6 Billion Others: Portraits of Humanity from Around the World [Paperback]

Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810983834 | ISBN-13: 978-0810983830 | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

The latest project from bestselling photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand,6 Billion Others presents the photographic portraits and transcribed responses of 500 men and women, interviewed on video over the past six years. This understated yet compelling look at ways of life both familiar and strange creates an instructive, affecting biography of modern humanity. Inspired by the idea that "every single person has got something interesting to say, and every single person has the right to say it," Arthus-Bertrand created a questionnaire of 40 prompts on universal topics such as family, happiness, money, and love, and dispatched six filmmakers to interview more than 5,000 subjects in 75 countries around the world. About one-tenth of the resulting 3,500 hours of film is available online, with subtitles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Yann Arthus-Bertrand's more than 40 books include the multimillion-copy international bestseller Earth From Above. His photography regularly appears in magazines such as National Geographic, Life, GEO, and Sierra Magazine. He is the chairman of GoodPlanet, a nonprofit association for the promotion of sustainable development. He also directed a series of four, 2-hour documentaries based on Earth From Above and is the director of the film Home. He lives in France.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Abrams (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810983834
• ISBN-13: 978-0810983830
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the world famous photographer, is renowned for his aerial photography. His bestseller include The Earth from the Air, which has sold over a million copies. He lives on France.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and beautiful, June 17, 2010

By 

P. Gould (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 6 Billion Others: Portraits of Humanity from Around the World (Paperback)

I happened to see this book sitting on a table at the library and haven't been able to put it down. It's absolutely stunning, both in terms of visuals and content. It contains interviews with people from all over the world. The people were asked questions about love, god, children, dreams and fears.

There are many two to four page individual interviews that go into surprising depth about the person's life, dreams, hopes and history. And each starts with a simple close-up picture of that person's face.

Interspersed with the long interviews are short segments from interviews with a dozen or so people that each answer a question such as "What does money mean to you?" or "Do you forgive others easily?" Across from the text there are close up shots of the faces of those interviewed plus others in a kind of collage of humanity.

What a simple, but really profound, idea...ask other people, from vastly different cultures, the hard questions. There are people who are desperately poor saying that they have everything they've ever dreamed of, people who have suffered at the hands of others saying that forgiveness is a form of pretentiousness. It offers an amazing, down-to-earth window into what makes us all human.

I hope it doesn't sound too dramatic, but I feel really fortunate to have found this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift to give, January 8, 2010

By 

Steff B "raiders1" (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 6 Billion Others: Portraits of Humanity from Around the World (Paperback)

I bought this book as a gift for my sister in law who often refers to the 6 billion other people in the world. She cried when she opened it Christmas morning and has really seemed to enjoy it since.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid, moving journey around the world!, December 22, 2010

By 

Michelle F (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 6 Billion Others: Portraits of Humanity from Around the World (Paperback)

Goodplanet has undertaken a truly one-of-a-kind project. The goal was simple: to share the stories of individuals around the world and, in turn, celebrate the diversity and unity of humankind. Over the course of four years, the production team conducted and filmed over 5000 interviews in 75 countries. What they found was then captured in this book.

If you have any sense of empathy, connectedness, or curiosity, you will find this book fascinating. While the questions may seem standard, the responses are extremely nuanced and oftentimes juxtaposed carefully to prompt further thought. In reading everyone's narratives, I found myself laughing, crying, angered, humbled, and constantly moved by the responses. Be warned -- this is not an easy book to digest. But if you remain open, it will take you on a journey and challenge your mind, all in the comfort of your own seat.

Many thanks to the producers for such an incredible project. I will be buying more copies of this to share with friends and family. This is a book to be kept, re-read, and treasured for many years to come.