The result of a quick Amazon search for ‘Atlas’ pops up with… more than 60,000 titles! Among them are countless atlases of the world and world history; railway and road atlases, school atlases etc., as well as less conventional ones, like ‘The Atlas of the Heart’, ‘The Phantom Atlas’ (myths, lies and blunders on maps), ‘The Sky Atlas’ and even ‘The Atlas of Tolkien’s Middle Earth’.
Despite the constantly growing complexity of the atlas genre, its essence remains simple: a book with maps and charts. In this respect Mike Higgins' ‘Wild Maps’ (Granta, £20, ISBN 9781783787104) can pass for a classic specimen of the family: it contains dozens of colourful maps and charts which cannot fail to evoke interest among a very wide readership – from knowledge-hungry school kids to scientists and engineers. On top of that, the compact hardback is beautifully designed and easy to handle, as if asking to be opened and enjoyed.
If the proof of the pudding is in the...