Atlas Obscura

June 1, 2016

In 2009, science journalist, memory champion, and author (Moonwalking with Einstein) Foer cofounded with Dylan Thuras a website called Atlas Obscura, which aimed to crowdsource descriptions of intriguing, off-the-beaten-path places all over the world (coauthor Ella Morton is an associate editor at the website). The enormously successful concept has spawned multiple events and efforts, the latest of which is this title that lists more than 700 of the best entries the website has received--the criteria for inclusion aren't very clear, but the places, people, phenomena, and things included form a collection of the weirdest and most wonderful the world has to offer. Arranged by region, the entries, which vary in length from several per page to a full page each, are accompanied by color photographs and maps, and sometimes by sidebars on such pleasantries as "Parasitic Worms and Their Effects on Humans." VERDICT With entries on Kiev's death masks, Singapore's Thieves Market, Villisca Ax Murder House in Iowa, and a boiling lake in Dominica (a three-hour hike from the nearest road), this is a travel guide for the most adventurous of tourists; otherwise, it's a wonderful browse that will be relished by armchair travelers who enjoyed Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York and Frank Warren's PostSecret.--Henrietta Verma, formerly with Library Journal

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2016
A sophisticated adult answer to Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, this unusual atlas manages to surprise and delight on every page. Drawing on material from the ever-expanding website of the same name, this ersatz tour guide to the fabulously interesting secret corners of the globe is arranged geographically by continent and country. Each entry details a wonder of the natural world, architecture, sculpture, taxidermy, or other general curiosities. These share space with unique festivals and ephemeral occasions, noted on maps scattered throughout. Whether describing a Canadian museum that showcases world history through shoes, a pet-casket company that will also sell you a unit for your severed limb, a Greek snake festival, or a place in the Canary Islands where inhabitants communicate through whistling, the authors have compiled an enthralling range of oddities. Featuring full-color illustrations, this hefty and gorgeously produced tome will be eagerly pored over by readers of many ages and fans of the original website. This referency title will be a big hit in the circulating stacks, where armchair travelers and lovers of the unusual alike will snap it up.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)