Oh my gosh, I love this piece so much. In high school, Geography was still taught and was one of my favorite subjects. But somewhere along the way, even before GPS, I forgot the importance of seeing the world through the lens you write about.
I have a beautiful Atlas on top of my bookcase, and I do love looking at it - but it’s special as it was bought by my parents the year of my birth, 1957. There are so many different countries and names now than there were then, but it’s a frozen moment of the political world of that time. You’ve just encouraged me to get its 2026 twin (although I may wait for a 2027 version, so they are 70 years apart). Loved this!
Not only will I buy one for myself but also for my grandchildren who live in Australia and Okinawa. They have a print rich environment, but they need maps! Thank you for the history lesson and the nudge. Like Marc, I spent many hours in my tiny Idaho hometown looking at the atlas that was part of the encyclopedia set. This also made me think of my oldest brother who insists we should have maps in our cars in case the cell towers go down. He may have a point there, so I’ll stop by AAA after the bookstore. 😅
Thanks for this important essay. When I was a kid, I would spend hours reading my atlas and maps, dreaming of faraway places I might someday be able to visit. Just reading these expanded my horizon. You have brought back fond memories for me.
This was an interesting article and brought back many memories of car rides with my parents and my mom navigating with a paper map in her hands, instructing my dad where to turn. Later in my own life, as my wife and I explore the western states in our motorhome, I still have a copy of the North American Road Atlas, published by AAA. My Google Map GPS has put us on some pretty scary back roads that were supposed to be better alternate routes!
Yes, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences through time and geography. You’ve awakened a hidden treasure within me and the curiosity about the world. Beautiful article!
Diamond-Michael - thank you so much this wonderful piece of writing! My wife and I, along with Kodi, our faithful traveling companion, have been crisscrossing the U.S. and Canada in our 18' teardrop camper over the past six years . We've benefitted so much from the purchase and use of three publications: 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas & National Park Guide (pictured in the avatar under Kodi's face) and R & R Publisher's Mountain Directories (East and West) for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome Drivers. All of which helped us to gain a better understanding of the nature of this incredibly large, friendly-peopled, and geographically diverse country "before presuming to act upon it" - especially when navigating some of the steeper mountain road grades. ;)
Oh my gosh, I love this piece so much. In high school, Geography was still taught and was one of my favorite subjects. But somewhere along the way, even before GPS, I forgot the importance of seeing the world through the lens you write about.
I have a beautiful Atlas on top of my bookcase, and I do love looking at it - but it’s special as it was bought by my parents the year of my birth, 1957. There are so many different countries and names now than there were then, but it’s a frozen moment of the political world of that time. You’ve just encouraged me to get its 2026 twin (although I may wait for a 2027 version, so they are 70 years apart). Loved this!
Not only will I buy one for myself but also for my grandchildren who live in Australia and Okinawa. They have a print rich environment, but they need maps! Thank you for the history lesson and the nudge. Like Marc, I spent many hours in my tiny Idaho hometown looking at the atlas that was part of the encyclopedia set. This also made me think of my oldest brother who insists we should have maps in our cars in case the cell towers go down. He may have a point there, so I’ll stop by AAA after the bookstore. 😅
Thanks for this important essay. When I was a kid, I would spend hours reading my atlas and maps, dreaming of faraway places I might someday be able to visit. Just reading these expanded my horizon. You have brought back fond memories for me.
This was an interesting article and brought back many memories of car rides with my parents and my mom navigating with a paper map in her hands, instructing my dad where to turn. Later in my own life, as my wife and I explore the western states in our motorhome, I still have a copy of the North American Road Atlas, published by AAA. My Google Map GPS has put us on some pretty scary back roads that were supposed to be better alternate routes!
Yes, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences through time and geography. You’ve awakened a hidden treasure within me and the curiosity about the world. Beautiful article!
Thank You!
Diamond-Michael - thank you so much this wonderful piece of writing! My wife and I, along with Kodi, our faithful traveling companion, have been crisscrossing the U.S. and Canada in our 18' teardrop camper over the past six years . We've benefitted so much from the purchase and use of three publications: 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas & National Park Guide (pictured in the avatar under Kodi's face) and R & R Publisher's Mountain Directories (East and West) for Truckers, RV, and Motorhome Drivers. All of which helped us to gain a better understanding of the nature of this incredibly large, friendly-peopled, and geographically diverse country "before presuming to act upon it" - especially when navigating some of the steeper mountain road grades. ;)