Smithsonian Books

11/05/2024

Happy Election Day! Want to read up on the thoughts and feelings of presidents throughout history? Our book SMITHSONIAN BOOK OF PRESIDENTIAL QUOTES has got you covered! https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/smithsonian-book-of-presidential-quotations/

11/05/2024

Tom Jones went on the channel Space Intelligence to talk about his book SPACE SHUTTLE STORIES! Check it out:

John Williams interviews Hall of Fame Astronaut Tom Jones, PhD about his new book "Space Shuttle Stories", which shares astronaut stories about every one of ...

11/04/2024

Start the week off on the right foot. Take a break from the Monday drudgery and dive into one of our latest books, SUBLIME LIGHT. This book celebrates the tapestry art of DY Begay, and is filled with stunning views and art that are sure to get you through the day.

The first book dedicated to the contemporary Diné artist, featuring 80 stunning tapestries and essays exploring her life and legacy. Discov…

11/04/2024

Tomorrow is Election Day, so there's no better time to take a look at our book AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: A GREAT LEAP OF FAITH and read about the history of the nation's government and democracy as a work in progress!

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith is the companion volume to an exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History that celebr…

11/03/2024

It's time to turn back the clock as daylight savings time comes to an end. It's that time of year where birds everywhere have begun to migrate south. Check out our new SMITHSONIAN HANDBOOK OF INTERESTING BIRD NESTS AND EGGS to identify any flocks flying through your area!

Bird lovers can admire the artistry and beauty of bird nests and eggs with strikingly sharp images of more than 100 specimens A pocket-sized gift …

11/02/2024

This week, we published IN SLAVERY'S WAKE, a collection of essays that examine the ways slavery and colonialism have impacted our world. Check out this companion book to a groundbreaking exhibition on African American history and culture before the exhibition opens!

Explore the modern-day impact of slavery and colonialism in this panoramic Black history for anti-racist readers of 1619 Project and C…

11/01/2024

Today marks the start of November, so Fall is in full swing! There's no better way to watch the seasons progress than watching nature and wildlife. Our new book, 60 YEARS OF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, is full of decades of photography and observations, from Svalbard reindeer fighting in the snow to a tiger roaming a misty Bhutan mountain.

A sumptuous celebration of more than 230 of the most memorable and beautiful wildlife photographs from the past 60 years There's a unique magi…

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween🦇 and the last day of Bat Week! Celebrate both with this excerpt from our book BATS: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO ALL SPECIES!

Enjoy beautiful bat photography from conservationist and wildlife photographer Merlin Tuttle

10/31/2024

Celebrate a bone-chilling Halloween with A HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN 50 FOSSILS! This book's scary good illustrations and in-depth look at prehistoric life is sure to transport you to the land before time. https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/science-nature/a-history-of-dinosaurs-in-50-fossils/

A beautifully illustrated and definitive crash course on dinosaur fossils, from the Allosaurus that use their teeth and jaws to dismember p…

10/30/2024

Tomorrow is Halloween, but we have an early treat for dinosaur fans— our new book A HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN 50 FOSSILS! Filled with the teeth, claws, scaly skins, and brains of fearsome creatures, this book is perfect for Halloween week.
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Allosaurus photo credit: ©The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London

10/29/2024

Dinosaur fans, rejoice! Today, A HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN 50 FOSSILS unleashes on the world with all its teeth and claws. Beautifully illustrated and filled with momentous dinosaur findings from the fossil record, this book explores the fascinating evolutionary history of animals that ruled the Earth for more than 150 million years: https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/science-nature/a-history-of-dinosaurs-in-50-fossils/

10/29/2024

Happy publication day to IN SLAVERY'S WAKE, the moving companion book to an upcoming exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. This powerful collection of essays, brought to life with more than 150 illustrations, investigates the intertwined legacies of slavery, freedom, and capitalism and their impact on the world today. https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/national-museum-african-american-history-and-cultu/in-slaverys-wake-making-black-freedom-in-the-world/

10/29/2024

Welcome to the universe. SMITHSONIAN ATLAS OF SPACE is out today and ready to take you on a whirlwind tour of the universe, with 300 magnificent charts, illustrations, and photographs! Former chief historian of NASA Roger D. Launius explores the past, present, and future of space exploration. https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/smithsonian-atlas-of-space-a-map-to-the-universe-from-the-big-bang-to-the-future/

10/23/2024

Learn about the fascinating role of voting in the United States in this excerpt from our book AMERICAN DEMOCRACY:

Learn about the fascinating role of voting in the United States

10/18/2024

When you're outside this weekend, keep your eye open for beautiful bird nests! In the meantime, you can admire some from this excerpt from SMITHSONIAN HANDBOOK OF INTERESTING BIRD NESTS AND EGGS: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-books/2024/10/17/bird-nests-and-eggs-reveal-more-than-meets-the-eye/

10/17/2024

Our book EVEREST 24 covers the mysterious and ill-fated 1924 expedition taken by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine. While Mallory's body was discovered in 1999, Irvine's never was—until last month when Irvine's partial remains were discovered. Read all about this century-long mystery in the book: https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/science-nature/everest-24-new-views-on-the-1924-mount-everest-expedition/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/famous-explorers-remains-discovered-on-mount-everest-offer-clues-in-a-century-long-mystery-180985267/

In 1924, Andrew "Sandy" Irvine joined George Mallory’s expedition to the world’s highest peak. Now, Irvine’s recently found foot and boot hint at what might have happened on that ill-fated undertaking

10/08/2024

Step into the wilderness and see the best it has to offer! Happy publication day to the gorgeous 60 YEARS OF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR! It features decades' worth of the best wildlife photography in the world, including the courtship dance of a humpback whale, vibrant orange algae growing on a Monterey cypress, a convolvulus hawk-moth drinking from a to***co flower, and so much more. https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/science-nature/60-years-of-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-how-wildlife-photography-became-art/

10/07/2024

Take a look at photos that reveal the striking beauty of airport towers around the world with this excerpt from ART OF THE AIRPORT TOWER!

Explore airports around the world through the eyes of a Smithsonian photographer

10/02/2024

EVEREST 24 sheds new light on the ill-fated 1924 Mount Everest expedition, which marked its 100th anniversary this year. Not only is it a compelling read, but it's beautifully illustrated with unseen and rarely seen expedition images you won't want to miss:

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of an enduring Everest mystery, this book sheds new light on the ill-fated 1924 Mount Everest expedition Featu…

10/01/2024

Today is International Raccoon Day, which encourages everyone to see raccoons as important parts of the ecosystem and not merely as pests, as many see them. We have the perfect book for raccoon lovers or anyone who wants to learn more about these cute but misunderstood creatures. https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/science-nature/raccoons-a-natural-history/

10/01/2024

We don't want to bug you...🐛 but if you haven't picked up METAMORPHOSIS: HOW INSECTS ARE CHANGING OUR WORLD, what are you waiting for?

An accessible, beautifully illustrated celebration of insects—and their extraordinary contributions to humankind—from the hosts of the BB…

09/30/2024

Learn fascinating DC history in MAGNIFICENT INTENTIONS, which peers into the early history of the nation's capitol and the photographer who documented it:

Offering a unique glimpse into American history, this is the first book to celebrate the compelling work of the United States' first federal phot…

09/28/2024

Spend your weekend transported by DY Begay's beautiful tapestries. Our new book SUBLIME LIGHT is the first devoted to her career, and it features stunning work like this piece "Tsegi Spider Rock." Prepare to be enchanted: https://smithsonianbooks.com/store/art-architecture/sublime-light-tapestry-art-of-dy-begay/
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Art caption: DY Begay (Diné, b. 1953), Tsegi Spider Rock, 2007. Wool and plant and synthetic dyes, 31 5/8 × 34 in. Private collection, California.
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Photo Credit: Walter Larrimore for NMAI

09/26/2024

Check out the great new feature of SMITHSONIAN HANDBOOK OF INTERESTING BIRD NESTS AND EGGS up on Colossal!

Dozens of species feature in the 'Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs,' showcasing an array of the natural constructions.

09/26/2024

Once upon a time, you probably saw a decorated initial in a storybook. But do you know their history? Read about them in this excerpt from ABECEDARIUM: AN ADULT COLORING BOOK FOR BIBLIOPHILES!

Read about the beautiful form and convenient function of one of books' most distinctive features