This Way Up

When Maps Go Wrong (and Why it Matters)

By Map Men | Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

About the book

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A Waterstones Best Nature & Travel Writing Book 2025 'Educational, smart and funny' Richard Osman 'This book is superb' Charlie Brooker 'Brilliant. Fascinating. Hilarious.' Jonn Elledge, bestselling author of A History of the World in 47 Borders The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! Hello, we're the Map Men, and in the following pages we've selected what we believe to be some of the very best wrong maps. Some of them are decades old, some are centuries old and some are so recent they're 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', you will uncover a unique tale of adventure, error and unexpected humour in each chapter, as we attempt to answer the question: 'What on earth happened here?' So, ditch the compass (or disable location services) and set out on a journey with us, the Map Men, into a world of cartographic chaos and mappy mishaps. Because the worst maps are the best maps.

Editions of This Way Up

Hardcover
ISBN 9780008710279
EBook
ISBN 9780008710309

Read an Excerpt

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A Waterstones Best Nature & Travel Writing Book 2025 'Educational, smart and funny' Richard Osman 'This book is superb' Charlie Brooker 'Brilliant. Fascinating. Hilarious.' Jonn Elledge, bestselling author of A History of the World in 47 Borders The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! Hello, we're the Map Men, and in the following pages we've selected what we believe to be some of the very best wrong maps. Some of them are decades old, some are centuries old and some are so recent they're 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', you will uncover a unique tale of adventure, error and unexpected humour in each chapter, as we attempt to answer the question: 'What on earth happened here?' So, ditch the compass (or disable location services) and set out on a journey with us, the Map Men, into a world of cartographic chaos and mappy mishaps. Because the worst maps are the best maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is This Way Up about?

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A Waterstones Best Nature & Travel Writing Book 2025 'Educational, smart and funny' Richard Osman 'This book is superb' Charlie Brooker 'Brilliant. Fascinating. Hilarious.' Jonn Elledge, bestselling author of A History of the World in 47 Borders The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! Hello, we're the Map Men, and in the following pages we've selected what we believe to be some of the very best wrong maps. Some of them are decades old, some are centuries old and some are so recent they're 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', you will uncover a unique tale of adventure, error and unexpected humour in each chapter, as we attempt to answer the question: 'What on earth happened here?' So, ditch the compass (or disable location services) and set out on a journey with us, the Map Men, into a world of cartographic chaos and mappy mishaps. Because the worst maps are the best maps.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in This Way Up?

Fiction > Fiction / Literature / Comics / Graphic novels: narrative themes > Narrative theme: environmental issues / the natural world > Narrative theme: animals

Where can I read a sample of This Way Up?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780008710279

How long is This Way Up and how many pages does it have?

This Way Up has 384 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book This Way Up?

Map Men

Who is the Publisher of the book This Way Up?

HarperCollins Publishers

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

This Way Up is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780008710279) and ebook(ISBN 9780008710309)

Where can I buy This Way Up online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy This Way Up from below

Where can I buy This Way Up?