Something You Should Know

When Maps Go Wrong & The Science of Everyday Courage

20 snips
Nov 6, 2025
Jay Foreman, co-host of MapMen and author of This Way Up, dives into the quirky world of maps, revealing why early maps weren’t for navigation and how inaccuracies affect perceptions. He shares tales of big map industry rivalries and the curious omittance of New Zealand in modern maps. Ranjay Gulati, Harvard professor and author of How to Be Bold, discusses the psychology of everyday courage, exploring how fear and narratives shape our actions. He offers strategies for fostering genuine bravery, contrasting it with recklessness.
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INSIGHT

Simple Language Signals Intelligence

  • Using fancy words often backfires; people prefer fluent, easy-to-read language.
  • Fluency makes authors seem smarter, more confident, and more credible.
ANECDOTE

Maps Began As Royal Artwork

  • Early maps were often decorative art for monarchs rather than navigation tools.
  • Mapmaking became scientific only recently with instruments like trigonometry.
INSIGHT

Maps Must Distort To Be Useful

  • Every map necessarily distorts reality by choosing what to omit.
  • Useful maps prioritize readability over geographic accuracy, like the London Underground diagram.
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