Mapmatics: A Mathematician's Guide to Navigating the World

An “original” (Nature) and “expansive journey through time and place” (Guardian) that uncovers the surprising connections between math and maps—and the myriad ways they’ve shaped our world and us.

Why are coastlines and borders so difficult to measure? How does a UPS driver deliver hundreds of packages in a single day? Where do elusive serial killers hide? The answers lie in the crucial connection between maps and math.

In Mapmatics, mathematician Paulina Rowińska leads us on a riveting journey around the globe to discover how maps and math are deeply entwined and always have been. From a sixteenth-century navigation tool that exaggerates the size of northern countries to public-transport maps that both guide and confound passengers, Rowińska reveals how maps and math have shaped not only our sense of space but also our worldview. Written with authority and compassion, wit and unforgettable storytelling, Mapmatics unpacks the math behind the maps we depend on, illuminating how our world works and how we can better look after it.