Explore the Fascinating World of Geography with Maphead: A Guide to the Geographical Wonders of the World

Timothy Fay: This book is great for anyone into geography, travel, maps, and -- quirkiness.

United States on Aug 31, 2023

Bee Aitch: What a wonderful celebration of all manner of things related to maps and geography. I inhaled the whole thing almost all at once. As a casual map geek myself, I could relate to almost every one of the many facets that Jennings explored, while also learning tons of new things. Jennings is a great writer, and funny as well. After this marvelous read, I'll be ordering all of his other books. I can't recommend this one enough.

United States on Aug 20, 2023

Lorraine A. Davis: Its a fascinating account of mapping - and the human propensity for 'mapping' everything. Very easy and riveting read.

United States on Jul 26, 2023

Sendk: A classic by an engaging author

Canada on Jan 12, 2023

Amazon Customer: I learned a lot more about the world in a fun, entertaining, and factual manner. Thank you, Ken!

Canada on Nov 26, 2021

Amazon Customer: Of course it’s “interesting and entertaining” for a very specific subset of readers, but if you are part of that subset it’s an entertaining book, full of interesting anecdotes and remarks, that suggests further exploration of the matter. The poetic ending is a very nice touch, too.

Italy on Apr 18, 2019

Kim Clement (Not the Pastor Kim Clement): I was mesmerized by the detail that went into this book. The references to movies and tv shows necessitated much googling on my part to try and remember some of them. Good work, Ken Jennings! You aren't just a pretty face with a phenomenal memory.

Kim Clement, O.L.S.

Canada on Mar 23, 2016

Bernie Gourley: In a sad commentary TV’s popularity, you may only know Ken Jennings from his record winning streak on Jeopardy, and the books he’s written since then may have escaped your attention. But Jennings isn’t just a fast-handed font of trivia, he writes nonfiction that is approachable, intriguing, and displays a good sense of humor.

“Maphead” is about maps and the people who love them, and--in some cases--who build their lives around various forms of graphic depiction of our world. In 12 chapters, Jennings not only reflects upon the many forms of map and geography fetish, he also presents insight on the opposite--the often dismaying and sometimes hilarious geographic illiteracy of college students and beauty queens. Besides learning about the million dollar outlays of rare map collectors and the intense rivalry of geocache hunters, Geography Bee contestants, and Traveler’s Century Club members (only those who’ve been to 100+ countries need apply), you’ll hear about a college professor who was fired for letting fly the fact that a majority of his incoming students hadn’t the vaguest idea of the whereabouts of metropoles like London or Chicago.

This book may...

United States on Feb 20, 2016

Arjun Basu: Well, I am. A map geek. Perhaps not on the level of Jennings but geeky enough. And the book is kind of a fever dream of maphead geekiness. But it's also funny, full of great insight into the meaning not just of maps but of geography, and also, perhaps, ultimately, about our sense of place. Meaning I've just told you a deep part of Jennings's own thesis: maps are incredibly human. And makes us even more human. Highly recommended.

Canada on Nov 16, 2012

Eric Selby: I cannot believe that I have found Ken Jennings making a factual error. And he did so immediately on page 3 of this wonderful read. "Look how Ardmore, Alabama, is only a hundred feet away from its neighbor Ardmore, Louisiana..."
Really?!!!
I am no Ken Jennings, not even close, although I watched every one of his appearances of "Jeopardy!" and recall the day he wasn't able to recall H&R Block. Love this guy.
But, Ken, even I know that there is a state between Alabama and Louisiana--Mississippi. So I did a Google search. Seems there is no Ardmore, Louisiana, but the Ardmore in Alabama is in the north central. And I thought, maybe Tennessee. And sure enough, there it is, Ken, in Tennessee.
So that set me on a search for more factual errors in the book. But alas, alack, I just got so sucked up in the book I forgot what my task was.
This is just a delightful read. And, no, you do not need to be a geography nerd. Or a map nerd. I'm not although I do find myself Googling maps a lot. And when Ken Jennings writes about slutty place names as well as unusual geographic circumstances, I am brought back to my early life when I grew up in Derby Line, Vermont, the "line" there...

United States on Sep 23, 2011