Picador picks up Rowińska's debut on mathematics of maps

Picador has picked up Mapmatics, the first book from science communicator Dr Paulina Rowińska.

Andrea Henry, editorial director, acquired world rights and audio from Rukhsana Yasmin at the Good Literary Agency. Mapmatics: How We Navigate the World Through Numbers will be published in hardback in spring 2024. 

The synopsis explains: “Looking at maps without understanding the underlying maths is like quoting out of context, says Dr Paulina Rowińska, a maths PhD and science communicator, in Mapmatics. From the 16th-century Mercator map, used for navigation and misused to emphasise the colonial powers, to the life-saving map of London’s cholera outbreak and modern maps of voting districts which can silence or empower whole communities, the development of cartography has been powered by mathematical methods and ideas. It’s a relationship we may not have considered—until now. 

“In Mapmatics, Dr Rowińska takes the reader on a journey through space and time to discover the mathematical foundations of cartography and cartographical influences on mathematics. The more we appreciate this crucial connection, the better we will understand how our simultaneously wonderful and confusing world works.”

Henry says: “What grabbed us all at Picador is the idea that the way a map is drawn affects our world view, and of course the way a map is drawn depends on the maths employed. Dr Rowińska takes us on a voyage of discovery as we ponder, probably for the first time, what those mathematical methods and theories actually are. She makes light work of the numbers so that we can better understand what maps—and their makers—want us to see of the world, and why. Dr Rowińska is a brilliant science communicator and it’s a real pleasure to be working with her on this eye-opening book.” 

Rowińska has a PhD in the mathematics of planet earth from Imperial College London. Her 2017 TEDx talk “Let’s Have a Maths Party!” explained that maths is all around us. In 2019, she received the Imperial College President’s Award for Excellence in Societal Engagement. Today, she creates interactive content for educational website brilliant.org.

She commented: “We use maps almost every day, but we rarely reflect on how the principles behind their creation impact our perception of the world. I’m excited to explain the connection between cartography and different areas of mathematics, and its consequences in our daily lives. I’m delighted to work with Picador, with people as enthusiastic and curious about the world as I am.”