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Beijing's Forbidden City, built in the 15th century, was constructed based on cosmological principles that endured in China for millennia.
globes

A Square, Flat Earth and Round Heaven Meant the World to Ancient China

For millennia, this cosmological principle guided everything from calendars to urban planning.
James Hannam September 21, 2023
New Delhi, India

Daryaganj Sunday Book Market

A weekly bazaar sells thousands of books, from vintage collectibles to paperbacks sold by weight.
San Francisco, California

34 Trinity Arts & News

The last used bookstore in Downtown San Francisco is one of the smallest bookstores just about anywhere.
books

Would You Trust AI to Help You Forage?

Before you buy a plant field guide, make sure it wasn’t written by a computer. No, seriously.
Andrew Coletti September 7, 2023
A <em>bouquiniste</em>, or traditional seller of vintage and antique books, on the bank of the Seine in Paris in August 2023.
islands

Wonder Is Everywhere: The Island of Cows, a Parisian Bookseller Revolt, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
April White September 1, 2023
A chestnut-sided warbler.
nature

Find More Birds Wherever You Are With These Birding Basics

Author and birding enthusiast Heather Wolf shares her favorite tips for finding our feathered friends.
Heather Wolf August 24, 2023
Daniel Kraus, author of the novel <em>Whalefall</em>.
whales

Podcast: A Whale of a Tale with Daniel Kraus

We get the backstory to the new novel Whalefall, about a man who finds himself in the belly of a sperm whale.
The Podcast Team August 21, 2023
Tisá, Czechia

Tiské Stěny

Towering sandstone rock formations where 'The Chronicles of Narnia' was filmed.
Author Alicia Kennedy.
books

The Wild History of Not Eating Meat

Alicia Kennedy's debut book tackles punk restaurants, underground vegan zines, and Silicon Valley.
Diana Hubbell August 15, 2023
Seoul Book Repository
Seoul, South Korea

Seoul Book Repository

Collected from all around Seoul, thousands of secondhand books create this photogenic tunnel.
Seoul, South Korea

Gyeongui Line Book Street

Booksellers and public artworks fill this vibrant promenade along the disused railroad tracks.
The Milky Way rises above Pakistan's Karakoram Mountain Range.
meteorites

The 8 Best Astronomy Books For Beginners

From Mary Roach’s hilarious look at space travel to astronaut Scott Kelly’s photos documenting a year off planet.
Sarah Durn August 10, 2023
Wood River Valley, site of a roughly four-mile move of an entire house—while its residents were in it.
houses

Podcast: A House Move Like No Other

Author Dave Eggers shares the story of a unique family and one of the strangest, slowest moves in history.
The Podcast Team July 18, 2023
Thousands of mobile bookstores, such as this cart in Budapest, Hungary, make it easier than ever to pick up books while on the road—but that doesn't make choosing one any easier!
books

The 7 Best Travel Books for Summer Road Trips

From David Grann’s trek into the Amazon rainforest to explorer Craig Child’s tour through Ice Age America.
Sarah Durn July 13, 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (left), Aéropostale pilot and author of <em>The Little Prince</em>, stands in front of a plane in 1929.
deserts

The Daring Desert Pilots That Inspired ‘The Little Prince’

And the modern pilots retracing their pioneering airmail flights.
Cat Rainsford July 12, 2023
Sedgwick, Maine

Pushcart Press

This roadside stand claims to be the world's smallest bookstore.
Mexico City, Mexico

Museo de Manga (Manga Museum)

Less so a museum and more a library for hardcore Japanophiles.
An actress dressed as Queen Margherita tries a pizza in present-day Naples.
food

Debunking the Myth of the National Dish

Anya von Bremzen breaks down true origins of pizza, ramen, and other iconic foods in her new book.
Diana Hubbell June 22, 2023