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anniegroover's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.75
jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4
In that way that libraries have, I placed holds for two different atlases several weeks apart and they both arrived for pick up on the same day. Has anyone named that law yet?
Being new books, my checkout time was short. Given that there are more holds on them, renewal wasn't an option. That wasn't a problem with the first atlas, North American Maps for Curious Minds. It does present some complex information but most of the book is easily digested in a visual format and needed little explanation. I loved that book. My reading of Atlas of the Invisible suffered a bit because I was rushed.
This book shares much more complex data in formats that are unfamiliar to me and probably many other casual readers. There was a lot more text to explain both the data presented and the format. I devoted as much time as I could to it, but an impending return date (today, in fact) limited me. That's why I'm rounding up.
There are four main parts of the book: Where We've Been, Who We Are, How We're Doing, and What We Face. The first section gives historical maps, such as where enslaved people were taken from and where they ultimately landed or a vague, conceptual map that tries to accurately portray a Holocaust survivor's muddled, traumatic memories rather than Nazi precision. These maps were sometimes disturbing but generally easy for me to understand and interesting.
The next section show current data such as distance to cities, the flight of Puerto Ricans from their island home after Hurricane Maria, and, one of my favorites, a reconfigured map of the United States showing different states based on population centers and commutes (I would live in the state of Blue Ridge if that idea ever became reality). Again, these maps were mostly easy to understand. One or two didn't interest me at all but for the most part I found them engaging.
How We're Doing can be answered with "Not well." These maps present air and water pollution, gentrification, happiness around the world, and the infamous Doomsday Clock. This is the section where my attention started flagging and I wish I'd had more time. I understood everything but it's almost all bad news. I could have used a mental break.
What We Face is a climate crisis. Fires, unbearable heat, melting glaciers, earthquakes, and a rapidly growing and aging population. This is not a section to read on a day when you're feeling anxious about the future. It is a section to show your science-denying Facebook acquaintances. It's hard to avoid depressing conclusions when data is presented in such a visual format.
It's not all doom and gloom though. These last two sections in particular also show some unique, targeted, problem-solving technology. We can change our direction if we only give scientists the tools they need and collectively make the necessary changes and decisions.
I recommend this to visual learners who have the time and attention to really devote to it. The subjects aren't always easy but they're important and hopefully spur changes in our behavior.
In that way that libraries have, I placed holds for two different atlases several weeks apart and they both arrived for pick up on the same day. Has anyone named that law yet?
Being new books, my checkout time was short. Given that there are more holds on them, renewal wasn't an option. That wasn't a problem with the first atlas, North American Maps for Curious Minds. It does present some complex information but most of the book is easily digested in a visual format and needed little explanation. I loved that book. My reading of Atlas of the Invisible suffered a bit because I was rushed.
This book shares much more complex data in formats that are unfamiliar to me and probably many other casual readers. There was a lot more text to explain both the data presented and the format. I devoted as much time as I could to it, but an impending return date (today, in fact) limited me. That's why I'm rounding up.
There are four main parts of the book: Where We've Been, Who We Are, How We're Doing, and What We Face. The first section gives historical maps, such as where enslaved people were taken from and where they ultimately landed or a vague, conceptual map that tries to accurately portray a Holocaust survivor's muddled, traumatic memories rather than Nazi precision. These maps were sometimes disturbing but generally easy for me to understand and interesting.
The next section show current data such as distance to cities, the flight of Puerto Ricans from their island home after Hurricane Maria, and, one of my favorites, a reconfigured map of the United States showing different states based on population centers and commutes (I would live in the state of Blue Ridge if that idea ever became reality). Again, these maps were mostly easy to understand. One or two didn't interest me at all but for the most part I found them engaging.
How We're Doing can be answered with "Not well." These maps present air and water pollution, gentrification, happiness around the world, and the infamous Doomsday Clock. This is the section where my attention started flagging and I wish I'd had more time. I understood everything but it's almost all bad news. I could have used a mental break.
What We Face is a climate crisis. Fires, unbearable heat, melting glaciers, earthquakes, and a rapidly growing and aging population. This is not a section to read on a day when you're feeling anxious about the future. It is a section to show your science-denying Facebook acquaintances. It's hard to avoid depressing conclusions when data is presented in such a visual format.
It's not all doom and gloom though. These last two sections in particular also show some unique, targeted, problem-solving technology. We can change our direction if we only give scientists the tools they need and collectively make the necessary changes and decisions.
I recommend this to visual learners who have the time and attention to really devote to it. The subjects aren't always easy but they're important and hopefully spur changes in our behavior.
alabooks's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting and illuminating compilation of data visualization focusing on the sociological and historical aspects of society. Cheshire and Uberti have made a compelling argument for the use of data and the analysis of data for not just science, but also to help see trends in humanity that may help to shape it for a better future.
cwebb's review against another edition
2.0
Overrated. How did this end up with such good reviews? It's a bunch of maps, with a lot of social drama behind them, but a lot of the maps aren't that interesting or well-thought out.
saraupsidedown's review against another edition
5.0
This book is brilliant - educational and engaging with beautiful maps that tell unique stories.
spuriousdiphthongs's review
3.0
An interesting book. The maps and diagrams are beautiful but also some are quite hard to read. It does talk a fair amount about the urgency of the climate crisis which is great. However, it also definitely has a focus on Western culture (for example, in the section where the book demonstrates the different projections of maps, London and Los Angeles are the only two cities shown to help folks get their bearings).
liberrydude's review
4.0
Absolutely fascinating look into a variety of disparate subjects: unexploded ordnance in SEA, happiness, weather, climate change, misogyny, fishing, covid, lynchings, DNA - to name a few. More than maps this is about conveying information visually so it can be quickly understood. A good example was Dan Rather in 1961 drawing an outline of the Texas coastline over a radar image of an approaching hurricane. This enabled his viewers to see the size of the storm and decide to evacuate Galveston. Lives were saved.
A gorgeous book well written, engaging, and informative. Lots of jaw dropping facts. Here’s one. More sperm whales killed between 1962-1972 than 18th and 19th Centuries combined.
A gorgeous book well written, engaging, and informative. Lots of jaw dropping facts. Here’s one. More sperm whales killed between 1962-1972 than 18th and 19th Centuries combined.