Ben Waber reviewed After the Map by William Rankin
A Fascinating Look at the Co-Evolution of Cartography, Navigation, and Technology
5 stars
This is a fascinating look at the emergence of modern cartography and navigation, digging into the methods and technologies over the last century as well as how these were both shaped by political and organizational forces. There are some genuinely eye-popping moments when it comes to navigation technology during WW2 (did you know that Britain repaired German navigation beacons because they also used them?), and the deeply socio-technical nature of maps and the purpose of technologies that help us move through space is revisited through the decades. Highly recommend