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National Geographic Almanac 2019: Hot New Science - Incredible Photographs - Maps, Facts, Infographics & More
A one-of-a-kind annual featuring surprising facts, stunning color photos, arresting infographics, and illuminating maps that present the world in a whole new way.
An almanac like you've never seen before, this arresting volume features key information on science, nature, history, and geography, spiked with cutting-edge ideas and spectacular visuals. Discover features that only National Geographic can deliver, including exquisite photography, explanatory infographics, illustrated timelines, and maps created by expert cartographers. Chapters include Exploration & Adventure, This Planet & Beyond, Life on Earth, and The Science of Us; featured topics range from the polar jet stream and how chameleons change colors to the world's biggest cities and the science of addiction. It includes top travel trends, new explorations, and recent discoveries, as well as fascinating trivia. Enlightening for young and old, exquisitely designed, each page of this special almanac reveals something new about today's world.
An almanac like you've never seen before, this arresting volume features key information on science, nature, history, and geography, spiked with cutting-edge ideas and spectacular visuals. Discover features that only National Geographic can deliver, including exquisite photography, explanatory infographics, illustrated timelines, and maps created by expert cartographers. Chapters include Exploration & Adventure, This Planet & Beyond, Life on Earth, and The Science of Us; featured topics range from the polar jet stream and how chameleons change colors to the world's biggest cities and the science of addiction. It includes top travel trends, new explorations, and recent discoveries, as well as fascinating trivia. Enlightening for young and old, exquisitely designed, each page of this special almanac reveals something new about today's world.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2018
8 people are currently reading
1914 people want to read
About the author
National Geographic Society
4,225 books1,122 followersThe 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.
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 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 6, 2019
This is a really cool book!
Being that it’s produced by National Geographic, the whole book is very colorful, from the Contents to the “Quiz Master(s)” to the timelines, maps, datelines, top picks, photographs, quotes, and more, this book just screams, “Pick Me Up!”
This book is broken down into sections: Trending 2019, Exploration & Adventure, This Planet & Beyond, Life on Earth, The Science of Us, Yesterday to Tomorrow and Our World. As the end of the book is a list of Credits and an Index.
Each section is broken down into subsections or tiny chapters that pack in A LOT of information in a compact amount of pages.
Some of the more interesting things I learned:
Don’t Spread Germs (AND, Don’t Read This if you’re a Germaphobe!) – NASA has created the Office of Planetary Protection to protect us from the solar system and, equally important, to protect the solar system from us. To keep human missions from infecting the planets they visit, the goal is to keep the craft so clean that fewer than 300,000 bacteria can be found on its exterior. That may sound like a lot, but the skin on your hands can contain 4.6 million bacteria!
Plastic – The first plastics were invented in 1869 to create substitutes for ivory. Plastics are a wondrous group of materials. They can be as soft as a pair of nylons or as solid as a sewer pipe. What’s more they’re easy to create and hard to break down. This is great for manufacturing and durability but hard on planet Earth. There was much discussion about the various types of plastics and recycling in this book and yet we continue on the same path. On an interesting note, scientists have discovered species of bacteria that can break down petroleum-based plastics. However, even with this advancement, I often wonder, if we’re so concerned with our planet, why don’t we go back to doing things the way we used to – pop / milk in glass or cardboard containers, grocery sacks made of paper instead of plastic, etc?
Do you know all of the names of the full moons and what month each falls in?
“It isn’t our God-given right to explore space, to go back to the moon or go to Mars. It isn’t an entitlement, or some king do “manifest destiny” … The United States of America made a commitment as a nation, and we poured the resources into the program, developed a strategy and architecture, and stuck to it when times got tough. If you don’t do all of these things, you won’t ever go to the moon, or Mars, or an asteroid, or anywhere. – Terry Virts, Astronaut and Author
Projections suggest we will add 2.4 BILLION people to the world’s population by 2050, with nearly 90 percent of the increase happening in the cities of Asia and Africa.
The whole discussion on Green Cities vs Smart Cities (check out San Diego, CA), and especially Slums, was particularly intriguing. It’ll be interesting to see where urban planning goes in the future, as the population continues to multiply.
Explore Your Country! Adventure enthusiasts from all over the world travel to the United States to explore stunning national parks, trek iconic trails, and immerse themselves in America’s vast wilderness. “Absolutely American, Absolutely Democratic, [National Parks] reflect us at our best.” – Wallace Stegner, Author and Environmentalist
Each state has its own unique landscape, packed with outdoor activities for everyone. Even though Ohio was not included, I would highly recommend that people check out Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as Hocking Hills State Park!
Rock Climber, Alex Honnold is INSANE! On June 3, 2017, Honnold became the first person ever to free solo climb El Capitan’s rock face. For those of you that don’t know, free soloing is when a climber is alone and uses no ropes or any other equipment (except shoes and a chalk bag) that aids or protects him as he climbs, leaving ZERO margin for error!
The information about Rebuilding the World Trade Center was interesting. It’s hard to believe we are fast approaching the 20th anniversary. Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?
Even though I’m not what you would call a movie buff, it was still fascinating to look at the On Location Destinations. Did you know that the Star Wars movies have been filmed all over the world? Check out this book to find out where!
Also, there is a list of Movie Sets You Can Visit, including Schindler’s List in Plaszow Camp, Poland.
America’s Best Eats – Wow! It’s hard enough to narrow down cuisine to a specific geographic area, but to narrow it down to just three foods for each of four regions – West Coast, Midwest, South, and Northeast – AMAZING! Also, I loved the quote, “Use food as a window to cultural diversity.” – Aziz Abu Sarah, Cultural Educator
This is a good resource to use for developing an “Emergency Kit” to have in case of a tornado, etc. (p. 107)
The conversation about Rising Sea Level was gripping, and yet, we continue to build along our coastlines. Is this really in our best interests?
Feeding the World – Did you know that today, only 55 percent of the world’s crop calories feed people directly? The rest are fed to livestock (about 36%) or turned into biofuels and industrial products (9%).
Eating Insects – Yes, This really is a trend …As incomes rise in developing countries, so too does the demand for meat. But raising livestock uses a lot of resources. Eating insects – already common in many tropical countries – could be an alternative. Beetles and crickets, for example, are packed with nutrients and provide protein at a low environmental cost.
Palatability, however, does pose a problem. YUCK! To disguise their form, insects can be processed into powders or pastes. The number of known edible species is currently 2000 and, more than 2 BILLION people eat insects. Also, in Uganda, a pound of grasshoppers costs 40% more than a pound of beef. You Are Welcome!
Moving right along … “You can’t measure happiness. It’s really a composite of things: health, emotions, the way you evaluate your life, and the extent to which you’re living your values.” Dan Buettner, The Blue Zones of Happiness
The information provided on Antibiotic Resistance was riveting. Many companies such as Perdue Farms (think chicken) have stopped using antibiotics and other drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. However, even though some change has taken place, as of 2015, antibiotics given to meat animals around the world still totaled 126 MILLION pounds!
Cold or Flu? Americans alone suffer a billion colds each year, but a cure for the common cold continues to elude scientists. The dominant cold-causing viruses are known as rhinoviruses. These are not to be confused with influenza viruses, which cause the flu and for which vaccines have been developed. (Each year, a vaccine for the most prevalent flu strains is released.) The challenge with developing a vaccine for rhinoviruses is assembling one that covers more than 100 strains of the virus. A flu shot targets just three.
Eleanor Roosevelt, called the “First Lady of the World,” traveled over 40,000 miles in her first year as first lady. Also, in 1945, she was named a delegate to the United Nations by President Harry S. Truman.
Want to find out some basic information about our U.S. Territories, including the District of Columbia (and how they function)? Check out this book to learn more!
This book made me think and more than once … Breaking this down into our small(er) segment - We have many problems in our country and yet all most of us do is talk / argue about the state of the country, environment (including climate change and recycling). I even have friends who want change, but are resigned and say, “It’s always been this way.” I don’t see any group of people (republicans or democrats) steering us in a different direction or getting us out of the orbit we are currently traveling. We could always start small – no more plastic grocery bags – provide your own or go back to paper, except some politician or group of politicians has gotten a hefty kickback to maintain the status quo. Any book that makes me think how to do things better / differently ranks high in my world.
Fabulously Well Done!
Being that it’s produced by National Geographic, the whole book is very colorful, from the Contents to the “Quiz Master(s)” to the timelines, maps, datelines, top picks, photographs, quotes, and more, this book just screams, “Pick Me Up!”
This book is broken down into sections: Trending 2019, Exploration & Adventure, This Planet & Beyond, Life on Earth, The Science of Us, Yesterday to Tomorrow and Our World. As the end of the book is a list of Credits and an Index.
Each section is broken down into subsections or tiny chapters that pack in A LOT of information in a compact amount of pages.
Some of the more interesting things I learned:
Don’t Spread Germs (AND, Don’t Read This if you’re a Germaphobe!) – NASA has created the Office of Planetary Protection to protect us from the solar system and, equally important, to protect the solar system from us. To keep human missions from infecting the planets they visit, the goal is to keep the craft so clean that fewer than 300,000 bacteria can be found on its exterior. That may sound like a lot, but the skin on your hands can contain 4.6 million bacteria!
Plastic – The first plastics were invented in 1869 to create substitutes for ivory. Plastics are a wondrous group of materials. They can be as soft as a pair of nylons or as solid as a sewer pipe. What’s more they’re easy to create and hard to break down. This is great for manufacturing and durability but hard on planet Earth. There was much discussion about the various types of plastics and recycling in this book and yet we continue on the same path. On an interesting note, scientists have discovered species of bacteria that can break down petroleum-based plastics. However, even with this advancement, I often wonder, if we’re so concerned with our planet, why don’t we go back to doing things the way we used to – pop / milk in glass or cardboard containers, grocery sacks made of paper instead of plastic, etc?
Do you know all of the names of the full moons and what month each falls in?
“It isn’t our God-given right to explore space, to go back to the moon or go to Mars. It isn’t an entitlement, or some king do “manifest destiny” … The United States of America made a commitment as a nation, and we poured the resources into the program, developed a strategy and architecture, and stuck to it when times got tough. If you don’t do all of these things, you won’t ever go to the moon, or Mars, or an asteroid, or anywhere. – Terry Virts, Astronaut and Author
Projections suggest we will add 2.4 BILLION people to the world’s population by 2050, with nearly 90 percent of the increase happening in the cities of Asia and Africa.
The whole discussion on Green Cities vs Smart Cities (check out San Diego, CA), and especially Slums, was particularly intriguing. It’ll be interesting to see where urban planning goes in the future, as the population continues to multiply.
Explore Your Country! Adventure enthusiasts from all over the world travel to the United States to explore stunning national parks, trek iconic trails, and immerse themselves in America’s vast wilderness. “Absolutely American, Absolutely Democratic, [National Parks] reflect us at our best.” – Wallace Stegner, Author and Environmentalist
Each state has its own unique landscape, packed with outdoor activities for everyone. Even though Ohio was not included, I would highly recommend that people check out Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as Hocking Hills State Park!
Rock Climber, Alex Honnold is INSANE! On June 3, 2017, Honnold became the first person ever to free solo climb El Capitan’s rock face. For those of you that don’t know, free soloing is when a climber is alone and uses no ropes or any other equipment (except shoes and a chalk bag) that aids or protects him as he climbs, leaving ZERO margin for error!
The information about Rebuilding the World Trade Center was interesting. It’s hard to believe we are fast approaching the 20th anniversary. Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?
Even though I’m not what you would call a movie buff, it was still fascinating to look at the On Location Destinations. Did you know that the Star Wars movies have been filmed all over the world? Check out this book to find out where!
Also, there is a list of Movie Sets You Can Visit, including Schindler’s List in Plaszow Camp, Poland.
America’s Best Eats – Wow! It’s hard enough to narrow down cuisine to a specific geographic area, but to narrow it down to just three foods for each of four regions – West Coast, Midwest, South, and Northeast – AMAZING! Also, I loved the quote, “Use food as a window to cultural diversity.” – Aziz Abu Sarah, Cultural Educator
This is a good resource to use for developing an “Emergency Kit” to have in case of a tornado, etc. (p. 107)
The conversation about Rising Sea Level was gripping, and yet, we continue to build along our coastlines. Is this really in our best interests?
Feeding the World – Did you know that today, only 55 percent of the world’s crop calories feed people directly? The rest are fed to livestock (about 36%) or turned into biofuels and industrial products (9%).
Eating Insects – Yes, This really is a trend …As incomes rise in developing countries, so too does the demand for meat. But raising livestock uses a lot of resources. Eating insects – already common in many tropical countries – could be an alternative. Beetles and crickets, for example, are packed with nutrients and provide protein at a low environmental cost.
Palatability, however, does pose a problem. YUCK! To disguise their form, insects can be processed into powders or pastes. The number of known edible species is currently 2000 and, more than 2 BILLION people eat insects. Also, in Uganda, a pound of grasshoppers costs 40% more than a pound of beef. You Are Welcome!
Moving right along … “You can’t measure happiness. It’s really a composite of things: health, emotions, the way you evaluate your life, and the extent to which you’re living your values.” Dan Buettner, The Blue Zones of Happiness
The information provided on Antibiotic Resistance was riveting. Many companies such as Perdue Farms (think chicken) have stopped using antibiotics and other drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. However, even though some change has taken place, as of 2015, antibiotics given to meat animals around the world still totaled 126 MILLION pounds!
Cold or Flu? Americans alone suffer a billion colds each year, but a cure for the common cold continues to elude scientists. The dominant cold-causing viruses are known as rhinoviruses. These are not to be confused with influenza viruses, which cause the flu and for which vaccines have been developed. (Each year, a vaccine for the most prevalent flu strains is released.) The challenge with developing a vaccine for rhinoviruses is assembling one that covers more than 100 strains of the virus. A flu shot targets just three.
Eleanor Roosevelt, called the “First Lady of the World,” traveled over 40,000 miles in her first year as first lady. Also, in 1945, she was named a delegate to the United Nations by President Harry S. Truman.
Want to find out some basic information about our U.S. Territories, including the District of Columbia (and how they function)? Check out this book to learn more!
This book made me think and more than once … Breaking this down into our small(er) segment - We have many problems in our country and yet all most of us do is talk / argue about the state of the country, environment (including climate change and recycling). I even have friends who want change, but are resigned and say, “It’s always been this way.” I don’t see any group of people (republicans or democrats) steering us in a different direction or getting us out of the orbit we are currently traveling. We could always start small – no more plastic grocery bags – provide your own or go back to paper, except some politician or group of politicians has gotten a hefty kickback to maintain the status quo. Any book that makes me think how to do things better / differently ranks high in my world.
Fabulously Well Done!
November 16, 2019
I have really enjoyed reading sections of Nat Geo's almanac daily for the past month or so. There are so many fascinating tidbits in here about ourselves, other live on this plant, and the universe surrounding us. Everything from conservation to new discoveries in thermal vents, to anthropology is covered. While I don't know that I would spend money on the almanac for myself, I'm very happy that I got it in the library, and it would make a great addition to anyone's coffee table. It would also make a great present for someone on your list who is a science geek. :) Given 5 stars or a rating of "perfect" because of the astounding work that went into all the beautiful pictures, and because of the many factoids that I learned.
November 11, 2018
Excellent facts, stunningly beautiful pictures. I would expect nothing less from National Geographic.
November 22, 2018
"EXPLORE THE world through stunning photos, engaging stories, and illuminating maps in this new annual from national geographic".
This book not only talks about things going on in the world today such as plastics, global warming, genetics etc but also displays information from around the world with maps, key date information, timelines throughout history and top ten and top 5 information boxes with factual and interesting information detailed within them.
I can't put this book down. There is so much information to be learnt and so many interesting and beautiful pictures displayed that every night I pick it up and get absorbed into it.
This book is a must read for anyone with concerns about the planet and environment, global warming, nature, history, travel, culture, genetics, space, technology and medicine!
This book not only talks about things going on in the world today such as plastics, global warming, genetics etc but also displays information from around the world with maps, key date information, timelines throughout history and top ten and top 5 information boxes with factual and interesting information detailed within them.
I can't put this book down. There is so much information to be learnt and so many interesting and beautiful pictures displayed that every night I pick it up and get absorbed into it.
This book is a must read for anyone with concerns about the planet and environment, global warming, nature, history, travel, culture, genetics, space, technology and medicine!
March 5, 2019
'National Geographic's Almanac 2019' is a beautiful new edition full of interesting facts, beautiful pictures, and stories to expand the reader's mind. The book is divided up into sections and chapters, and inside the pages a ton of information is presented. The reader gets to know the latest in science topics such as genetics, space travel and exploration, and natural phenomena. I liked the time lines presented at the beginning of each part - it was interesting seeing how far we've come in so many different areas. The pictures were gorgeous and I took a ton of time just looking through them all and reading the captions about them. Other highlights include little biographies on important people in different fields and how they're changing the world, lots of great illustrations and graphics to go along with the chapters and stories, and very interesting information that I wouldn't have known about if I didn't read the Almanac. I definitely suggest that readers of all ages check out this new edition of National Geographic's Almanac as it has something for everyone and tons to learn.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2019
National Geographic Almanac 2019 by the National Geographic Society (National Geographic Books 2018) (031.02). The editors at the National Geographic Society have once again demonstrated how to produce excellence in print. The ability to generate educational and informative books that also entertain is the National Geographic standard. The National Geographic Almanac 2019 is no exception. There are a couple of pages devoted to bringing readers up to date on the leading edges of every facet of exploration, research, and invention. There is also indispensible traditional almanac information as well. How could readers consider themselves well-informed unless photos of the flags of each country were at their fingertips?
This is a great source of information. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 6/8/19.
This is a great source of information. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 6/8/19.
November 9, 2018
How long has it been since you've wandered through an almanac? Almanacs have always been a delightful source of a broad range of interesting information, and this is no exception. Open it to any page and see not only beautiful National Geographic photographs, but fascinating short articles and facts about intriguing topics. There are quizzes, timelines, brief biographies of important scientists and inventors, scientific breakthroughs, and plenty of relevant information that would be perfect for starting conversations anywhere you might go. It's really fabulous. I hope they plan to do this every year.
December 10, 2018
This is a very well written book with lovely illustrations. The book covers a vast number of topics, some more interesting than others. Some of the included subjects are astronomy, animals, people and the world as a whole. I liked the sections about the world's prognosis as well as the sections on trending topics such as gene splicing.
December 17, 2018
I love this book. It is amazing with its information, beautiful photography and interesting maps. One of my favorite parts is the "Quiz Master". There are these questions that have you search for the answers. It is really fun.
February 1, 2019
Okay I'll poop on everyone's parade here. I miss the days when almanacs were organized. This is designed for kids who have the attention spans of gnats. FACTOID! PICTURE! IRRELEVANT WORDS! PRETTY! PRETTY! PRETTY! Meh. I miss my nerdy charts.
December 4, 2023
Interesting facts about our world, plus little vignettes about prominent people in their fields and/or issues we are facing on this ever changing Earth.
Throw in some Nat Geo photos, and, well, what's not to like?
Throw in some Nat Geo photos, and, well, what's not to like?
December 10, 2018
Many great photos and bite sized articles about various aspects of our lives, the earth, and the universe along with historical timelines
December 17, 2018
Very interesting! Enjoying it!
Want to read
July 2, 2019Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.
August 24, 2025
Learned a lot 😁 10/10
March 10, 2019
It was very interesting and I loved it!
Read
March 17, 2019GODLIKE
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews