What do you think?
Rate this book
The Planet's Most Spiritual Places: Sacred Sites and Holy Locations Around the World
This majestically illustrated and deeply insightful guide explores 100 of the most spiritually significant places throughout the world, seeking to understand what it is that defines these sites.
Spirituality has a multitude of meanings for the many who seek deeper significance in their lives. From ancient religions with their timeless places of worship to modern, contemporary followers of faith and new age travellers seeking enlightenment and illumination, we are drawn to all kinds of places in the search for profound meaning.
From a Polish Catholic praying in a large cathedral to a Portuguese surfer speechless in wonder at the majesty of the ocean, spirituality knows no bounds . The Planet’s Most Spiritual Places brings together all definitions to present some of the most important places of spiritual significance, in stunning and immersive detail.
We recognize that one person’s spirituality can inspire another no matter their origin, history or nationality. We have included sites of spirituality from all around the world, from the established to the exotic, determining a number of fundamental definitions for our spiritual
1. Ancient Monuments
2. Places of Worship
3. Natural Wonders
4. Centres of Enlightenment
5. Pilgrimage
6. Living Landmarks
As readers will discover, the complex history of the world often defines where – and how – spirituality can be found. The modern is as important as the ancient, and the free-form as important as the organised. What counts is the spiritual nature of the site, wherever it is, whoever visits it and whatever they believe.
Insightful text is complemented by superb photography , maps ancient and modern and engaging illustrations of the plethora of places contained within. The whole world is covered , continent by continent, and a wide variety of religions, belief systems and faiths.
Spirituality has a multitude of meanings for the many who seek deeper significance in their lives. From ancient religions with their timeless places of worship to modern, contemporary followers of faith and new age travellers seeking enlightenment and illumination, we are drawn to all kinds of places in the search for profound meaning.
From a Polish Catholic praying in a large cathedral to a Portuguese surfer speechless in wonder at the majesty of the ocean, spirituality knows no bounds . The Planet’s Most Spiritual Places brings together all definitions to present some of the most important places of spiritual significance, in stunning and immersive detail.
We recognize that one person’s spirituality can inspire another no matter their origin, history or nationality. We have included sites of spirituality from all around the world, from the established to the exotic, determining a number of fundamental definitions for our spiritual
1. Ancient Monuments
2. Places of Worship
3. Natural Wonders
4. Centres of Enlightenment
5. Pilgrimage
6. Living Landmarks
As readers will discover, the complex history of the world often defines where – and how – spirituality can be found. The modern is as important as the ancient, and the free-form as important as the organised. What counts is the spiritual nature of the site, wherever it is, whoever visits it and whatever they believe.
Insightful text is complemented by superb photography , maps ancient and modern and engaging illustrations of the plethora of places contained within. The whole world is covered , continent by continent, and a wide variety of religions, belief systems and faiths.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 21, 2023
18 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 18, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Planets Most Spiritual Places is a stunning photography and information book with an abundance of information and visual delights. Some of the photography in this book is breathtaking, and I just wanted to hop on a plane and visit so many of these stunning spiritual places. I liked how the author split the book up into sections, making it easier for people to find exactly what they want to find out. I'd have loved more photographs of each location, but this would just be an added bonus to a beautiful and informative book!
The Planets Most Spiritual Places is a stunning photography and information book with an abundance of information and visual delights. Some of the photography in this book is breathtaking, and I just wanted to hop on a plane and visit so many of these stunning spiritual places. I liked how the author split the book up into sections, making it easier for people to find exactly what they want to find out. I'd have loved more photographs of each location, but this would just be an added bonus to a beautiful and informative book!
February 28, 2023
Stunning photographs are the highlight of this beautiful book. The focus as the title suggests are Spiritual Places. Sections include: Ancient Monuments, Places of Worship, Pilgrimages, Natural Wonders, Centers of Enlightenment and Living Landmarks. I’ve been to several of the sites in Europe and the USA. Many others are famous and familiar but it also includes less known locations too. Going on a pilgramge is on my bucket list and so I found that section especially interesting.
Each location includes information about the sight and its history. And I especially liked that small maps are included to help with locations. This is a coffee table book for a traveler or someone who enjoys learning about historical places. I’d gladly own this book or borrow it from a library. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Ivy Press for the temporary ARC in exchange for a review.
Each location includes information about the sight and its history. And I especially liked that small maps are included to help with locations. This is a coffee table book for a traveler or someone who enjoys learning about historical places. I’d gladly own this book or borrow it from a library. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Ivy Press for the temporary ARC in exchange for a review.
November 9, 2024
The amount of typos and errors is why I'm giving this book 3 stars. Otherwise, I'd give it 4.
February 4, 2023
This beautiful book is a visual treat, a must see and must read! I love how this book is laid out with maps, informative facts and valuable insight on the most spiritual places. The photography is stunning! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2023
This book, The Planet’s Most Spiritual Places, is my 11th book of the year (2023). I consider it a magical adventure around the world exploring various religions and places of majestic spirituality. Not only did I love the mulitude of high-quality, beautiful photos of each spiritual place, but I learned an incredible amount of information reading about each place.
I only knew a handful of the places so I was eager to learn about what each place means to people who believe in many different religions. Something I thought was really interesting was how similar some of the practices of the various religions were regarding these religious and spiritual places, such as the fact that many of the places hold the remains of important people in the faiths.
I am so incredibly grateful to have read this book and I would recommend anyone to read it, as it includes in its pages so much detailed information about each place. Even though there was a lot of information, it was not an overload of information. I feel like I actually visited each place. Reading this book encourages me to visit some of these places in real life. I have only visited one out of all of them, but I’d love to visit more.
My only critique is how this book functions as an eBook. I had to Zoom in and out to read about each place and sometimes it was frustrating.
Without a doubt, this book gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. I am so grateful to NetGalley, Malcolm Croft (the author) and Quarto Publishing Group- Ivy Press (the publishers) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I only knew a handful of the places so I was eager to learn about what each place means to people who believe in many different religions. Something I thought was really interesting was how similar some of the practices of the various religions were regarding these religious and spiritual places, such as the fact that many of the places hold the remains of important people in the faiths.
I am so incredibly grateful to have read this book and I would recommend anyone to read it, as it includes in its pages so much detailed information about each place. Even though there was a lot of information, it was not an overload of information. I feel like I actually visited each place. Reading this book encourages me to visit some of these places in real life. I have only visited one out of all of them, but I’d love to visit more.
My only critique is how this book functions as an eBook. I had to Zoom in and out to read about each place and sometimes it was frustrating.
Without a doubt, this book gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. I am so grateful to NetGalley, Malcolm Croft (the author) and Quarto Publishing Group- Ivy Press (the publishers) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2023
The Planet's Most Spiritual Places by Malcolm Croft is a beautiful and very interesting coffee table book. If this collection of pictures and places doesn't stir some kind of desire to learn more about our world and the people in it, then I don't know what will.
The first thing I consider when looking at a coffee table, or any oversized book, is appearance. I certainly want what text there is to be interesting, but its purpose is largely display and, in my house, conversation starter. The pictures in this volume serve this function very well, from sweeping views to more detailed close-ups, there are images to appeal to most people who like photography.
This volume, however, goes well beyond most other books in that the information, though offered in short, concise descriptions, makes the reader want to learn more about the many places they likely haven't seen in person and remember fondly the ones they have. As I am prone to do, I spent some time searching online for more information about several of the belief systems mentioned, and I love books that make me want to know more. I fully intend to go back and slowly work my way through the book in this manner.
Highly recommended whether you are simply looking for an attractive display book or one that can serve as a springboard for great conversation and perhaps opportunities to learn a bit more about our world.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
The first thing I consider when looking at a coffee table, or any oversized book, is appearance. I certainly want what text there is to be interesting, but its purpose is largely display and, in my house, conversation starter. The pictures in this volume serve this function very well, from sweeping views to more detailed close-ups, there are images to appeal to most people who like photography.
This volume, however, goes well beyond most other books in that the information, though offered in short, concise descriptions, makes the reader want to learn more about the many places they likely haven't seen in person and remember fondly the ones they have. As I am prone to do, I spent some time searching online for more information about several of the belief systems mentioned, and I love books that make me want to know more. I fully intend to go back and slowly work my way through the book in this manner.
Highly recommended whether you are simply looking for an attractive display book or one that can serve as a springboard for great conversation and perhaps opportunities to learn a bit more about our world.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
April 22, 2023
A pretty decent book for the armchair traveller – or for those sitting on chairs in smaller rooms to dip into for a quick and inspirational browse. This is a collection of fine photographs of the world's most spiritual places, and a single page for each of how and where and what and why. Starting with a general round-up of spiritual buildings, such as Angkor Wat, my digital review copy raised an eyebrow when Borobudur ended up being in India, Thailand and Indonesia in a space of two pages, but I am sure a more finished copy will know what's what. It certainly ought to, for the text at times is a bit more encyclopaedic – it's much more for the history than the effect of these places, the architecture more than the ambience.
Oh, and while we're on about errors, I would hazard a guess that actually, no, most visitors to Machu Picchu take the bus, not the stairs.
Unfortunately a file cockup on my laptop meant I only saw the first part, but I liked the layout and approach of this book a lot – the photos were dropping some of the romantic, artsy style of similar volumes, and around the text were info-boxes containing such things as visitor numbers and the best season to make your own way there – the stuff I'd never have thought to expect, and that also show the creators put more than just the essentials into this. As a result the caveat regarding errors remains for now, but a polished final copy would be an easy four stars.
Oh, and while we're on about errors, I would hazard a guess that actually, no, most visitors to Machu Picchu take the bus, not the stairs.
Unfortunately a file cockup on my laptop meant I only saw the first part, but I liked the layout and approach of this book a lot – the photos were dropping some of the romantic, artsy style of similar volumes, and around the text were info-boxes containing such things as visitor numbers and the best season to make your own way there – the stuff I'd never have thought to expect, and that also show the creators put more than just the essentials into this. As a result the caveat regarding errors remains for now, but a polished final copy would be an easy four stars.
January 30, 2023
This is one of the most beautiful coffee table books I’ve ever had the pleasure to peruse! The photos are stunning and the information provide on each sacred place is informative and interesting. The photos are divided into several sections: Ancient Monuments, Places of Worship, Pilgrimages, Natural Wonders, Centres of Enlightenment, and Irving Landmarks. And they’re all my favorites!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2023
A beautiful book featuring spiritual sites around the world. Most sites featured include a large photograph page of the site and another page describing its history and significance. The information page also contains a small location map, religious affiliation or type, origin date of spiritual interest, number of annual visitors, best time to visit, and the approximate size of the site.
November 3, 2023
a beautiful book on some of humanity's most beautifully spiritual places.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews