Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

by D.K. Publishing

A landmark in reference publishing and overseen and authenticated by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, Natural History presents an unrivaled visual survey of Earth's natural history. Giving a clear overview of the classification of our natural world-over 6,000 species-Natural History looks at every kingdom of life, from bacteria, minerals, and rocks to fossils to plants and animals. Featuring a remarkable array of specially commissioned photographs, Natural History looks at thousands of specimens and species displayed in visual galleries that take the reader on an incredible journey from the most fundamental building blocks of the world's landscapes, through the simplest of life forms, to plants, fungi, and animals.

Genres: Science, Nature, Nonfiction, Reference, History, Biology, Natural History

648 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in this day of internet-(almost) everywhere, books like this are valuable. The page-by-page organization reveals so much about our world that bouncing around on the Web would not. Children and autodidacts (like me) can readily zoom in on the notes about the most interesting-looking samples, discover that there's not enough information there, and then go to the internet to learn more.

It definitely does not stand alone, however, as each entry is so very brief. Books like Actual Size are necessary, for example, because even though a size note is given for each critter, adjacent examples are not at all to scale. Also, the blurbs are random: some mention only color, some only habitat, some only prevalence, etc.

I really appreciate the 'debate' boxes that emphasize the concept of 'science as a verb,' so to speak. Too often scientific information has been presented as established fact; this book reminds the reader that scientists are constantly working towards better understandings. For example, I learned from this that pandas are, after all, sufficiently akin to black, brown, and polar bears to be called 'panda bears.' (Of course, the incorrectness of 'koala bears' stands.)

I learned lots of interesting stuff. For example, did you know that Mangos and Cashews are of the same family, and that they are of the same order as Maples and Citrus? And check out the markings on the Blue-Ringed Octopus!

Even though I did not read every word (who could?!) I did spend a full moment, at least, on every page, and so I am counting it as 'read.'

[Rini · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was hesitant - It was $50, it was heavy and hard to carry, how would I ever explain it to my mother? But in the year that I've owned it, this book has sustained me through many sick days passed out on the couch and lazy days when TV sucks and times when I just needed to shut everything out and look at pictures of owls and flowers.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously photographed visual dictionary of living life on earth. I checked this out so my ESL student and I can go over some vocabulary and pronunciation. This would also make a great coffee table book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a BEAUTIFUL book, fascinating for kids and adults (especially once we flipped past a little evolution and global warming on the first few pages). A good Christmas gift for the whole family...

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own thousands of books. My fiancée owns more than I do. This book has made me happier than any book I've ever owned. The only word I can think of to describe it is: it made me breathless. Ok, that is 4 words, but it IS amazing.



Had to add: BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, my mom had a set of encyclopedia's I couldn't keep my hands off. This book instantly reminded me of that set, only if it came all in one book.
There is everything from the animal kingdom, plant life and even stones and crystals. All that is created seems to be featured in this book.
I will note, the publisher website states ages 18 and up, and I am glad for that, though I think younger teens would enjoy this book. I just found it to be very adult in terms, so small children will enjoy the photos, but not understand any of the terms used.
It is still one of those books you can read time and time again. And would be great for helping in Science class.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is quite a hefty book, it is well worth its weight! As both a nature lover and a lover of facts, this book was right up my alley. This book is like walking into a really nice natural history museum and being blown away by how beautiful it is. You’ll walk around all day telling people new facts you’ve picked up. I was particularly interested in Pele’s Hair; it’s really cool!

[Regina Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly is an amazing book. Although I wish for a little more information - but I think otherwise this book would explode! It was a very nice and a thoughtful gift, from a very dear friend. I have read this book a couple times since my birthday and still skimming though it.
Thank you Kasia.

[Andrea Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover, as I usually do with books like this. The pictures are phenomenal and the information is just right. If you're into the natural history of the world, this is a must have for your book collection.

[David Skies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth? Where was my picture, DK Publishing? Where?

[Megha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just makes me pure happy.

[Des Larsen || AdventuresOfToday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book.
It has caused many, many hours of accidental research, and I'm sure there will still be many more.

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One has to hand it to DK publications. They know how to put books together with remarkable photography and beautiful layouts. In addition, with this book, the structure and content is really well put together. Of course, it's impossible to cover all species in detail but they have made a valiant attempt to give a comprehensive picture of most living things (or, at least, the Phyla to which they belong). And, I learned that the Dicotyledons of the plant kingdom are now know as the Eudicotyledons. With all that concentrated firepower with their photography...why oh why have they opted to present a stuffed and dried Platypus with its ruffled fur, sad eye and dried out bill. Actually, If you really want to know something in detail....say about the lichens, then you are not going to find it. It is too superficial (despite the wonderful photos). But I found the tree of life at the start to be really helpful....even if "trees of life" seem to be going out of fashion. Especially helpful with the relationships between the very early form of life such as Archea, Bacteria, Protocists...though I note the omission of any role for virus and bacteriophage and the Archezoa. Though Classification of living organisms seems to be a constantly moving feast. I probably would not have bought the book if I had to pay the full price but I was able to pick it ups for a song at a charity sale...so really hard to pass up. I confess, I really like to book. Five stars from me.

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This encyclopedia features some of the highest quality photographs of any DK book, making it a worthwhile purchase.

The universe we live in is truly beautiful, and it proves that there are many types of life on this earth, including animals, plants, insects, flowers, trees, bacteria, and germs.

Any life doesn't want to die. They just don't want to die.
So they try to live in the moment desperately.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite the tome! But what a big beautiful book it is. I never tire of reading about the wonders of our world and remembering we are stewards of it and , really, there is so much more to the world than us. The incredible adaptations that living creatures , from the most minuscule to the huge, make to survive. The amazing formation of the earth itself. It is a wonder and so much we don’t know.

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book with lots of photographs of different species. It can teach people of new species that they never knew existed and help re-engage people with nature. Its views on topics such as climate change and evolution are informative and respectful. A useful book for your bookshelves.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had beautiful pictures and wonderful overviews and tidbits of info on each subject in the book. I enjoyed reading it.

[Kevin Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty amazing photos and just sheer scale of the book … I flipped and flipped and flipped and kept coming upon amazing things about life on Earth

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing pictures!

[Ming's fantasy myth library · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars
my kind of nature science book

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dk publishing books are a great resource for kids

[Joel Olsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic book!

[Joy Barnett]

Name: Joy Barnett
Type: Almanac
Title: Natural History: The Ultimate visual Guide to Everything on Earth
Call Number: RF. 508. NAT
Description: The entries are first organized by category. For example, “Living Earth”, “Minerals, Rocks, and Fossils,” “Microscopic life,” “Plants,” “Fungi,” and “Animals.” The book begins with a general introduction to life on earth, then features the categories listed above. Each entry features a detailed entry, scientific terms, and color photographs.
Reviewed: Cannon, N. (2010 Oct.). [Review of book Natural history: The ultimate visual guide to everything on earth. Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Natural...
Criteria: Scope: This text is focus on science and covers a very wide range of biological terms as they pertain to our earth.
Accuracy/Authority: This text proves its authority and accuracy because it covers such a wide range of terms and a great number of terms. DK Publishing is a publisher well known for reference texts.
Arrangement/ Presentation: Each entry features a common language terms paired with its scientific term. There are also multiple colored photographs paired with the informational entry.
Relation to other works: This text is not part of a series in the library but the reference section features several DK texts that heavily rely on photographs.
Accessibility/ Diversity: This text is appropriate for high school students in reading level and in content. This text fits with the biology curriculum, particularly for their final “creature project” that involves research.
Cost: $50.00
(2010). The natural history book: The ultimate visual guide to everything on earth. DK Publishing: London.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have children or are looking for a truly awesome book to buy as a present for kids.. then get this. It is loaded with amazing pictures of plants, animals and rocks, with just enough writing that you can answer questions.

It is huge, I am always amazed when I see my 4 year old carrying it into the room... and she is always carrying it into the room. She fell in love with it when she was 2years old. She would turn the pages and look at the amazing pictures or she would play her favourite "what is" game and point at things and ask what it was (sounds cute, honestly she drove us mad with that game, it was 24/7 for months).

It has been used a lot more seriously the last few years. Anytime she has a question she will pull it out and look through it. If she sees an animal we will pull it out and see if there is a photo in the book (usually there is).

I implore you to buy this book for your child.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOSH

This is the most amazing book in the world.

Why I chose to read it, well duh it says the Natural History book, they even have a whole page on Phylogenetic s. And if you own the book and look on the back it says " Over 5,000 illustrations of everything living on Earth- From granites to grapevines, microbes to mammals". I also chose to read it because it was half price at Borders.

Who would I recommend this book to- anyone who is a crazy natural history freak like me.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those magical books that helps recapture a youth flicking through my Dad's field guides and looking through various encyclopaedias at all the wonderful and weird creatures that inhabit our planet. Every house should own a copy of this book, with it's wonderful pictures of everything on earth from single cell microscopic archaeas that live on hydrothermal vents in the depth of our oceans to the mighty elephants and the plants they live on. Just one complaint there's some large pictures of mandrills in this book and mandrills freak me out!

[Hemen Kalita · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love DK large volume reference books. They are huge and full of data. I now have over ten and will buy more in the future. "The Natural History Book" is one of the best from DK, Its quite similar to Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife in size and content. Apart from animals it has additional sections like Rocks, minerals, fossil, fungi and micro-organisms.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are inspiring, and the descriptions are beautifully written giving you a very brief overview of so many species. As a biologist, I have very few bones to pick with this book. It is wonderfully written for its purpose and would be a lovely addition in any library. Great for those of all ages! It is a gorgeous coffee table book as well, one you can pick up for a brief daily download of knowledge.

[Karlissa J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A constantly-referenced guide as I research animals - and I research animals often. Helpful features include quality photographs for each species, a diverse collection of species, inclusion of family name (along with the scientific name), and size and global range description for each entry. I find this book helpful in many circumstances, since it also includes rocks, fungi, and plants, and the animals featured are not only wild varieties but also some domestic breeds.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the new edition of one of my all-time favorites. I love how through this book is and how I find something new in it every time I look through. I would love to have a copy for my classroom. Highly recommended.

Added 12/29/24 - I did get a copy for my classroom! Also I bought a new edition at Costco but cannot find it on here.