This Way Up: When Maps Go Wrong (and Why it Matters) - Mark Cooper-Jones | Jay Foreman

Mark and Jay – also known as The Map Men – are an online sensation, whose irreverent and hilarious videos have charmed and captivated millions around the world. Now they bring you their debut book, all about the world’s worst maps. Some are decades old, some are centuries old, and some are so recent they’re still being published today (or yesterday, if you’re reading this tomorrow).

They include world maps, colonial maps, corporate maps, Soviet maps, pioneer maps, news maps and maps whose intended use was hijacked for a French surrealist political movement in the 1950s. Whether you’re an avid map junkie or simply ‘map-curious’, each chapter uncovers a unique tale of adventure, error and unexpected humour – as they attempt to answer the question: ‘What on earth happened here?’

So, ditch the compass (or disable location services) and set out into a world of cartographic chaos and mappy mishaps.

Because the worst maps are the best maps.