Profile defies boundaries with geographer Samson's guide 

Profile has acquired Invisible Lines: Boundaries and Belts that Define the World by geographer Maxim Samson. 

Assistant editor Calah Singleton obtained world rights from Michael Dean at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. It will publish in August 2023.

"Our world has innumerable boundaries, from the obvious – like oceans or mountains — to subtle differences in language or climate," the synopsis reads.

"Geographer Maxim Samson examines these invisible lines, exploring the ways in which we divide this world — from meteorology and ecology to race and religion. From segregation along Detroit’s infamous 8 Mile to herds of red deer that still refuse to cross the former Iron Curtain. Vividly written and fully illustrated with maps of every location, Invisible Lines is an indispensable guide to seeing and understanding our world."

"Max Samson’s illuminating work reveals the quirks and consequences of humanity’s desire to render the world more legible," Singleton said. "Invisible Lines is full of intriguing and unexpected places – I was charmed by Max’s contagious enthusiasm for his subject, captivated by his richly rendered exploration of geography, history, sociology, politics, nature and more. It’s the best kind of geography book in that there’s something for everyone, a feast for curious minds. At a time when borders and boundaries are front of mind, I am thrilled that this exceptional book and its brilliant author have found a home at Profile."

Samson teaches geography at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and specialises in cultural geographies, with a focus on religion, ethnicity and urban spaces. He is currently working on a sequel for Profile on the spaces that connect people.

"From Donald Trump’s wall to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, when we speak of a divided world, it can be tempting to focus on the borders; however, as Invisible Lines reveals, it is also necessary to consider the various types of boundaries we encounter on a daily basis, which shape our lives and how we think about the planet," he said. "Given Profile’s outstanding reputation for publishing thought-provoking non-fiction by writers from diverse fields, it is the perfect home for a book that seeks to engage readers with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to look at the world in a new way."