NG: Sacred Places of a Lifetime

National Geographic's Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations, is, without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite art books of all time. I full heartedly recommend this book to anyone of any inclination, because there is guaranteed to be something in it for you. Being National Geographic, the photographs are, as a matter of course, absolutely mesmerizing. The information is helpful, informative, unique, and leaves just enough for you to explore further if the flight takes your fancy. And the shear breath of images, ranging throughout the world, revered and forgotten, natural and man-made, daily and exclusive, the book can capture anyone's imagination. 

Most of the pages follow this layout, a single dominating image, a map indicating the location of the specific site in relation to the world and a brief description about what makes that place special. Then additional information is provided, such as what time of year is best to visit, where to stay, and how you should plan your visit, as well as any other highlights. 

The book is interspersed with groups of "Ten Sacred_____" These locations are not otherwise mentioned in the book, but you are given enough information to become interested, and research further if you so desire. 

The book also has a section dedicated to sacred celebrations. Focusing less on location, these event are all steeped in tradition.

Even modern places of remembrance are respected

Pros: Everything! This book is well bound, nice slick paper, wonderful photographs, evocative, inspiring, and very well rounded. In fact, this book was so successful, it helped to create the spinoffs by National Geographic, Secret Journey's of a Lifetime, and Drives of a Lifetime. This is a good solid book, pretty heavy, and wonderful for reference, inspiration, or just plan coffee table book. 

Cons: --

How to Buy: Amazon

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NG: Great Migrations

The National Geographic: Great Migrations book is a companion piece to the seven part TV series by the same name. While I haven't been fortunate enough to see the video footage, I can attest that the book is lovely. Like every National Geographic book, it contains absolutely spectacular photography, is terribly informative, and is preposterously cheap. If you are looking for inspirational books, you need not look any further. 

Like its brethren, this book does not disappoint. Great Migrations focuses on mass animal exodus and the effects that it creates on the world and animals around them. Ranging from the classic plains of the Serengeti, to the depths of the ocean, to the tiny world of the Christmas Island Crabs.

   

The book has a section that follows the flight of the Monarch butterfly. This image successfully collages the time lapse of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly

Army Ants links bodies to create a nest for the night before moving on the next day

Migrating Salmon

For the first month or so, Flying Fox babies will cling to their mothers as their mothers fly about foraging for food.

Even the elusive Whale Shark is followed. 

Pros: Good quality prints and paper. Hardback, it can take a beating. It's informative enough to make you want to see and ask more, a good over view of some better known, and lesser known animals. 

Cons: My only complaint is that there are a few pages like this one below, that are a strange layering of images. I think they are to give the impression and feeling in collage format of the area or animal being discussed. However, it makes it hard to use the images as reference or photographic enjoyment. But there are only a very small number of these pages 

How to Buy: Amazon

order it from an individual seller, and you can usually get it for under $5. I would also recommend looking at second hand bookstores, or discount places. Nat Geo books are often sold for a very low price at places like Costco, just keep your eyes peeled.