Unfathomable City: A New Orleans Atlas

I received this book TWO days after ordering! I am impressed, big time! Book is in great shape - thank you!

An interesting concept, tell the story of New Orleans in a series of maps made for just the occasion. As one of the most exciting and mysterious cities in the U.S., New Orleans was ripe for the experience.The final result is unfortunately a bit hit and miss. The 22 maps themselves are attractive, as are the other illustrations and photographs in this volume. Some drawn seriously while others in a more light-hearted fashion, most readers will enjoy the mere look of this book. For many, this by itself will justify buying the book.The essays that accompany these maps, however, are where the hits and misses come into play. While the essays fall into many categories, from historical to cultural to scientific, the essayists vary widely in writing abilities to hold a reader’s interest. Unfortunately, some essayists go a step further and tap right in to the “white people bad” thesis that is now part of our cultural zeitgeist (the essay The Mississippi Is (Not) the Nile being a standout on this ground).Still, if one can get past these, other essays are excellent reads without insulting to the race of particular readers. People Who, Stationary Revelations, ¡Bananas!, and The Line-Up are all good reads to take in one or two a sitting. Stuffed with enough detail to create a personal treasure hunt for an enterprising reader, almost anyone will find something here to like.

I love maps, and I love new ways of seeing. This book fills both those desires, and more.I got this for a gift for my wife, a NOLA native. We both love it. It's filled with historical oddities and little-known tidbits that help explain why New Orleans is the way it is, and how the people who live there keep it such a special place.If you've ever been to New Orleans, you will love this book. If you've never been there, what's wrong with you? Get this book and discover things about New Orleans that make it even more fascinating!

Wonderful and full of interesting insights. I started reading it before a trip to New Orleans. Now that I'm back, am re-reading it and getting even more from it. Each map illustrates an accompanying essay on a particular topic. If you're interested in cultural history, I highly recommend this!

Marvelous in every way. I lived in New Orleans for twelve years, but left before Katrina. Before returning "home" to the city, I read these essays and studied these maps. When I got there, I was well-prepared for the changes. Captures the spirit of the city after Katrina, the complex changes, and the things that have stayed the same.

There is a definite outlook represented here, and this gives short shrift to a few things - Katrina included, though there is a bit in it. It is beautifully laid out, and it is worth having, but read it with an eye to it as a jumping off point, rather than as being a comprehensive survey.

As a native of New Orleans it's hard to find a good book for gift. This one is fantastic! A collaboration of a number of people about a number of subjects… I highly recommend it!

This book is a collection of essays supported by illustrations in the form of maps. Too many words and not enough maps. The maps are presented at a very small scale and details are nonexistent. Other than the excellent essay by geographer Richard Campanella most of the essays are wordy and just too long: most of the essays are based on well repeated stories not source material. Whatever research that was done for this book it is not apparent, there is no bibliography, index or gazetteer. The map illustrations are without contrast; the city blocks are fields of color next to different color streets all printed on cream colored paper which further dulls the contrast. There are no outlines to clarify the graphics. Don't bother to buy the hard cover edition, it is just the paperback edition with two thick pieces of cardboard pasted on the front and back. The cardboard is trimmed flush with the edges of the pages so no extra protection to the edges of the paper is offered by the hard cover.

One of the best books on Nola!

What a great approach to helping the city reveal itself to visitors. I was born 4000 miles away, but somehow feel more at home in New Orleans than where I grew up. The city exudes something mystical that all North Americans can identify with. I'm already planning a return trip!

TRÈS BON !!!