50 MAPS OF THE WORLD

A new atlas for a new generation.

Trivia and cartography lovers should prepare for an explosion of facts and geography as they armchair-travel through 50 different countries. Sprinkled liberally across each page is a plethora of notable moments, monuments, people who lived in that region, and key facts. The opening pages remind readers that borders are intangible and can also be ephemeral—countries have expanded, disappeared, and changed throughout history—and trivia in the book is based on geography rather than country name. For example, the remains of humankind’s evolutionary ancestor “Lucy” were found in Ethiopia—but she wasn’t an Ethiopian. It’s a subtle but important point. Snippets of text printed in a small font pack in a lot of information, and a world map on each spread helps situate geographic locations. The diversity of noteworthy people overall is wonderful, but while the occasional White person appears in some African, Asian, and South American countries, the all-White cast of Europeans does not reflect that continent’s diversity. Indigenous nations in the United States and Canada are represented by Sacagawea. Those disappointments aside, the book is an engaging read for nonfiction fans. A final game challenges readers to find various symbols, inspiring a second read (and a second chance to learn a little more). (This book was reviewed digitally with 13.4-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 81.4 % of actual size.)

Both amusing and fairly edifying.