Mapmaking fulfills one of our most ancient and deepseated desires: understanding the world around us and our place in it. But maps need not just sh...
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reviews
Aug 18, 2011
Kerfe
rated it: 
I've read and reviewed map-art books before, but this one is really special. You can spend hours just going back and forth among all the illustrations of topography, internal and external, real and imagined, celestial and earth-bound, traditional and abstracted, emotional and physical: guide maps to just about everything, "each with a compelling agenda."
But don't skip the essays. Speculation, humor, art, science, classification, discovery, research: all appear in these pages More...
But don't skip the essays. Speculation, humor, art, science, classification, discovery, research: all appear in these pages More...
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Jan 09, 2010
Ryan
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This book presents an interesting and wide-ranging collection of invented maps — that is, maps created from imagination, emotion, and memory which do not necessarily exist in a physical world. These range from drawings by little kids, the imagined work of historical cartographers, contemporary artists who bring mapping techniques into their work, and more.
Scattered periodically between of the hundred or so maps in You Are Here are fairly-interesting essays about mapping and how maps More...
Scattered periodically between of the hundred or so maps in You Are Here are fairly-interesting essays about mapping and how maps More...
May 15, 2010
Oleg
rated it:
I noticed "You Are Here" while I was weeding the history & geography section of the Lancaster Regional Library where I work. It was the idea of personal geographies that captured my attention; how do our experiences shape our vision? This mental cartography is what I was seeking. Did I find it? Yes and no.
It is true that a lot of Katherine Harmon's selections were indeed maps of truly *personal* geographies, many were not. Maps from novels, guides to a positive life, phreno More...
It is true that a lot of Katherine Harmon's selections were indeed maps of truly *personal* geographies, many were not. Maps from novels, guides to a positive life, phreno More...
Sep 17, 2011
Joem
rated it:
It's a little hard to review this book, since it's mostly just a collection of images. There's not really a main thesis at work, beyond "these are some interesting map-related forms of visual communication" but that's ok. Each map has credits and a brief description/synopsis and there are also some essays interspersed throughout the book.
It's quite a contrast from the books I own that are most similar: Edward Tufte's oeuvre. You Are Here is not instructive like Tufte's work More...
It's quite a contrast from the books I own that are most similar: Edward Tufte's oeuvre. You Are Here is not instructive like Tufte's work More...
May 18, 2009
Benjamin
rated it:
I got this nicely done little book for free in the aftermath of a rummage sale. It's good enough that I probably would have paid for it if I had the chance.
The book collects different maps, all ones with personal twists to them. Some of them are comical, others political, and still others just artistic exercises. The variety found within is a testament to the variety of forms a map could take (from highly defined land and water diagrams to abstract assemblages of color and text) and More...
The book collects different maps, all ones with personal twists to them. Some of them are comical, others political, and still others just artistic exercises. The variety found within is a testament to the variety of forms a map could take (from highly defined land and water diagrams to abstract assemblages of color and text) and More...
Jan 25, 2009
Cheryl
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This is a book with lots of maps, which I love and what she calls "personal geographies." My favorite is one called "Earth at Night" which show city lighting, seasonal agricultural fires, natural gas flares in oil fields, and even the aurora borealis. There's another called "What's Up? South!," an artist's view of an upside down map of the world. Some of them are simply works of art, some are actual maps (a 1931 map of A Day's Pheasant Shoot, Long Island, 1931) a
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Sep 21, 2011
John
rated it:
A sort of exhibition catalog of maps that are other than the physical geography sort--meaning that they map personal territories (my favorite being Bridget Booher's all text "Body Map of my Life" in which she catalogs her inner and outer marks and scars) or fictional ones, like those in Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" series, or present pictorial flights of history or fantasy based on real countries. Not a complete or even very systematic exploration of what all a "
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Mar 15, 2010
Chrisiant
rated it:
Very cool book. The kind of book I will need to have a copy of to put on my coffee table when I have a coffee table. 'Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination' is the subtitle, and the maps included fit all sorts of odd little nooks and corners within that concept.
Anatomical maps from centuries ago, Puritanical maps of morality (through the lagoons of laziness and the swamps of sloth to the high plateaus of moral righteousness) a map of the London Underground re-imagin More...
Anatomical maps from centuries ago, Puritanical maps of morality (through the lagoons of laziness and the swamps of sloth to the high plateaus of moral righteousness) a map of the London Underground re-imagin More...
Jun 29, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
I love maps, all kinds of maps. I love street maps, wall maps, globes, and I especially love maps in books, of both real and imaginary places. (The one in the book The Phantom Tollbooth has always given me great joy.) Whenever I start a book and see included maps, I am very happy. I was very excited to find and read this book.
The premise gets a 5 from me, the art (because that’s what these maps are) and creativity I give a full range of stars but overall I can give it a 4, but overal More...
The premise gets a 5 from me, the art (because that’s what these maps are) and creativity I give a full range of stars but overall I can give it a 4, but overal More...
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Apr 29, 2009
Powells.com
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In a chaotic and uncertain world there is something very calming about maps. Across all cultures, mapmaking is a commonality. Harmon's collection beautifully documents humanity's obsession with knowing who, where, why, when and how we as explorers fit in.
Recommended by Amy
Maps are magical pieces of paper. Who doesn't love to pore over them and imagine traveling to New York, Paris, Amsterdam or even Weed, California? Maps are reassuring when you are lost, and they i More...
Recommended by Amy
Maps are magical pieces of paper. Who doesn't love to pore over them and imagine traveling to New York, Paris, Amsterdam or even Weed, California? Maps are reassuring when you are lost, and they i More...
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Feb 06, 2008
clare
rated it:
the rec i wrote for my job:
There are many different kinds of maps aside from the pictographic representations of national and cultural borders that we have come so heavily to rely upon. There can be maps of personhood--emotional and physical experiences of negative or positive variety, fantastical locations that only appear in epic novels or television sitcoms, and spiritual adventures that cannot be conveyed by prose alone. In You Are Here, Katharine Harmon investigates the fundamen More...
There are many different kinds of maps aside from the pictographic representations of national and cultural borders that we have come so heavily to rely upon. There can be maps of personhood--emotional and physical experiences of negative or positive variety, fantastical locations that only appear in epic novels or television sitcoms, and spiritual adventures that cannot be conveyed by prose alone. In You Are Here, Katharine Harmon investigates the fundamen More...
Oct 07, 2007
m
rated it:
You know, sometimes the ol' noggin just isn't in the mood to process deep thoughts on racial relations. What you really need is something that's both visually engaging and, if you choose, thought-provoking.
That's what I think Katharine Harmon has come up with in her book You Are Here: Personal Geographies And Other Maps of the Imagination. On one level, it's just a map book, lots of pretty pictures; I love map books so more maps, more good. But look again -- most of these maps aren' More...
That's what I think Katharine Harmon has come up with in her book You Are Here: Personal Geographies And Other Maps of the Imagination. On one level, it's just a map book, lots of pretty pictures; I love map books so more maps, more good. But look again -- most of these maps aren' More...
Jan 08, 2012
Catelyn
rated it:
This is one of the most beautiful and interesting art books I've ever read. As a lover of maps (by the way, Ken Jennings' awesome Maphead is on my to-read list; I loved the first two chapters and to finish it ASAP), I could look at this book for hours.
It's incredibly difficult to review a book like this. There's nothing negative to say since it avoided all the potential pitfalls of a book of this kind (out-of-focus images, not enough color, too much description). You Are Here exceede More...
It's incredibly difficult to review a book like this. There's nothing negative to say since it avoided all the potential pitfalls of a book of this kind (out-of-focus images, not enough color, too much description). You Are Here exceede More...
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Dec 20, 2008
Sean
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This is not really a book you "read", per se, but rather a book you pick up and lose yourself in depending on your fancy, what catches your eye or where you happen to open it to.
A wonderful exploration of personal maps and how we see, define and remember the world. It's a coffee table book that was sadly made book sized. I would love a coffee table size version of this book.
A wonderful exploration of personal maps and how we see, define and remember the world. It's a coffee table book that was sadly made book sized. I would love a coffee table size version of this book.
Jan 09, 2009
Parvarteal
rated it:
I've long been fascinated by maps, especially those which map imaginary places and experiences rather than geographic locations. This book is a small, beautifully printed collection of maps ranging from the stages of matrimony to 'the journey of life.' There are also beautiful maps of real locations done by artists. I'm half-way through and savoring the experience.
Feb 15, 2009
Gala
rated it: 
I've checked this book out twice from the library with every intention of loving it-- the premise is so delicious... visualizations (maps) of things that seem un-mappable. The first time, I read the introduction with relish and then looked through every page without anything pulling me in. The second time through, I realized that the introduction by the curator of this collection is the best part. Otherwise, there are a couple of images and essays that are "Okay" (and that's what tw
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Jan 04, 2008
Cy
rated it:
A creative discussion and gallery of mapping concepts expressed in varying formats/occurences in a range of contexts throughout history. I was first drawn to this book because it features the work of Julie Mehretu, an artist I adore. Map themes are extremely variant stretching beyond the expected geographical approach to mapping the human body, heaven and hellspaces, daily schedules and hallucinogenic effects. A personal connection is that it features a map I used to have on the wall of my fir
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Jun 09, 2011
Karin
rated it:
Visually inspiring, thought provoking. What makes a map be a map? Artists, and others, create through all cultures and ages to define personal and greater boundaries, laying them down for all to see.
This is primarily a collection of these beautiful and varied maps, with very little text. I am finding myself seeing everything through a topographers eye.
This is primarily a collection of these beautiful and varied maps, with very little text. I am finding myself seeing everything through a topographers eye.
Jan 12, 2012
Jane
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I love this book. I love maps and images and interesting ideas about how and why to create them, so this book combines pretty much everything I love into one beautiful, creative, insightful package.
Dec 01, 2008
Eric
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Harmon provides a wonderful collection of maps and essays that explore both the meaning of maps and mapping. This book is written for people who love maps. Most of the book is simply prints of maps that one can loose oneself for hours. The essays enlighten one to the spirit of mapping (making maps for personal understanding of space).
Jan 30, 2012
Rivka
rated it:
"I am told there are people who do not care for maps, and I find that hard to believe." -Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
Aug 12, 2011
Adam
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An essential tome for those interested in studying avant-cartography. A must for fans of Borges' "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius."
Aug 24, 2009
Paula
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I LOVE the concept of personal geography, and the maps and images in this book are amazingly creative and fascinating to me. This book has inspired me to start my own journal of little maps and map-like images of my life. I'm excited about this project in a way that nothing has excited me in a very long time.
May 18, 2011
Angela
rated it:
A whole new way of looking at maps! I especially like the maps of self and the maps of imaginary places.
