National Geographic Society Libri

C.D.B Bryan's centennial history of the National Geographic Society traces the evolution of exploration, science, and discovery in the 20th century. Originally published a decade ago and praised by the *Washington Post* as "fascinating and absorbing," this updated edition reflects significant changes at the Society and in the world. It retains the original text and photographs while adding two new chapters and around 40 new images. The new material discusses shifts in the Magazine's editorship and Society leadership, highlighting innovations and contributions to geography education, as well as a renewed focus on exploration's excitement. Bryan's engaging narrative is enriched by interviews with key personnel—writers, photographers, and editors—and insights from scientists and explorers supported by the Society. He accessed the Society's extensive archives, documenting milestones like Robert E. Peary's North Pole expedition and Hiram Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu. The book features color photographs that enhance the narrative, showcasing the Magazine's role in visually depicting distant places. Notable images include a parody of *The Bridges of Madison County* and a unique photograph of a 500-year-old frozen Inca mummy, alongside a dramatic shot from an Arctic journey by explorer Will Steger and a digitally enhanced image from the space shuttle *Discovery*.

North America's wild parklands, now more than 130 in number, boast a wealth of superlatives. They hold the world's tallest and largest living things, the grandest gorge, the longest known cave system, and the biggest bison herd. Several of them have been declared UNESCO world heritage sites and international biosphere reserves. All are scenic wonderlands, and many are sanctuaries for threatened wildlife and rare plants.More than 330 color photographs, diagrams, and maps illustrate the 336 pages of National Parks of North America. Vivid profiles and concise data boxes, arranged alphabetically by country, describe each park; sidebars feature natural, historical, and cultural highlights of the major ones. To offer further insights into these fragments of a once wild continent, the directory at the back of the book provides addresses and telephone numbers.

Using photographs, maps, charts, and time lines, this comprehensive volume portrays this century’s incredible events and developments from the Wright Brothers’ first flight to Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, up to the events of today. Organized conveniently by decade, each section begins by highlighting a prevailing issue of the day—America and Big Business, Women’s Suffrage, the 1924 Immigrations Restriction Act, the Great Depression, the Atomic Age, McCarthyism, Civil Rights, the Explosion of Mass Culture, the Rise of Conservatism, and the End of the Cold War. The 20th century brought forth the most dramatic advances ever made in a single century. No one tells it better than National Geographic Society.

A comprehensive family travel guide to the special attractions just off the major U.S. interstates. Includes 104 maps, 525 full-color photos, directions, distances, phone numbers, days of operation, plus dozens of sidebars on regional history, geography, and culture.