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“…an incredible insight into the world we live in. They say a picture says a thousand words, well I think INFOGRAPHICS can say a million. A breathtaking look at the scale, diversity and detail in every element of life on Earth, the book opens your eyes to new facts and captivates your imagination. With graphics drawn from such sources as Fortune, National Geographic, and The Guardian, this is not only a showcase of outstanding data design, but also a fascinating digest of where and how we live.” The Birmingham Gazette, Birmingham

The Birmingham Gazette

“…some of the best infographics from around the world… Understanding the World is fascinating to flick through and, with its lovely production values, would look good on any coffee table.”

Delayed Gratification

“…a fascinating read, and regardless of the depth of your current knowledge about the world, it is guaranteed to teach you something new.”

Geographical Magazine

“…exemplary illustration. A striking and engaging visual atlas…A book to hold onto.”

Scottish Woman Magazine

“Two hundred eighty graphics focusing on the 21st century provide accessible, visual ways of explaining the world through captivating information graphics and design”.

The Los Angeles Times

“Understanding the World: The Atlas of Infographics is an attempt to decode a planet drowned in enigmatic information and statistics… An important record of the state of the world today.”

YCN (Young Creatives Network)

“… 280 information-rich graphics, ranging from the environment and technology to the economics and culture of the 21st century. A highly recommended book for any household.”

Selectism.com

Understanding the World. The Atlas of Infographics

Hardcover with seven fold-outs, 9.7 x 14.6 in., 8.22 lb, 456 pages

US$ 80

This expansive publication follows up on TASCHEN's Information Graphics with more than 280 contemporary and vintage visualizations to help us understand our world, including seven fold-out spreads. Spanning the present state, and historical shaping, of society, culture, technology, economics and the environment, this is at once a showcase of the most outstanding data design work, and a fascinating digest of where and how we live.

Planet on the page

A visual atlas of our vast, fragile world

Dazzling in scale, diversity and detail, the world never ceases to open our eyes and captivate our curiosity. Ever since the earliest cave paintings, humans have looked at this Earth that is our home and endeavored to understand it.

This expansive visual atlas presents the most exciting, creative and inspiring ways of explaining the world in information graphics. Divided into five chapters, the book covers the environment, technology, economics, society, and culture to reveal some of the Earth’s greatest intricacies in accessible visual form. Featuring more than 280 graphics, reproduced in large scale including seven fold-out spreads, the collection focuses on the 21st century, but also includes historical masterpieces to put our current situation into perspective.

Nigel Holmes introduces the book with an exclusive infographic of his own, while Sandra Rendgen provides an illustrated historical essay to explore how we have studied and interpreted our world over the centuries. With graphics drawn from such sources as Fortune, National Geographic, and The Guardian, this is not only a showcase of outstanding data design, but also a fascinating digest of where and how we live.

The author

Sandra Rendgen studied art history and cultural studies in Berlin and Amsterdam. Her work both as an editor and in developing concepts for media installations concentrates at the interface between image culture and technology, with a particular focus on data visualization, interactive media and the history of how information is conveyed. She is the author of TASCHEN’s Information Graphics and Understanding the World.

The editor

Julius Wiedemann studied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design magazines in Tokyo before joining TASCHEN in 2001. His titles include the Illustration Now! and Record Covers series, as well as the infographics collection and books about advertising and visual culture.