She Treads Softly: The Traveler's Atlas of the World

Monday, October 27, 2025

The Traveler's Atlas of the World

The Traveler's Atlas of the World by National Geographic
11/4/25; 560 pages
Disney Publishing Group

The Traveler's Atlas of the World by National Geographic is a beautiful, very highly recommended and educational coffee table book that provides photographs of and travel recommendations for every country in the world. This truly is packed with essential information and everything is accompanied by 300 spectacular photographs and invaluable traveler’s secrets.

The volume covers nearly 200 sovereign countries, island nations, and dependent territories. Each entry is written by a National Geographic travel expert who has spent time or lived in the destination and is, of course, accompanied by incredible photographs as well as 250 illustrated maps. The contents are divided into six sections: North America & The Caribbean; South America; Europe; Asia: Africa; and Australia, Antarctica, & The Pacific. The countries in each section are presented in alphabetical order.

Each entry starts with the name and an illustration of their flag. Across the top of the entry are the capital, area, official language, and currency. This is followed by a description of the area and things to do, which can include historical sites, hikes, cultural treasures, food, nature retreats, destination spotlights, etc. In each entry there is an illustrated map followed by a list of Fast Facts that cover the following topics: Best Known For; When to Visit; Climate/Weather; Plan Ahead; Best-Kept Secret; and Good to Know. As expected, some entries are longer than others with additional special information about things to see/do, including must do lists, fun road trips, and top ten lists.

At first glance you'll think The Traveler's Atlas of the World is a wonderful educational resource for children, and it most certainly is, but it also has plenty of information for adult travelers, like highlighting wine regions, culinary experiences, and specialty foods. At the end there is a list and brief biography of the many contributors of the information in the volume, a long list of photo credits, and an index. This would be an excellent and welcomed gift. I know this because it has been picked up and looked at by everyone since it has been sitting on my coffee table.

Thanks to Disney Publishing Group for providing me with a reader's copy in partnership with TLC Book Tours. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.