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Women: The National Geographic Image Collection
This powerful photography collection, drawn from the celebrated National Geographic archive, reveals the lives of women from around the globe, accompanied by revelatory new interviews and portraits of contemporary trailblazers including Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall, and Christiane Amanpour.
#MeToo. #GirlBoss. Time's Up. From Silicon Valley to politics and beyond, women are reshaping our world. Now, in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, this bold and inspiring book from National Geographic mines 130 years of photography to showcase their past, their present, and their future. With 400+ stunning images from more than 50 countries, each page of this glorious book offers compelling testimony about what it means to be female, from historic suffragettes to the haunting, green-eyed "Afghan girl."
Organized around chapter themes like grit, love, and joy, the book features brand-new commentary from a wide swath of luminaries including Laura Bush, Gloria Allred, Roxane Gay, Melinda Gates, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, and the founders of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements. Each is accompanied by a bold new portrait, shot by acclaimed NG photographer Erika Larsen. The ultimate coffee table book, this iconic collection provides definitive proof that the future is female.
#MeToo. #GirlBoss. Time's Up. From Silicon Valley to politics and beyond, women are reshaping our world. Now, in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, this bold and inspiring book from National Geographic mines 130 years of photography to showcase their past, their present, and their future. With 400+ stunning images from more than 50 countries, each page of this glorious book offers compelling testimony about what it means to be female, from historic suffragettes to the haunting, green-eyed "Afghan girl."
Organized around chapter themes like grit, love, and joy, the book features brand-new commentary from a wide swath of luminaries including Laura Bush, Gloria Allred, Roxane Gay, Melinda Gates, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, and the founders of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements. Each is accompanied by a bold new portrait, shot by acclaimed NG photographer Erika Larsen. The ultimate coffee table book, this iconic collection provides definitive proof that the future is female.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2019
8 people are currently reading
3556 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 21, 2019
I am so grateful to be part of this tour and to share Women with you. I would have bought this book for myself, and I will be buying it as gifts for all the women in my family and close friends. It is that good. It is so special, memorable, and inspiring, and my adjectives don’t express well enough all the feelings this book induces.
The photographs are as stunning as you expect from National Geographic. There are also interviews that will take your breath away. Varied cultures are represented, including some of the iconic photos you may have seen before in Nat Geo’s vast collection.
I am completely smitten and overwhelmed with and by this book. I hope you all get a chance to view and read it.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
The photographs are as stunning as you expect from National Geographic. There are also interviews that will take your breath away. Varied cultures are represented, including some of the iconic photos you may have seen before in Nat Geo’s vast collection.
I am completely smitten and overwhelmed with and by this book. I hope you all get a chance to view and read it.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
July 31, 2020
Loved this book! Very inspiring!
November 14, 2019
National Geographic was founded in 1888 by all men. Today, Susan Goldberg, is the current and first woman Editor In Chief for the National Geographic and writes the introduction of Women. Ms. Goldberg writes "Though this book draws on an archive, it is not just history. Here, we explore the challenges and triumphs women may find in the future, as well as those they've experienced over time."
Women has six chapters titled: Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength, and Hope. Women is a compilation of images that were caught by National Geographic photographers as they traveled the world. Women also includes a number of interviews with women you have heard of and others you may not have.
My initial expectation was that I would read through this book and see famous women spanning time and the globe. In reality, I saw the average woman spanning time and the globe. Some images I recognized from National Geographic, mostly they were new to me and drew me in. These images are exquisite and the layout was perfect. The images depict women in different stages of their lives, the compilation of images and interviews comes across as inspiring and powerful.
Women has six chapters titled: Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength, and Hope. Women is a compilation of images that were caught by National Geographic photographers as they traveled the world. Women also includes a number of interviews with women you have heard of and others you may not have.
My initial expectation was that I would read through this book and see famous women spanning time and the globe. In reality, I saw the average woman spanning time and the globe. Some images I recognized from National Geographic, mostly they were new to me and drew me in. These images are exquisite and the layout was perfect. The images depict women in different stages of their lives, the compilation of images and interviews comes across as inspiring and powerful.
August 31, 2022
Gorgeous photos from the archives of the magazine curated to show a history of women as they have been represented by NG over the years, plus interviews with some of the most influential women in present times. Very, very cool. The earliest photos were, of course, almost solely taken by men, but most of the later choices were photos of women taken by women.
March 8, 2023
Images of women over the course of most of the National Geographic Society’s existence comprise this volume of photography. The photographs span over one hundred years, and were chosen from among the Society’s 64 million plus images, from hundreds of photographers. Most of the subjects are anonymous, but there are some recognizable figures from history as well: Jane Goodall, Deb Haaland, Jacinda Ardern, Laura Bush, and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few. Some of these include interviews with the subjects with questions about their life and about feminism. The images are loosely divided into chapters on joy, beauty, love, wisdom, strength, and hope.
The book does a great job of spanning the globe and of picturing women of many races, cultures and social classes. Photos range from snapshot size to two page spreads. The interviews with famous women and their thoughts on feminism may be interesting to teens and young adults who are interested in exploring the evolving meaning of the word. I really liked the introduction by Susan Goldberg, and her historical look at women being portrayed in and working for National Geographic since its beginning.
What I didn't like: the 500+ pages are tightly bound, making the many pictures that span the gutters hard to view. The type color is quite light and a strain to read, even in bright light.
The book does a great job of spanning the globe and of picturing women of many races, cultures and social classes. Photos range from snapshot size to two page spreads. The interviews with famous women and their thoughts on feminism may be interesting to teens and young adults who are interested in exploring the evolving meaning of the word. I really liked the introduction by Susan Goldberg, and her historical look at women being portrayed in and working for National Geographic since its beginning.
What I didn't like: the 500+ pages are tightly bound, making the many pictures that span the gutters hard to view. The type color is quite light and a strain to read, even in bright light.
July 1, 2023
I got this book for my wife as a present some years ago and finally had the opportunity to go through it myself. I bought it primarily for the photography, and on that front it fully delivers (5 stars). The images from the National Geographic Image Collection are technically brilliant and does a wonderful job at portraying the strength, beauty and diversity of women around the world, as well as society's changing perspective on them. Unfortunately, the other part of the book, interviews with powerful and well-known women, failed to deliver for me (2 stars). The selection of interviewees were certainly impressive (although they could have been more internationally diverse) and I was looking forward to learning more about their perspectives and stories. However, the interviews themselves were rather lackluster and extremely repetitive, leading to a mostly uninspiring result. Consequently, I would recommend this book for the photography, but there are likely better sources for learning from the perspectives of most of the women interviewed here.
June 1, 2023
Beautiful, striking, images throughout. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more stories of "ordinary" women - that the conversations were with famous women and those who were considered "powerful". More traditional and more of a timeline would be nice, not so much of a push on alternative life styles.
Would have liked more photos but overall a great little book.
Would have liked more photos but overall a great little book.
February 29, 2024
Excellent compilation of photographs of women from National Geographics historical archives past and present. Of course the famous photograph of the Afghani girl with the green eyes is included, as well as one of her today, 16 years later. The photographs are organized around themes such as Strength and include interviews with about 20 accomplished women. Inspiring.
March 20, 2023
Photographs of women from the Nat Geo archives spanning the world. It includes interview with some notable women from today. Even if you don't want to read all that, it has plenty of pictures to look at.
August 9, 2023
i love women
this didn't meet my expectations. too many men in the photos, not Enough photos, miniscule font size made it difficult to read the text portions, the interviews weren't compelling and I'd rather have seen more images instead, needed moreGNC, fat women and disabled women!!!!!
this didn't meet my expectations. too many men in the photos, not Enough photos, miniscule font size made it difficult to read the text portions, the interviews weren't compelling and I'd rather have seen more images instead, needed moreGNC, fat women and disabled women!!!!!
March 14, 2023
Binding makes it too hard to see the pictures. Half of the interviews didn't add anything meaningful.
March 16, 2023
This was an amazing book to read and to look at some lovely photos. I liked the diversity of women represented.
May 23, 2023
Not only was the photographs exceptional but there were interviews included of many of the very accomplished women featured in this book.
May 31, 2023
One word--exquisite!
July 3, 2023
Beautiful, stunning photographs as I always expect from National Geographic. The book itself is huge and very heavy so be forewarned.
July 28, 2023
First time I ever read an 'art book' cover to cover .... Excellent.
March 17, 2025
Un tesoro desde la primera hasta última página! las entrevistas, las imágenes, las perspectivas. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 2, 2024
Came for the photos, stayed for the Q&As with notable women. But my favorite part was how a beautiful image with a brief caption would send me Googling down an Internet rabbit hole on various women and places in time. A good coffee table book to pick up whenever, as Carrie recommended!
November 25, 2019
National Geographic continues its wonderful collection of gorgeous coffee table books this season with the stunning Women- the National Geographic Image Collection.
The book is divided into six chapters- Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength and Hope. Each section contains full page photos of women from all over the world, of all ages and cultures. The placement of the photos is thoughtful, like the photo of a glorious smiling Dolly Parton holding a banjo (taken by Jodi Cobb in 1978) facing a photo of a Japanese woman singing and playing a samisen stringed instrument (taken by Eliza R. Scidmore in 1912). The comparison and contrast of an Australian Aborginal woman with a tradtional cermonial painted face (taken by Amy Toensing in 2012) with an Italian actress, her face veiled, taken backstage in 1994 by William Albert Allard) is amazing.
The joy of three women sharing a conversation inside a rickshaw in Bangalore, India (taken by William Albert Allard in 2004), school girl friends smoking cigarettes on a cruise down the Seine in Paris (taken by David Alan Harvey in 1989), and a group of women in London in 1966 holding up their compact mirrors to get a peek at Queen Elizabeth (photo by James P. Blair) highlight women in their everyday life.
There are photos of famous women- Amelia Earhart after she landed in Northern Island, surrounded by well-wishers, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti in her spacesuit, journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells- as well as interviews with such powerful women as Christiane Amanpour, Nancy Pelosi, Laura Bush and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, talking about their successes, failures, and whom they admire.
One of National Geographic's most famous photos- "Afghan Girl", taken in a refugee camp in 1984 by Steve McCurry, highlighting Sharbat Gula's piercing green-eyed gaze is here, paired with a photo of Gula taken in 2002 by McCurry. Her eyes are still as piercing, and the effect of the photos side-by-side is dramatic.
Women- the National Geographic Image Collection is a brilliant look at women around the world, across the ages, in photos taken by the most creative photographers. It's a book to savor, and each time you open it up, you see something new that captures your attention. It would make a fantastic holiday gift for anyone's collection.
The book is divided into six chapters- Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength and Hope. Each section contains full page photos of women from all over the world, of all ages and cultures. The placement of the photos is thoughtful, like the photo of a glorious smiling Dolly Parton holding a banjo (taken by Jodi Cobb in 1978) facing a photo of a Japanese woman singing and playing a samisen stringed instrument (taken by Eliza R. Scidmore in 1912). The comparison and contrast of an Australian Aborginal woman with a tradtional cermonial painted face (taken by Amy Toensing in 2012) with an Italian actress, her face veiled, taken backstage in 1994 by William Albert Allard) is amazing.
The joy of three women sharing a conversation inside a rickshaw in Bangalore, India (taken by William Albert Allard in 2004), school girl friends smoking cigarettes on a cruise down the Seine in Paris (taken by David Alan Harvey in 1989), and a group of women in London in 1966 holding up their compact mirrors to get a peek at Queen Elizabeth (photo by James P. Blair) highlight women in their everyday life.
There are photos of famous women- Amelia Earhart after she landed in Northern Island, surrounded by well-wishers, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti in her spacesuit, journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells- as well as interviews with such powerful women as Christiane Amanpour, Nancy Pelosi, Laura Bush and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, talking about their successes, failures, and whom they admire.
One of National Geographic's most famous photos- "Afghan Girl", taken in a refugee camp in 1984 by Steve McCurry, highlighting Sharbat Gula's piercing green-eyed gaze is here, paired with a photo of Gula taken in 2002 by McCurry. Her eyes are still as piercing, and the effect of the photos side-by-side is dramatic.
Women- the National Geographic Image Collection is a brilliant look at women around the world, across the ages, in photos taken by the most creative photographers. It's a book to savor, and each time you open it up, you see something new that captures your attention. It would make a fantastic holiday gift for anyone's collection.
December 26, 2019
I thought this would be a great book for demonstrating how women have arrived at today -- their moment in history -- but I don't get that sense at all. The majority of the photos are posed and recent, and have no historical import that I can discern. In the introduction, there is one photo from the March 3, 1913 suffrage march in Washington, DC. Now those are the kind of photos I wanted more of! Women fighting for their rights, for their voices to be heard.
I have nothing against all these photos of smiling, happy women, but there's no context for it. There's one photo of women in a Mexican sweatshop, but by placing it in that country, the viewer can entirely ignore that those conditions pertain in the U.S., too. The interviews with famous (and near famous) women don't really add what I want, which is visual history. In addition, many of the photos are dark or shot in red light, which makes them uninteresting to me. I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to. It's more travelogue than anything of historical importance.
I have nothing against all these photos of smiling, happy women, but there's no context for it. There's one photo of women in a Mexican sweatshop, but by placing it in that country, the viewer can entirely ignore that those conditions pertain in the U.S., too. The interviews with famous (and near famous) women don't really add what I want, which is visual history. In addition, many of the photos are dark or shot in red light, which makes them uninteresting to me. I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to. It's more travelogue than anything of historical importance.
December 17, 2019
This is an amazing collection of photos from the National Geographic archives over the life of the magazine,and interviews of 30-some women including scientists, world leaders, lawyers, organizers, sports figures etc, but no actresses or other celebrities, which pleased me. All were asked the same questions about hurdles they had faced and overcome, their advice to young women today, their favorite current and historic figures and if they considered themselves to be a feminist----all but Jane Goodall resoundingly said "yes!" These women include Laura Bush, Oprah, Melinda Gates, Nancy Pelosi, Jacinda Ardern, Christine Lagarde, Christiane Amanpour, and many others whom I personally admire. Surprisingly, many of them named Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, Michelle Obama and Oprah as the current historical figure they most admire. The categories chosen for the photos are Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength and Hope. A fantastic publication.
October 22, 2019
Today I’m thrilled to feature this beautiful National Geographic book, Women! You guys it’s gorgeous. The pictures inside are of women from all over the world. There are so many smiles in this book it will bring one to your face. If you are looking for presents for the holidays, I would highly recommend this one for that young women in your life that is eager to get her adventurous life started or that women that wants to reflect on a life well lived!
The publisher describes this one as a “powerful photography collection, drawn from the celebrated National Geographic archive, reveals the lives of women from around the globe, accompanied by revelatory new interviews and portraits of contemporary trailblazers including Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall, and Christiane Amanpour.”
Thanks to @tlcbooktours for this copy!
The publisher describes this one as a “powerful photography collection, drawn from the celebrated National Geographic archive, reveals the lives of women from around the globe, accompanied by revelatory new interviews and portraits of contemporary trailblazers including Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall, and Christiane Amanpour.”
Thanks to @tlcbooktours for this copy!
December 14, 2022
This book is absolutely stunning!
Published in 2019 as the 18th amendment was nearing the century mark, this compilation of over 400 images covering in excess of 130 years, brings to light the journeys of women from all walks of life. Some you will recognize, some you will not. Each will leave an imprint on your heart.
This book is beautifully large, comfortably heavy, and a great one to just delve into and absorb. It's not one you would necessarily read like you would a novel - rather, I just picked a page and ran with it. It was a great run.
Published in 2019 as the 18th amendment was nearing the century mark, this compilation of over 400 images covering in excess of 130 years, brings to light the journeys of women from all walks of life. Some you will recognize, some you will not. Each will leave an imprint on your heart.
This book is beautifully large, comfortably heavy, and a great one to just delve into and absorb. It's not one you would necessarily read like you would a novel - rather, I just picked a page and ran with it. It was a great run.
August 10, 2023
This book is an absolutely stunning gathering of brief stories, interviews, and beautiful images of women all over the world in tasks of their daily lives. Photographs range from the early 1900s to the present under the umbrella of a variety of six feminine topics: "Joy, Beauty, Love, Wisdom, Strength, and Hope."
A friend loaned me her personal copy. I hope each of you have such a friend, or a library, or a bookstore where you can immerse yourself in the gorgeousness of these pages.
A friend loaned me her personal copy. I hope each of you have such a friend, or a library, or a bookstore where you can immerse yourself in the gorgeousness of these pages.
November 18, 2019
An absolutely stunning collection of images complete with stories and facts from every walk of life. While it does include famous names in her, they are a very small percentage of contributing material- the rest is regular, every day women. Every culture, every continent, every corner. An amazing book that all girls should get to look at- it's inspiring to say the least.
January 14, 2020
A beautiful collection of photographs of women from National Geographic's Image Collection though I'd guess at least 75% are from the past 20 years. I would've liked to have seen more historical images as well as more shots of women in action rather than posed portraits.
There are also a series of interviews with women of note throughout the book.
There are also a series of interviews with women of note throughout the book.
October 13, 2021
Amazing collection! It's inspiring to see such a diverse array of women being everything they want to be, making the best of the situation they are in and being free in their own private ways. I bought a second copy as a gift for my little niece.
March 22, 2020
A large photo book with nearly 500 pages of outstanding images by National Geographic photographers. A rich collection of excellent photography.
October 12, 2020
having gloria allred be profiled in the same book as tarana burke? it's a no from me
November 16, 2020
Phenomenal collection of work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews