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Daily Joy: 365 Days of Inspiration

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This 365-photo-a-day motivational photography book unites inspiring words of joy with lovely National Geographic images of the world—a perfect gift to keep on your bedside table to read just before bed or first thing in the morning. Crafted in the tradition of the successful Offerings series from Abrams/Stewart Tabori & Chang, Daily Joy's elegant design features 365 days of gorgeous National Geographic photography, each one paired with a meaningful quotation, meditation, or thought that will help readers find joy every day of the year. Each month has a theme, and all the quotes are centered around it:

January/Renewal:  "Just where you are--that's the place to start." --Pema Chodron
February/Love:  "Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls." --Khalil Gibran
March/Authenticity:  "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." --Mahatma Gandhi
April/Growth:  "A jug fills drop by drop." --Buddha
May/Courage: "It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it has to have tried and succeeded." --Anne Morrow Lindbergh
June/Perspective: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." --J. K. Rowling
July/Adventure: "Life itself is the proper binge." --Julia Child
August/Freedom: "Freedom is from within." --Frank Lloyd Wright
September/Purpose:  "The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause." --Mark Twain
October/Fulfillment: "Ah! There's nothing like staying home for real comfort." --Jane Austen
November/Wisdom:  "Sleep is the best meditation." --The Dalai Lama
December/Faith: "Peace is always beautiful." --Walt Whitman 

As poet John Keats wrote, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," and readers will turn to Daily Joy year after year to find wonder, awe, and happiness in the world around them.

528 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2012

13 people are currently reading
80 people want to read

About the author

National Geographic Society

4,223 books1,116 followers
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Nada.
1,330 reviews19 followers
August 19, 2013
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...

Daily Joy combines two of my favorite things - National Geographic photography and inspirational quotes. It is a small coffee table book - about 6 inches square and about two inches high. It contains a photograph and a quote for each day of the year. Some days are one page, and some photographs are two pages across.

Each month has a theme: renewal, love, authenticity, growth, courage, perspective, adventure, freedom, purpose, fulfillment, wisdom, and faith. The quote contributors range from Roald Dahl to the Dalai Lama; from Ella Fitzgerald to Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The photographs, of course, are from the photographers who contribute to the National Geographic Society.

I love this book for many reasons. First and foremost, it combines two of my favorite things. Second, the size is a very comfortable - not so small that it's somewhat pointless, not so large that it can't be comfortably held. The feel of the paper is substantial and pleasant to the touch. The book includes an alphabetic list of quote contributors and a list of the photographic credits.

The quality of the photography is awesome as you would expect from the National Geographic Society. The quotes are inspirational. This book sits on my nightstand. Some days, I find myself flipping through and just admiring the beauty of the images. Some days I find my drawing inspiration from the quotes. Usually, I find myself just flipping the book open and enjoying whatever that page presents. I have not been disappointed yet.
Profile Image for Sara..
29 reviews24 followers
December 31, 2017
My 2017 book.. Thank you so much for making this year memorable <3
So, this yearly type book has introduced me to new writers and new books (The Power of Now for e.g.) and I started practicing meditation because of that book! Such a lovely friend to start the day with, with its amazing illustrations which I found super fascinating.. I also love the concept of different themes in each month, I think that is exciting.
1,200 reviews33 followers
January 1, 2023
This is one of a series of four published by National Geographic. The daily photographs are beautiful, sometimes unbelievable, colorful and each day has a quotation by someone (maybe someone famous, maybe someone I never heard of). I am usually a joyful person but this daily photo and quote was just icing on the cake. The book is wonderful. I discovered this series last year and then purchased several for friends. It is a beautiful book, well worth the price and is a delightful gift. I can't wait to get into the third book of the series next year. A beautiful photo and an inspiring quote. Who could ask for anything more?
Profile Image for David Roberts.
Author 1 book18 followers
December 23, 2023
This is the fourth in the series that I have read. Beautifulpictures, beautiful quotes. It is remarkable what a good job they did with putting this all together.

Great daily visual and intellectual inspiration here.

Normally I give these books five starts, but this one was missing 14 days of pages, and when I called National Geographic they said there was nothing that they could do about it!
Profile Image for Barbara.
987 reviews10 followers
December 26, 2023
Daily Joy: 365 Days of Inspiration by National Geographic Society was a shared reading with my husband this year. We started each day with one of the spiritual quotes and a beautiful picture. It’s a great book for sharing, short with engaging photos. We had purchased a used copy and the print wasn’t quite as dark as we’d like, but that didn’t detract from the experience. Definitely a good read!
Profile Image for Brian Choate.
25 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2025
I like having a "daily" reflection book each year. You know the kind. 365 days of Rumi or 365 days of Buddhist thought. I like spiritual and uplifting or at least thought provoking. I definitely stay away from anything that gets too deep into being preachy or religious. This book was perfect for what I like. Beautiful photos every day and a short quote.
Profile Image for Sue Ronnenkamp.
249 reviews
December 31, 2017
This was my second round through this one. I love the National Geographic Daily Readers with their gorgeous photos and meaningful quotes. I have a new one for 2018 - Daily Kindness. Can’t wait to dig in tomorrow. 😊
Profile Image for SmarterLilac.
1,376 reviews69 followers
May 19, 2017
Could make a fun coffee table book. Bonus points for the offering on my birthday--my favorite Stephen King quote: 'Sooner or later, even the strongest runners have to stand and fight.'
Profile Image for Haya ald56.
87 reviews5 followers
May 20, 2017
جدا ممتاز حق شخص مبدئي في تعلم لغة الانقليزي هو اقتباسات جدا رائع
Profile Image for Emilee.
152 reviews5 followers
December 13, 2018
It’s just that I’m a sucker for prose and poetry, and photographs of the beautiful. Opens my mind and soul simultaneously—can’t get more refreshing than that!
Profile Image for Danielle Palmer.
1,100 reviews15 followers
December 11, 2022
The pictures are amazing, I’ve read a lot of the quotes before. For someone unfamiliar with a wide range of quotes, this would probably be more impactful.
Profile Image for Sue Ronnenkamp.
249 reviews
January 1, 2023
I love these daily readers for inspiration and beauty! I have a whole collection by now. These Are perfect if you want one book that lasts all year long and never disappoints. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Profile Image for Aunt B.
23 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2025
Have given this book as a gift to a few women friends. Beautiful National Geographic pictures.
Joyful and inspirational as the title says.
Profile Image for Debbie Hoskins.
Author 1 book58 followers
January 27, 2014
This is my first-thing-in-the morning-daily-reader for this year. The photographs are gorgeous and sometimes illustrate the theme of the month and the quote unusually and creatively. The themes and quotes are thought-provoking and often inspiring. I like the quick information that includes the dates the person lived and a 4 to 10 word summary about the quoter at the back of the book.
Profile Image for Aileen.
777 reviews
January 4, 2016
I started this 1st Jan last year, and managed to keep on track until the last few days of December. This page-a-day book of inspirational quotes coupled with some really beautiful photographs is definitely a keeper, and one that I will dip into time and time again.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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