this was an interesting read and definitely went into concepts, history & stories I had not been familiar with prior to reading this. I felt though that there was no real correlation between the types of maps that were selected or even a specific type of order - which I guess is fine since they are meant to be maps which change how you see the world as opposed to about a specific topic - i just wish there was a bit more cohesion to it!

I believe that being a citizen of United Kingdom, Alastair must learn more on history than geography when writing such books. Such collation of data about countries you knew rarely about or the history that they have lived for ages shouldn't be put forth like its a back of your hand. Ironically a UK citizen is showing guts to mention that Kashmir is not an integral part of India and that too based on merely Google Maps not knowing how those from British rule just broke one beautiful peaceful country but putting lines on map and separate one big part from it apart in the name of racism and hate towards indigenous people's religion.

Most of the Maps were merely copy-paste of archived scanned images and unnecessary data mentioned here to give non-proliferation in value to the context alongside. this seems like author just wanted to add merely one more published work in his name so that in coming time he will be counted as more prominent as not most want to go through what scrap he had collated. I really doubt his research because mostly are either incomplete or half truth.

I would like to highlight one such example from "Map 20 : Kashmir for Google users in India versus Kashmir for Google users outside India, 2024"

At first, I'm quoting as is from book then will explain why I had written what I did in first 2 paras of my review to start with.

"Kashmir is a country of snow-white mountains and wide green valleys that should be full of tourists but is full of soldiers. It sits at the top of India and the eastern side of Pakistan. In both countries, Google’s share on the mobile search engine market is almost a hundred percent. These maps matter. The bottom one shows us what Google Map users in India see. It portrays the whole of Kashmir, not just the bit that is actually administered by India, as if it were under Indian control. The top map is what you see if you’re a Google Map user living in Pakistan, or anywhere else, and is more complex. It has a lot of dotted lines, which indicate disputed lines of control, in this case not just between Pakistan and India but also China, which claims and controls the dotted zones on the eastern side of the map. One of those dotted lines – the one that marches out across the middle of the territory – is so uncertain that it appears to give up. It stops, paralyzed by worry, in a high, cold nowhere, or more precisely in a frozen slope in the Himalayas, which separate Kashmir from China.

What neither map shows us is that plenty of people in Kashmir don’t want to be in India, Pakistan or China. They want to be in a country called Kashmir. It’s an unlikely prospect, given how much national pride Kashmir’s neighbours pour their way. Kashmir is one of the most militarized places on Earth. Hundreds of thousands of troops keep it in a vice-like grip and there are continuous skirmishes and bouts of violence. Thousands of civilians have been killed and, currently, there is little sign of peace. In 2019, India reinforced its claim on the parts of Kashmir that are under its control (which is most of the southern half) by getting rid of the political autonomy the region once enjoyed and governing it directly from New Delhi."

Now coming back to the explanation behind all this propaganda, as I highlighted before this quotation from book.
Author must know that Kashmir is an Integral part of India and what was called as POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) is something which was taken away from India due to the British boot-lickers like Nehru who happened to be unfortunate first PM of India. He made sure to appease the Muslim Minorities of India for the votes in then coming elections, first in Independent India (1950 Elections) and gave hold of area (now POK) to Pakistan by giving it's case to UN and a special entitlement to India's Kashmir to favor his bloodline Sheikh Abdullah so that it can never become part of India fully and those radical Islamists can easily enjoy their regime as PM of the place but thanks to incumbent GOI it was removed in 2019 constitutionally and hence now in 2024 after maintaining proper peace and from the POV of development and tourism, Legislative Assembly Elections also going to commence in Sep'24 end to 1st oct'24. By this the claim of author that plenty of People in Kashmir do not want to live in India is also nullified. I suggest he should visit some factual articles on current situation or I'll let travel with me personally to showcase the reality which is way better and different than he claim otherwise and on how Kashmir transformed in terms of economic structure and tourism between 2019 and 2024 he must go through Statistics on the same (as I do not post confidential data here but are publicly available to read online on Govt. websites).
There is a massive increase in tourism where it 1.62 Cr. in 2019 and in 2023 it reached 2.11 Cr. annual tourists. If the decision of GOI is not good as author claimed by interfering in the internal matters of the country, then how come this place became safe eventually and people from all over world start visiting it? Also, why GOI is by making it safe also ensuring better earning options for the natives by giving huge budget for industries and civil infras?
To conclude, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), a fundamental part of the original Kashmir region, which has been illegally occupied with the aid of Pakistan since 1947 keeps no value basis on 'Google Map outside India'.

Author here seems to me as biased against India and majorly wants to put forth the theory which earlier planned by British rule under Churchill and way back too, to divide this nation inside-out. Ironically whole of their island nation is surviving from the looting their ancestors did from India else they would have been vanished from world map then and today no one is there to write with racism and biasing on rest maps of the world.

And yes, Author must read and write on the imaginary line which divides Israel from Palestine but exclusion of it shows enough of his crumbled mindset.

Conceptually this was cool, but most of the maps were really modern and also I couldn’t read the informative pages bc the font was too small and couldn’t be expanded.

Some of the maps and commentaries are much more interesting than others, and many can indeed change how one sees the world. You can tell the author loves his subject and he does it justice. I wish there were more historical maps in the beginning before going over to modernity, since that felt like his strong point.

I found this book very interesting! I took my time with it, exploring just a few maps each day to fully appreciate and absorb the information presented. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in seeing the world from a fresh perspective, learning about unfamiliar regions, or gaining insight into aspects of life that might not be part of your daily experience. The only negative thing I could say about the book is the font. The letters were too small and light. I read it on my iPad, and I had to really zoom in a lot to be able to comfortably read without getting headache.

This reference guide of maps has a little something for everyone. From mappings created in ancient times to mapping done in the 2020's, this book covers everything from Olympus Mons on Mars to the walkability of different blocks of New York City for women.

While the maps are appealing, both visually and informationally, the text can be somewhat dense for readers to get through. I do believe that someone with a genuine interest in either cartography or understanding things using a visual perspective will truly enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alastair Bonnett, and Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting selection of maps that made history, some popular in pophistory, but most maps listed I had never heard of. Was expecting something different however was not disappointed with what I got. Unique addition to our history section