The corpus of data visualization books is evolving. We are moving beyond the “Dataviz 101” titles into books that explore process, misinformation, data literacy, organizing teams, and more. To keep things manageable—and costs down—I’ve maintained a relatively short list of books I recommended to people entering the field.
When it comes to books about maps, my recommendation was simple for a long time: Kenneth Field’s Cartography. Since it was published eight years ago, I’ve told people it’s the only book you need to improve how you create data-driven maps. (Quick note: there is a whole library of books dedicated to true cartography but those books are very different than what more general data visualization specialists need). But in the past six months, two new books have been published that I’m adding to my “must-have map books for data visualization.”
There are obviously many more books on maps—some fun, some novel-like—but if you’re building a data visualization library, start with these three (in this order):
- Cartography. (2018) from Kenneth Field. This is the book you need if you’re making data-driven maps. It’s a modern, design-minded guide to how maps actually get made—and why the choices behind them matter. Rather than treating maps as purely technical objects, Ken walks you through the many decisions around projection, color, typography, layout, and scale. The book blends practical advice with thoughtful reflections on clarity, aesthetics, and ethics, making it especially useful for people working with all kinds of tools. It’s less about rules and more about developing good judgment as a mapmaker.
- Telling Stories with Maps (2025) from Allen Carroll. Although Allen works at Esri and this book is published by Esri Press, this isn’t a how-to guide or a sales pitch for the tool. Instead, Allen shows you how maps can do much more than display locations—they can tell powerful stories. Drawing on his years at National Geographic and Esri, he explains how sequencing, annotation, and context help turn maps into narratives that guide readers through complex topics. The book is full of real-world examples and practical insights—yes, mostly using ArcGIS StoryMaps—about what makes map stories engaging and meaningful.
- Radical Cartography: How Changing Our Maps Can Change Our World (2025) from William Rankin. With the third book, we zoom out and think more critically about what maps actually do in the world and what they show and don’t show. Bill argues that maps don’t just describe reality—they help create it, shaping how we understand borders, property, politics, and power. By digging into the history of mapping systems and standards—with great stories throughout—the book reveals how seemingly technical choices carry big social and political consequences. I read this one on New Years Day from cover to cover and immediately knew it belonged on the list.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t add one more. I’m not really calling this #4—it’s more of a “nice to have” than a must-have:
- How to Lie with Maps (2018, 3rd edition) from Mark Monmonier. This is a classic book in the cartography world. It’s a short read and at this point—given the great tools and browser-based mapping platforms we now have—it does feel a little dated. Still, it’s relevant to being a data visualization practitioner and if you want to learn how maps can mislead, intentionally or not, it’s worth your time. I think of it as the older cousin to Alberto Cairo’s more recent How Charts Lie, so I’d put them side-by-side on a shelf. With clear examples, Mark explains how choices about scale, classification, symbols, and design can subtly (or not so subtly) distort a map’s message. The goal isn’t to make readers distrust all maps, but to help them become smarter, more critical map readers.
If you search for “books about maps,” you’re going to find hundreds of options. Here are a few others that are all great reads, but probably aren’t essential for a data visualization bookshelf:
- The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic–and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World (2007) by Steven Johnson
- The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology (2009) by Simon Winchester
- Prisoners Of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics (2016) by Tim Marshall
- Atlas of the Invisible (2021) by James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti
- Lord of Maps Draws a Map (2024) by Isaac Dushku
That’s my current list of mapping books for data visualization. I’ve read all of these (and many others), but I’m sure there are great ones I’m missing. If you have recommendations, I’d love to hear them. And if you’re interested in lists of other data visualization books, let me know and I’ll keep writing.
