I have two shelves set aside for my sizable collection of books from The National Geographic Society. The Society's magazine National Geographic is known for two things: accurate scientific information and some of the finest photography to be found anywhere in the world. The reputation for accuracy has slipped a bit in the last few years, but the photography is still top-notch. Books published by the Society carry on this tradition, with very good information and stunning photography.
My NGS books tend to fall into two lines. One line consists of large, thick books that are extensive surveys of wide-ranging science or nature topics.
THE ADVENTURE OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Fagan, Brian M.
c.1985, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-603-7
AMERICA'S WONDERLANDS: OUR NATIONAL PARKS (3rd ed.)
c.1975, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-004-7
EXPLORING OUR LIVING PLANET
Ballard, Robert D.
c.1988, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-760-2
A look at modern geologic processes: volcanos, earthquakes, plate tectonics, continental drift, seafloor spreading. And yes, the author is the same Robert Ballard who is famous for his discoveries of shipwrecks, like RMS Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck.
EXPLORING THE DEEP FRONTIER: THE ADVENTURE OF MAN IN THE SEA
Earle and Giddings
c.1980, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-343-7
INTO THE UNKNOWN: THE STORY OF EXPLORATION
c.1987, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-695-9
LIVING ON THE EARTH
c.1988, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-734-3
MEN, SHIPS, AND THE SEA (2nd ed.)
Villiers, Captain Allen
c.1973, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-018-7
A review of the history of men, ships, and sea voyages over time.
MOUNTAIN WORLDS
c.1988, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-651-7
NATIONAL PARKS OF NORTH AMERICA
NGS
c.1995, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-2955-X
A survey of all the national parks of North America: Canadian, US, and Mexican.
OUR CONTINENT: A NATURAL HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA
c.1976, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-153-1
Survey of the history, geology, topography, and wildlife of North America.
OUR THREATENED INHERITANCE: NATURAL TREASURES OF THE UNITED STATES
Fisher, Ron
c.1984, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-536-7
A look at America's "natural treasures," the unique parks and other natural wonders that are threatened by overuse, pollution, and development. This is the Deluxe Edition, with a false-leather cover and high quality acid-free paper.
WILD ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA
National Geographic Society
c.1960, National Geographic Society
ISBN:
A look at major wildlife of North America. This is the first edition, published in 1960 before the conservation movement really got rolling and before really accurate information was avilable on some of these animals.
WILD ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA (Revised Ed.)
Various
c.1987, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-700-9
A look at major wildlife of North America. This is the revised edition, published in 1987, with more photographs and updated information.
WILDERNESS U.S.A.
c.1973, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-116-7
A look at US national parks and national forests.
THE WONDER OF BIRDS
Various
c.1983, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-471-9
THE WORLD OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
NGS
c.1974, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-151-5
A survey of Amerind tribes of the historic period, roughly 1500 to today.
The Society's second line of books consists of slim hardcovers, usually about half an inch thick and as long and wide as a sheet of paper, eight by eleven or so. These are like collections or expansions of NGS magazine articles -- though all the material is original, it doesn't go into much more depth than the magazine articles do.
ALASKA'S WILDLIFE TREASURES
Melham, Tom
c.1994, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-977-X
THE AMAZING UNIVERSE
Friedman, Herbert
c.1975, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-179-5
A survey of interstellar astronomy: stars, star clusters, other galaxies.
AMERICA'S ANCIENT CITIES
Stuart, Gene
c.1988, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-627-4
A look at a subject that doesn't get nearly enough attention: ancient cities of the Americas. Unfortunately, this book commits the same error as so many others do: it focuses on the American Southwest and the civilizations of Central America. Little attention is given to cultures such as the Moundbuilders of eastern North America.
AMERICA'S SPECTACULAR NORTHWEST
Madden, Robert
c.1982, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-363-1
A look at the nature of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the old growth forests.
AMERICA'S WILD WOODLANDS
NGS
c.1985, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-542-1
THE AMERICAN COWBOY IN LIFE AND LEGEND
McDowell, Bart
c.1972, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 1-87044-099-3
The title pretty much says it all: this is a survey of the American cowboy in fact and fiction.
ANIMAL KINGDOMS: WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES OF THE WORLD
c.1995, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-2734-4
A survey of the major wildlife sanctuaries of the world.
ANIMALS OF EAST AFRICA
Leakey, Louis S. B.
c.1969, National Geographic Society
ISBN:
A look at the animals of East Africa, written by the famous anthropologist and biologist Louis Leakey.
BLUE RIDGE RANGE: THE GENTLE MOUNTAINS
Fisher, Ron
c.1992, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-865-X
BUILDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD: MARVELS OF ENGINEERING
c.1986, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-585-5
THE GREAT SOUTHWEST
McCarry, Charles
c.1980, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-283-X
HIDDEN WORLDS OF WILDLIFE
c.1990, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-791-2
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LEWIS AND CLARK
Snyder, Gerald S.
c.1970, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-087-X
JOHN MUIR'S WILD AMERICA
Melham, Tom
c.1976, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-186-8
THE MARVELS OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
c.1972, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-105-1
MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
c.1979, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-254-6
MYSTERIES OF MANKIND: EARTH'S UNEXPLAINED LANDMARKS
Various
c.1992, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-864-1
NATURE'S WORLD OF WONDERS
c.1983, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-439-5
NEW ENGLAND: LAND OF SCENIC SPLENDOR
Various
c.1989, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-715-7
OUR AWESOME EARTH: ITS MYSTERIES AND ITS SPLENDORS
NGS
c.1986, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-545-6
OUR CHANGING EARTH
Canby, Thomas
c.1994, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-910-9
THE ROCKIES: PILLARS OF A CONTINENT
Thybony, Scott
c.1996, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-2940-1
VOYAGES TO PARADISE: EXPLORING IN THE WAKE OF CAPTAIN COOK
Gray, William R.
c.1981, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-284-8
Captain James Cook RN is famous for his explorations of the islands of the South Pacific. This book follows in his path, visiting several of the islands he found and put on the maps.
WILD LANDS FOR WILDLIFE: AMERICA'S NATIONAL REFUGES
Grove, Noel
c.1984, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-482-4
WILD SHORES OF AUSTRALIA
Fisher, Ron
c.1996, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-2946-0
YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY: THE ENDURING WONDER
Fishbein, Seymour
c.1989, National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-87044-713-0
A look at Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone region, done in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC's usual very high quality.
