Books

National Geographic

Johan Reinhard's discovery of the 500-year-old frozen body of an Inca girl made international headlines in 1995, reaching more than a billion people worldwide. One of the best-preserved mummies ever found, it was a stunning and significant time capsule, the spectacular climax to an Andean quest that yielded no fewer than ten ancient human sacrifices as well as the richest collection of Inca artifacts in archaeological history. Here is the paperback edition of his first-person account, which The Washington Post called "incredible…compe lling and often astonishing" and The Wall Street Journal described as "… part adventure story, part detective story, and part memoir—an engaging look at a rarefied world." It's a riveting combination of mountaineering adventure, archaeological triumph,... Less

The challenge for young readers: follow the scientific quest to finding the world's first vaccines—and move towards a future of saving lives worldwide. Thanks to modern vaccines, many diseases, such as smallpox, cholera, and polio, have been virtually eradicated. Before the discovery of vaccines, however, epidemics killed thousands of people worldwide every year. Killing Germs, Saving Lives traces the path to the creation of the vaccines that revolutionized modern medicine. Young readers learn of the background to this historic quest through fascinating profiles of the men and women whose breakthroughs changed the world. Personal portraits of the scientists involved give aspiring young scientists a look at great figures like Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Florence Nightingale... Less

A natural choice for the millions of people turning to a healthier lifestyle, this book invites readers on a sumptuously illustrated walk through the world garden to discover the story of some 250 food plants from field to table. Illustrated with more than 500 images and written by top international horticultural and culinary experts, the sumptuous Edible explores the origins, history, and contemporary cultural and culinary uses of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, beverage plants, herbs, and spices. A rich introduction begins the book, revealing early agriculture and our "green" future. Then an eight-chapter "Food Directory" cameos individual plants, with reader friendly layouts framing each entry’s biography, botanical description, culinary role, and healing powers. In addition to the... Less

On September 11, 2011, the world will be watching as the National September 11 Memorial opens on the site of the World Trade Center. With photographs and architectural plans never before published, paired with comments in the very voices of those who witnessed the event, those who struggled in its shadow for days and months after, and those who have dedicated the years since to rebuilding a place of hope and meditation at Ground Zero, this book will stand apart from all the rest on the tenth anniversary of that world-changing event.  Heavily illustrated and elegantly designed, the book recalls the excitement and symbolism of the Twin Towers, the horror and chaos of the attack of 9/11, the fierce devotion and exhaustion as rescue of living victims became recovery of remains. But it also... Less

Mysterious boy king Tutankhamun returns to the U.S. in 2008, bringing rare treasures never before seen outside Egypt. For the millions of fans wanting a keepsake and chronicle of this magnificent new exhibition, this book will delight. Created by world-renowned art historians under the guidance of Zahi Hawass—director of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and a well-known media personality—it surveys 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history by focusing on the lives and lifestyles of great pharaohs. Master photographer Sandro Vannini spotlights every dazzling artifact, using an innovative technique that makes the image jump off the page. The book’s design echoes the exhibition, grouping objects representing family life, religious practices, funerary rituals, and gold. In each artifact—a... Less

Our children's understanding of the Muslim world has never been as important as it is today. As events in the Middle East affect world politics, and the Muslim community grows in the United States, knowledge of Islamic tradition and history are now crucial. Flora Geyer's informative, accessible book tells the story of the Crusades from a Muslim point of view. The narrative follows Saladin from his birth into a prominent Kurdish family in Tikrit, Mesopotamia, in 1138. His formative military career leads to Saladin's appointment as vizier of Egypt at 31. After revitalizing the Egyptian economy, Saladin initiates campaigns against smaller Muslim states, eventually uniting Islamic forces and dispelling rivalries that had long hampered the Muslim resistance to the Crusades. Inspired by... Less

Galileo made the first effective use of the refracting telescope to discover important new facts about astronomy. His observations led him to support Copernicus's claim that Earth and the other planets circled the sun. This conflicted with the teachings of the Catholic Church, and brought Galileo before the judges of the Inquisition. He spent his final years under house arrest.Galileo's genius lay in the way he approached scientific problems. He reduced problems to simple terms on the basis of experience and common-sense logic. Then he analyzed and resolved the problems according to simple mathematical descriptions, thus opening the way for the development of modern mathematical physics.

"Probably the most comprehensive history of black baseball available in one book…a must-read for any student of the game." — Cincinnati Enquirer "Hogan sets the teams and leagues in the cultural and economic context of the black experience and the communities in which they played, broadening the book's appeal to anyone interested in this fascinating chapter in American history." —The Christian Science Monitor "An outstanding tribute." —Linda Paige Shelby, daughter of Satchel Paige "An incredible story." —Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball Celebrating African America's contribution to our great national pastime, this comprehensive, lively history combines vivid narrative, visual impact, and newly discovered statistics to recreate the excitement and passion of the Negro... Less

No one thought that Elizabeth would live to become Queen of England. Her father, Henry VIII, beheaded her mother, Anne Bolyn, for treason in 1536. He then disowned his daughter, declaring her illegitimate. But in 1544, Parliament reestablished her in the line of succession after her half brother and her half sister.Endowed with immense personal courage and a keen awareness of her responsibility as a ruler, Elizabeth commanded throughout her reign the unwavering respect and allegiance of her subjects.

How to Get Rich in the California Gold Rush follows the adventures of the charming, witty, fictitious Thomas Hartley as a way of offering a fascinating and fully historical portrait of life in the California gold fields. Archival imagery pairs with delightful and humorous artwork to produce a visual feast for the eyes. The inimitable Mr. Hartley’s guide is a unique snapshot of a key period in the economic development of our country—and a fun romp through time.

The word jubilee means, among other things, "a celebration in anticipation of future happiness." Based on new scholarship by the Schomburg Center, Jubilee presents a fresh, new perspective on how enslaved Africans triumphed over slavery. Working as creative agents of their own destiny within the shackles of slavery, enslaved Africans reinvented themselves as a new people - a new American people - laying the foundations for truly unique African-American social, cultural, political, and economic expressions throughout the Western Hemisphere. With almost two hundred illustrations, including early slave ship manifests, manumission papers, early photographs of slaves and of freed African- Americans, paintings, and artifacts from shackles to freedom quilts.

Born in Rome around 100 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar grew up to lead of one of the world's greatest empires. A boy of fierce drive and ambition, he was tutored from the age of six. The teenage Gaius became head of his household at 16 and master of his own destiny. Caesar joined the military and at 22 he returned to Rome to begin his unstoppable rise to power. This National Geographic World History Biography leads readers through the intriguing world of Ancient Rome, with a time line, graphic illustrations of historical events, and maps of Rome and its far reaching empire.

Our most detailed wall map of Mexico, updated with National Geographic s rich, antique-inspired Executive styling. Features thousands of place names, accurate political boundaries, national parks including Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, biosphere reserves including El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, archeological sites including the ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula, and major infrastructure networks such as roads, canals, ferry routes, and railroads. Mexico s diverse terrain is detailed through accurate shaded relief, coastal bathymetry, and symbolism for water features and other land forms. Elevations of major peaks are expressed in both feet and meters, depth soundings are expressed in fathoms The Mexico Executive Wall Map is printed on high-quality 80# paper suitable for framing, with... Less

The third title in National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this book is for kids 4- to 8-years-old who LOVE dinos! The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations by Franco Tempesta—who illustrated Natio nal Geographic Kids The Ultimate Dinopedia. Bursti ng with fun facts and age appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers’ experience beyond the page.

For millennia, fields in their myriad forms have been among the most fundamental elements of the landscape of human civilization. Illustrated with 300 photographs and handsome linocut-style prints, the book explains how different landscapes, climates, and cultures produced a variety of field types, from the terraced rice paddies of Southeast Asia to the impenetrable hedgerows of Northwest Europe, each reflecting both ancient traditions and agricultural progress. We see how Old World methods were adapted to new environments like the American prairie, the Australian outback, the African veldt, and the Argentinean pampas. We trace the development of the implements we’ve devised to work our fields, from hand tools to modern tractors and mechanical harvesters.And as we learn to recognize... Less

The challenge for young readers: follow the scientific quest to finding the world's first vaccines—and move towards a future of saving lives worldwide. Thanks to modern vaccines, many diseases, such as smallpox, cholera, and polio, have been virtually eradicated. Before the discovery of vaccines, however, epidemics killed thousands of people worldwide every year. Killing Germs, Saving Lives traces the path to the creation of the vaccines that revolutionized modern medicine. Young readers learn of the background to this historic quest through fascinating profiles of the men and women whose breakthroughs changed the world. Personal portraits of the scientists involved give aspiring young scientists a look at great figures like Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, and Florence Nightingale... Less

Our most detailed wall map of Mexico, updated with the classic National Geographic reference styling. Features thousands of place names, accurate political boundaries, national parks including Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, biosphere reserves including El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, archeological sites including the ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula, and major infrastructure networks such as roads, canals, ferry routes, and railroads. Mexico s diverse terrain is detailed through accurate shaded relief, coastal bathymetry, and symbolism for water features and other land forms. Elevations of major peaks are expressed in both feet and meters, depth soundings are expressed in fathoms. Mexico Classic is printed on high-quality 80# paper suitable for framing, and is also available in a... Less

When she was a young girl, Narcissa loved nothing better than to read heroic tales about brave men and women risking their lives to bring Christian ideas to "barbarians" in far-off places. In 1831, her dream of doing the same was about to come true. That's when some Indians arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, looking for the "White Man's Book of Heaven." Their quest was the answer to Narcissa's prayers: She would bring salvation to "those wandering sons of our native forests. " Narcissa married Marcus Whitman, another missionary want-to-be, and they headed West. She spent her honeymoon riding side-saddle some 2,000 miles across the vast, often perilous trail to Oregon Country— something no other white woman had ever done. Then she and Marcus lived happily ever after singing hymns and... Less

Johan Reinhard's discovery of the 500-year-old frozen body of an Inca girl made international headlines in 1995, reaching more than a billion people worldwide. One of the best-preserved mummies ever found, it was a stunning and significant time capsule, the spectacular climax to an Andean quest that yielded no fewer than ten ancient human sacrifices as well as the richest collection of Inca artifacts in archaeological history. Here is the paperback edition of his first-person account, which The Washington Post called "incredible…compe lling and often astonishing" and The Wall Street Journal described as "… part adventure story, part detective story, and part memoir—an engaging look at a rarefied world." It's a riveting combination of mountaineering adventure, archaeological triumph,... Less