Mapmatics

A gripping exploration of how cartography shapes our world and the impact of maps on our everyday lives.

‘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’ – John Gribbin, author of Six Impossible Things

Winner of the Austrian Science Book of the Year 2024

How does a delivery driver distribute hundreds of packages in a single day?
Why can maps help to win elections?
Where should we look for serial killers?
The answers lie in the crucial connection between maps and maths.

In Mapmatics, mathematician Dr Paulina Rowinska embarks on a fascinating journey to discover the mathematical foundations of cartography and cartographical influences on mathematics.

From a sixteenth-century map that remains an indispensable navigation tool on our phones, to public transport maps that both guide and mislead passengers, she reveals how maps and maths shape not only our sense of space and time but also our worldview.

In entertaining stories, surprising real-world examples, maps, illustrations and a cast of unforgettable characters, Mapmatics helps us to appreciate the mathematical methods and ideas behind maps. And, by illuminating how our world works, leaves us better equipped to look after it.

''A wonderfully readable adventure'' – Edward Brooke-Hitching, author of The Phantom Atlas
''This book blew my mind, again and again'' – Roma Agrawal, author of Built
''Entertaining, illuminating . . . An engaging look at a fascinating subject'' – New Scientist
''An expansive journey through time and place'' – The Observer