Genre Guide – Obscure Atlases

When is a state not a state? When it lacks global recognition and/or United Nations membership. Oxford don and travel writer Middleton delves into 50 states whose existence is in the eye of the beholder. Featuring die-cut maps for each region, and the intriguing backgrounds and histories of the places in question.

A unique combination of environmental policy, climate science, compelling storytelling, and fantastic illustrations employing ink on dried seaweed, this atlas shows the impact of climate change on the planet and the interconnectedness of it all.

Created by a prolific Ojibwe linguist and historian, Atlas of Indian Nations is a comprehensive resource for those interested in Native American history and culture. Told through maps, photos, art, and archival cartography, this is the story of American Indians that only National Geographic can tell.

An award-winning book that uses visualizations to show patterns of human society found in data sets describing happiness, undersea cables, cell towers, and more.

A global tour of more than 50 locations, all with mystic and ghostly significance, charting a dark armchair journey into supernatural events and unexplained phenomena.

Esther Gonstalla, book and graphic designer, compiles infographics that illuminate different threats to the planet we call home, covering air, weather, climate, water in all its forms, soil, flora, fauna, and man-made realms. An inspiring and fascinating atlas that sparks curiosity and, possibly, action.

Interweaving literary inspiration and elements from Jules Verne, Virginia Woolf, and Edgar Allan Poe and accompanied by beautiful illustrations, nautical charts, maps, architectural plans, and curious facts, these illuminating stories will transport the reader in a book as full of wonder as the far-flung lighthouses themselves.

’50 states of murder’ is a lively and chilling work of storytelling and an authoritative survey of the homicidal history of the United States–perfect for any true-crime obsessive.

Hike: Adventures on Foot is a celebration of the act of hiking and an inspiration to hiker everywhere, covering details of trails all over the world and things to do and treats to eat along the way.

From prehistory to modernity, this book of maps guides the reader through the history of human civilization, through maps, illustrations, timelines, and expertly researched text.

In a new edition with color pictures, this classic text of hobby astronomers everywhere is updated with new star charts informed by data from the Gaia spacecraft.

“Pittsburgh in 50 maps” surveys the boundaries of the city’s 90 distinct neighborhoods (plus Mister Rogers’ neighborhood), the legacy of the steel industry, and how immigration continues to shape the city. Here, you’ll learn the truth about the elusive fourth river, and islands lost to time. You’ll also find the areas with the highest concentrations of bike lanes, supermarkets, tree cover, and fiberglass dinosaurs. Plus, a handy guide to where you can (and can’t) expect to see a “Pittsburgh left.”

Through an in-depth look at the contradictions undergirding Ferguson, Missouri’s planning and design, this book illuminates how tax incentives, housing codes, urban design, nonprofits, philanthropy, and even landscaping often work against the betterment of residents’ lives. At its heart lies a key question: Just who are our cities being built for?

One of the first indicators of rising oceans due to global warming are the low-lying islands scattered around the world’s oceans. Here is an atlas devoted to these islands, the voices of the communities trying to save them.