Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great for cartography students
Comment: I am a GIS student in the natural resources field. I had to use this book and was not all that thrilled with it, but that is because it is about cartography. I reluctantly admit that us GIS-ers need to know cartography, but we don't have to like it. For mapping, this book is a good one. It covers the essential points to topics such as dot, choropleth, graduated symbol and other thematic maps. It covers how to make them and what symbols should do for the reader, as well as how to design for your map reader. It also covers mapping theory and how it relates to typography, symbol placement, visual hiearchy and the use of color.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hopelessly Disorganized
Comment: I had to use this book in two classes for my Land Use/GIS degree. The book's layout is rather confusing, and the information is not laid out in a logical manner. Headings and sub-headings are not apparent and do not follow a natural progression. Seems like the book was put together with a cut-and-paste method! The text is about as dry as a well-done pot roast. Good bedtime reading!
The primary purpose of map making is to guide the reader's eye to areas of importance, and to get the information across to the reader in a concise, interesting, and elegant manner. This book does none of these well.
The breadth of information, however, is quite good, hence the two stars. This is probably why it is used frequently by faculty.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cartography: Thematic Map Design Review
Comment: Dent has compiled and written the most comprehensive book on all aspects of thematic mapping. This book gives cartographers concepts not only of map making, but a concise exercise in artistic and informative cartography.Through this book, Borden Dent describes that elements necessary for outstanding map layout and design based on audience comprehension. The use of techniques and methodologies cartographers need to understand and utilize are explained extremely well in this book.
Cartography: Thematic Map Design is a definite must for anyone in the field of Cartography or collectors of maps.
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