Among the things offered by this book are:
*The idea of mediated seeing - systems that intervene between the seer and the thing seen, allowing views not otherwise available.
*Explanation of vertical orthogonal projection, by which the map-viewer is vertically above all points on the represented ground simultaneously.
*Definition of a map: a map is a projectionally modified physical model of the surface-of-zero-elevation of a planet, with added apparitional modeling.
*Explanation of apparitional modeling.
*Differentiation of maps into topographical, and twelve kinds of thematic.
*Explanation of visual metaphor as imagery by which things unseeable, e.g. temperature, are made seeable.
*Application of the idea of homologue and analogue in explanation of various kinds of map imagery.
*Definition of the subject of topographical maps as stopped-time subaerial landscape.
*Definition of landscape.
*A classification of landscape objects.
*Definition of the subjects of thematic maps as localized processes of the universe.
*Division of the signage of maps into signatures, three kinds of symbols, and typography.
*Definition of "symbol" and "signature."
*Methods of providing identity to features on maps: by mimesis, and several kinds of adjectival modifying.
*Analysis of the visual structure of maps into 'layered' components.
*Explanation of the optional transparency of cartographical surfaces.
*Identification of the visual structure of maps with that of trompe-l'oeil art in which represented objects 'protrude' into the viewer's space.
*Time and synchronicity on maps.
* Definition and explanation of generalization.
*Asummary of relief representation.
*The functions of color on maps: adjectival and graphic.
*A description of the three-dimensional variations of holistic color, and a chart of systematic color gradations.
*The idea of continuums, one- two- and three-dimensional, as applied to discussion of graphics and description of space.
*New terminology and tighter definition of old.