Rick B. (bup) - , reviewed on 7/10/2014 + 166 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 4

I'm an easy sell on a book about maps - I love 'em. Electronic maps were my livelihood for ten years. My checks were faux antique maps. I had note pads made from surplus USGS maps. Still want map pajamas.

Nevertheless, this is a fun read.

Mostly what I learned is: there are a lot of odd ducks out there, whose love for maps has manifested in strange ways. Visiting points where latitude and longitude are nice even numbers, just because they're nice even numbers? Odd. (Although I looked up the closest one to me. It's at 42N, 88W).

Geocaching? Kind of odd.

Guys who visit interchanges and exits on the interstate system to see the new technology in the latest interchange? Really odd.

Others I get while acknowledging they're...unusual. Visiting every country on earth, but arguing incessantly about what constitutes a country (because, you kind of have to at that point). Drawing detailed maps of imaginary places. Framing subway maps as art (the Tube, and the Washington Metro - those are beautiful).

Reading about those odd ducks was great. Well, really, the book is about the unusual pastimes more than the ducks themselves.

Jennings' style is lightly humorous and breezy. I hope he writes more.

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