Complementing our enormously successful offerings on the bible and history, National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology encompasses myths and creation stories from around the globe. It presents a palm-size overview of culture-defining myths, from ancient Egyptian deities to the Vedic gods of India...from Maya, Inca, and Aztec legends to the Dream time of the Aborigines. This is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to know more about the stories that have shaped societies for millennia.

The innovative format—with timelines, sidebars, and self-contained interactive spreads—gives readers a variety of entry points depending on their interest level. The editors of the Essential series have enhanced this book’s resource value by including such elements as numbered picture references that match each image with its historical era as discussed in the text, and cross references to related topics at the bottom of the page. Conveniently sized yet large in scope, it reflects National Geographic’s authority and credibility in the category of world culture and peoples.

Those fascinated by Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, a classic backlist title on the Greek myths, will find this illustrated world survey richly satisfying. Accessible, absorbing, and affordable, it will delight casual browsers and mythology buffs alike—and the very attractive retail price of $15.95, for a 500+-page lavishly illustrated hardcover, makes National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology an irresistible treasure to own and to give.