Where is it? maps

The most basic map for a book is a map that answers this question: Where is it?

More than half the nonfiction books published need one or more maps that answer that question.

This is especially true of books describing conflict: Wars, battles, social conflicts, political boundary changes, etc. Every history book definitely needs a map.

Example: I’ve just finished reading a book describing in minute detail what has been happening in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past few years. Dozens of cities – maybe hundreds – are mentioned in the text.

This very good book becomes a mediocre book, despite its excellent descriptions, because it provides the reader with not a single map! Unless the reader has an intimate knowledge of the area’s geography, half the time he or she is lost in a myriad of hard-to-pronounce city names without any idea of where these cities are.

What a shame! To have an otherwise excellent book lose many of its readers just because it has not a single map!

I’m reminded of the poem I read in my childhood:

For Want of a Nail

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.

For want of a shoe the horse was lost.

For want of a horse the rider was lost.

For want of a rider the battle was lost.

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

I could have changed the lyrics, but you get the idea:

For want of a map, the reader is lost.

Below, then, are many examples of mostly simple maps created to help a reader get his bearings for what the author is relating. All answer the question: Where is it?

This is important: They are not samples of maps that would suit your book. They are ILLUSTRATIVE of what a map can do: Illustrate the story. Your book will surely require a map showing a different place for a different reason.

All maps and text: