While reading Ken Jennings' new book Maphead, I spent time thinking, "Am I a maphead?"When I considered that I spent weeks in anticipation for a book called Maphead to come out, grabbed it from the library and read it as soon as possible, and often describe my job as, "I love my job. I get to look at maps most of the day!"...I realized that yes, I can safely say I am a maphead.
Even if you do not self-identify as map-head, if you like traveling or geography, Ken Jennings' book is a terrific read. If you have not heard of Ken Jennings, he is a super-cool nerd known for holding the longest winning streak on Jeopardy. 74 wins in a row!
The book is speckled with fun geography facts, like how for a while there was a "Joe, Montana," and that Victoria Island in Canada is the world's largest triple island. What's that? It's an island with a lake that has an island, and that island has a lake with an island.
Photo: Joe, Montana. Town now is back to Ismay, Montana.
Photo: Victoria Island, Canada, world's largest triple island. Blue circle is the second island, red circle is the triple island. Photo from The Backyard Geographer blog.
The website that had the graphic of the largest triple island also had a photo of a sweater within a sweater. Amazing-ness.The book covers the National Geography Bee, the rise of GPS technology, the trend of geocatching, hunts through the Library of Congress' map room and much more. He tells many catchy, compelling, personal stories. An enjoyable read.
Video: In the book, Ken talks about Lilly Gaskin, 2 year old map master. She can identify over 100 countries.
1 comment:
This looks like a great book. I think I am a bit of a map head. I may have a map head of a daughter as well! I liked the sweater picture, but was a little disappointed that there wasn't a sweater within a sweater within a sweater.
Anyways, great post. Looking up the book right now.
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