Daily Joy: 365 Days of Inspiration

by National Geographic Society

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.

Genres: Photography

528 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Nada]

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.

[Sara.]

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.

[Peacejanz]

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?

[David Roberts]

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!

[Barbara]

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!

[Brian Choate]

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.

[Sue Ronnenkamp]

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. 😊

[SmarterLilac]

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.'

[Haya ald56]

جدا ممتاز حق شخص مبدئي في تعلم لغة الانقليزي هو اقتباسات جدا رائع

[Emilee]

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!

[Danielle Palmer]

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.

[Sue Ronnenkamp]

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.

[Aunt B]

Have given this book as a gift to a few women friends. Beautiful National Geographic pictures.
Joyful and inspirational as the title says.

[Debbie Hoskins]

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.

[Aileen]

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.

[Barb Bailey]

A lovely daily inspirational book .