Author(s): Gareth Cook

Cultural Studies

Another year, another superb volume. "Nature" The year s most awesome (RedOrbit) infographics reveal aspects of our world in often startling ways from a haunting graphic mapping the journey of 15,790 slave ships over 315 years, to a yearlong data drawing project on postcards that records and cements a trans-Atlantic friendship. "The Best American Infographics 2016" covers the realms of social issues, health, sports, arts and culture, and politics including crisp visual data on the likely Democratic/Republican leanings ofan array of professions (proving that your urologist is far more likely to be a Republican than your pediatrician). Here once again are the most innovative print and electronic infographics the full spectrum of the genre from authoritative to playful ("Scientific American").ROBERT KRULWICH is the cohost of "Radiolab "and a science correspondent for NPR. He writes, draws, and cartoons at "Curiously Krulwich, "where he synthesizes scientific concepts into colorful, one-of-a-kind blog posts. He has won several Emmy awards for his work on television, and has been called the most inventive network reporter in television by "TV Guide.""