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Mark S. Monmonier

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How to Lie with Maps 2e Paperback – 11 April 1996

by Mark S. Monmonier (Author), H.J. de Blij (Foreword)

4.4 104 ratings

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How to Lie with Maps, Third Edition
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Originally published to wide acclaim, this illustrated essay on the use and abuse of maps teaches us how to evaluate maps critically and promotes a healthy skepticism about these easy-to-manipulate models of reality. Monmonier shows that, despite their immense value, maps lie. In fact, they must. The second edition is updated with the addition of two new chapters, 10 color plates, and a new foreword by renowned geographer H. J. de Blij. One new chapter examines the role of national interest and cultural values in national mapping organizations, including the United States Geological Survey, while the other explores the new breed of multimedia, computer-based maps. To show how maps distort, Monmonier introduces basic principles of mapmaking, gives entertaining examples of the misuse of maps in situations from zoning disputes to census reports, and covers all the typical kinds of distortions from deliberate oversimplifications to the misleading use of color.

Product description

About the Author

Mark Monmonier is distinguished professor of geography at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Mark Monmonier is distinguished professor of geography at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0226534219
Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 2nd edition (11 April 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780226534213
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226534213
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.61 x 1.27 x 21.59 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 1,391,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 377 in Cartography & Geodesy
- 1,775 in Earth Sciences (Books)
- 1,960 in Mathematics References

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4.4 104 ratings

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4.4 out of 5

104 global ratings

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Antonina Contocra

Perfect for GIS students

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2014

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It's very well-written! The author clearly explains difficult concepts! It is a book I have referred to often, with my GIS courses. I highly recommend it!!

One person found this helpful

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Peter

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2016

A classic.

good book. easy to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2014

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good book. easy to read.
full of interesting approaches on how maps are made to a specific purpose more than it's geographic original functions.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2010

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Fanatastic examples of how maps can be used to perswade people. Good set of pointers when creating your own maps.

One person found this helpful

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Thomas Paul

Could have been better

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 August 2004

Any book that calls itself, "How to Lie with..." is simply begging for a reviewer to compare it to, "How to Lie with Statistics." The latter is a classic that is fun and educational. Unfortunately, this book falls short of deserving the title but it is still an interesting read. One of the main problems is that rather than being a guide to help avoid being fooled by maps, the author uses the book as an introduction to the science of cartography. It seems that a large portion of the book is aimed towards the prospective mapmaker. I found these parts to be a bit difficult to get through. Also, there are very few real life examples in the book. I would have liked to see more examples from newspapers or magazines in place of the samples the author provides. Some of the few real life examples are from Nazi Germany and the USSR and seem very dated.
That was the bad side but there are many good points to the book. The chapter on development maps was very interesting (although the attempts at humor are wasted) and should be required reading for anyone who is serving on a zoning board. Also, the discussion of choropleth maps is excellent and the reader will come away with a clear understanding of how these maps can be abused either deliberately or accidentally by the cartographer. The author shows examples of very different choropleth maps using the same data that will make you skeptical of anyone who uses choropleth maps to prove a point.
Although parts of the book drag, the book is short at 150 pages so it is a relatively quick read. I wouldn't say that it is required reading, but it will help you maintain a healthy skepticism about maps that you might encounter.

23 people found this helpful

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sunrise2000

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 December 2014

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excellent read

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Tonzitl Mariscal

Like new

Reviewed in the United States on 21 November 2023

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In very good conditions for a used book.

Mônica

Muito bom

Reviewed in Brazil on 1 February 2018

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Recomendo a todos que gostam de cartografia.
Não é um livro grande nem extenso. Traz alguns conceitos teóricos de cartografia que são importante para os estudantes da área, como projeções, simbologia, generalização. Junto com a teoria mostra, com figuras, como é fácil produzir e usar mapas de modo errado. Basta usar cores diferentes para ter um mapa do censo 'errado' e isso leva a decisões erradas....
Como aluna de doutorado, acho necessário ter esses livros, considerados clássicos.
Não li inteiro, apenas os capítulos que considero mais urgente para minha tese e para concursos.

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Stephen

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on 13 January 2015

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Great resource. Opened my eyes to so many of the constant map issues i see in government maps

One person found this helpful

T.R.Ramaswami

Mapmaker, Mapmaker Make Me a Map

Reviewed in India on 22 March 2015

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This is a book that anyone who is interested in maps must read. It tackles all aspects related to instances where impressionable misinformation or better named as 'cartographic sleight of hand', is disguised in maps to give a picture that suits the agenda, political or otherwise, of the map-maker or the principals.

Milhaud

Probably the best book about maps

Reviewed in Spain on 6 October 2013

Verified Purchase

This book has almost everything you need to know about maps: How to create one, how to interpret one and how to avoid taking wrong decisions to keep the map as realistic as possible.

It is full of examples going from 'hard' cartography to the proper use of colours or textures.

This is a MUST for anyone interested in any kind of maps.

One person found this helpful

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