Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks

Name: Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks
Price: 1.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (691 reviews)
Author: Ken Jennings

by Ken Jennings

Nonfiction Memoir

4.4 (691)

4.4 stars from 691 reviews. Top 93% of Nonfiction books we track.

276 pages~4.6 hr readPublished by ScribnerPublished 2011-01-01

$1.9986% off peak

Last checked: May 27, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $13.99

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Price range: $1.99 – $13.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're someone who gets genuinely excited about maps, atlases, and geography trivia without needing much excuse.
You enjoy Ken Jennings' witty, knowledgeable voice from his Jeopardy days and want more of his personality on the page.
You like narrative non-fiction that turns niche hobbies into compelling human stories rather than dry cultural commentary.

Maybe not for you if...

You want a practical guide to mapmaking or cartography techniques rather than a cultural tour through map obsession.
You're looking for heavy academic analysis of how maps have shaped geopolitics and history in a serious way.
You prefer fiction or memoirs that centre on the author's personal journey rather than interviews and cultural exploration.

About this book

Ken Jennings explores the world of maps, geography, cartography, and map enthusiasts. He takes readers on a tour of geography communities, from the London Map Fair to the Library of Congress, from competitors at the National Geographic Bee to programmers at Google Earth. Each chapter examines a different aspect of map culture: highpointing, geocaching, road atlas rallying, and the fictional and fantasy worlds depicted on maps. Jennings also discusses how cartography has shaped history and why the impulse to make and read maps remains relevant today. The book spans from historical parchment maps of the Age of Discovery through grade school globes to modern digital maps and GPS technology. It contains details, anecdotes, and analysis about map culture. The book is intended for both dedicated map enthusiasts and those with little cartographic knowledge.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $13.99

Currently on sale at $1.99 — 86% off peak. Price has dropped 4 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 621 days. Typically stays discounted for 4 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently #3,075 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.4★ from 691 reviews

Gaining approximately 2 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.4 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $1.99. It typically returns to around $13.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.