Micheal Howe’s book Terrible Maps proves that geography is not always a serious issue. This book was published in 2023 and combines the best of Terrible Maps’ social media accounts. The book is not the only reason for publishing this article. Geography is not always a serious issue, with or without Terrible Maps.
When we think of geography, boring topography lessons, maps full of contour lines and dry facts about national borders often come to mind. But why should we always approach geography with a furrowed brow and serious tone? It turns out that geography, in all its diversity and absurdity, can be a fantastic source of humour. So pull your compass out of your drawer and prepare for a journey full of geographical absurdities and funny anecdotes. The world map can give us more than boring facts.
Funny names
There are many names that are very funny that can be found in the atlas and on maps. These locations can be found all over the world. Well-known places like Dull or Boring. In The Netherlands, there’s a town called Rectum and there’s even a town known as Hell Town (Ohio). The possibilities are endless. You can even visit a place called Batman, while dressed up as Batman. It’s located in Turkey.
Landforms that look like anything
Surely the Italian boot is the most famous landform. Or is it perhaps the Dutch Lion? Check out the Dutch map for that! Some landforms look like anything and even countries or parts of a country that look like anything.
In yet other cases, we think we see something that is just not there. That has made for big and perhaps very silly mistakes in the past. When you think about that now, it’s quite comical too. Take the projections of world maps. The earth is a sphere, but when you then want to render it flat, this presents some challenges. The Mercator projection made Greenland look as big as Africa. For your information: Greenland is not as big as the continent of Africa. It isn’t.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Time zones
Another thing that is always good for confusion: is time zones. The world should logically be divided into normal time zones. It just isn’t. Due to wars, political conflicts and even national borders, those time zones have not worked out well. In some cases, governments decided not to care about (international) agreements. The result: hardly anyone understands any of it. It can even lead to hilarious scenes, with neighbouring countries having different time zones. Not to mention time zones in countries like the United States and Russia.
Climate paradoxes and strange weather conditions
Geography also offers paradoxes when it comes to climate. Take Iceland and Greenland, for example. Iceland, which you would expect to be icy cold, is surprisingly green and friendly, while Greenland, which sounds like a green, thriving oasis, is largely a vast ice plain. It’s almost as if the Vikings, when they named these countries, were just playing a big joke on future explorers: “Let’s fool them and reverse the names!”
And then there is the weather. In some countries, like the UK, you can experience four seasons in one day. The British are masters at talking about the weather because it changes every five minutes. If you are just standing in the sunshine, a moment later you are beset by a rainstorm of epic proportions. For locals, it has simply become part of their culture: if you don’t have a topic of conversation, you always have the weather.
Geography and culture: strange customs across borders
Culture and geography are closely linked, and some customs only seem logical when you consider geographical conditions. Take, for instance, the steadfastness of the Swiss. Sandwiched between mountains, this nation stays out of all conflicts and has a neutrality so persistent it is almost comical. It is as if the Alps themselves exert an invisible force that says, “Don’t come any closer, we will keep out of it.”
Terrible Maps
Then there is Michael Howe’s Terrible Maps . The official title, by the way, is “Terrible Maps – Hilarious Maps for a Ridiculous World.” Please note the p. Italics.
A book based on the immensely popular social media channels of Terrible Maps. It is a best off and it remains to be seen whether a sequel will appear.
Content and themes
The book contains a wide range of maps that range from the ridiculous to the downright hilarious. Think of maps showing the average colour of jeans in the United States, or maps showing what pedestrians look like in Denmark. Howe’s maps are not only funny but also surprisingly informative. They offer a unique perspective on the world and show how cartography can be used to provide humour and insight.
Humour and presentation
The humour in Terrible Maps is often dry and full of puns, making the book a light-hearted and entertaining read. Howe’s style is playful and creative, and he manages to surprise the reader time and again with unexpected twists and insights. The cards are beautifully illustrated and the accompanying texts are sharp and witty.
Target
This book is perfect for anyone who loves geography, as well as those who just want a good laugh. It makes a great gift for friends and family, especially those who have a penchant for dad jokes and meme culture. The cards in this book are not only funny but also a great conversation starter.
Woth buying?
If you want to know where to buy Terrible Maps, then check the Google Shopping website for the best deal. Should you buy the book or not? The images are also on Terrible Maps’ social media channels. If you are a fan of geography and cartography, then the book is a must-have. Provided you can appreciate the humour. If you are more of the classic atlases, then this book is not for you. Howe has achieved a feat with this book. That applies to his contributions via social.
