This Way Up

When Maps Go Wrong (and Why it Matters)

Map Men, Jay Foreman

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Harper Collins
01 November 2025

Electronic, holographic & video art; Film, TV & Radio; World atlases & world maps; History; General & world history; Geopolitics

'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.

By: Map Men, Jay Foreman
Imprint: Harper Collins
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 270g
ISBN: 9780008710286
ISBN 10: 0008710287
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 01 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Comedians, cartography enthusiasts, YouTubers and educators, Map Men are Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones.

Reviews for This Way Up: When Maps Go Wrong (and Why it Matters)

‘Map Men’s unique and witty outlook translates brilliantly from their hilarious videos onto the page’ Matt Lucas ‘The funniest book on geography ever written’ Rufus Hound 'A gloriously entertaining look at how maps can get things – sometimes very big things – badly wrong’ Charlie Higson ‘The best book I’ve ever read (and not just because it’s the first)’ Michael Howe, author of Terrible Maps