Maps, like books, can be read and are full of information. They are scaled down, graphic representations of landscapes.
Most folks tend to use maps for finding their way about and making travel plans.
When you pick up a map, look for the scale. Scale is the ratio of distance on a map to corresponding values on earth. The map's scale bar will help you figure out how much territory the map covers and in what detail. With a compass, make sure that the map's magnetic north arrow and the compass magnetic north arrow are pointing in the same direction. Aligning the map with real life landscape features like roads or mountain ranges will also work.