Customer Reviews

National Geographic

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(36)

 

 

Who doesn't know National Geographic? Despite the term 'national' in the title, this is a publication that has an international reputation, and has set its sights on exploring every inch of the globe, and beyond. School children everywhere use National Geographic as a resource. It is a periodical, however, that goes far beyond the school library. Interesting, erudite, broad-ranging and fascinating (in addition to being, dare I say it, educational), National Geographic has something for everyone.

Articles involve history, culture, sociology, biology, architecture, archaeology, and physical science in addition to the trademark item, geography. Recent issues have included articles on archaeology of the Indus Valley, earthquakes in Turkey, Samoan culture, jellyfish, and dinosaurs. National Geographic has a knack for combining the timely with the timeless to make each issue interesting from a current events perspective (recent articles on the Golan Heights and touring London show this) as well as being worthy of retaining for future reference by combining history and other details.

Coupled with the articles, National Geographic has fantastic photography. In the June issue, there is a 'family photo' that was taken at the annual photographic seminar in Washington, D.C., in which more than half of the regular contributors to the magazine were present and photographed around the great seal of National Geographic. According the caption:

'The 47 men and women shown have collectively logged some 700 years taking pictures for this magazine alone. They've photographed roughly 715 articles, and at a current average of 29,000 frames shot per story, that works out to about 20.7 million images.'

Authors and photographers for National Geographic are perhaps one of the most diverse lots of people working for any periodical. From urban to rural, civilised to exotic to remote and desolate locations; from peaceful and happy events to battlefield and disaster situations; from home life to professional life to religious life and beyond, these women and men have covered almost every aspect of the world (and beyond!). Photographic and journalistic excellence is a hallmark of this magazine, and it shows in every issue.

But the maps! What about the maps? Oh, yes, this is perhaps the distinguishing feature of National Geographic, something that is also well-known from school days. Teachers always loved to put National Geographic maps up on the walls, and issues continue to include the most up-to-date maps of countries, physical features, even the moon, planets, and star systems.

The National Geographic Society was founded in 1888 as a nonprofit scientific and educational organization, and has in that time supported more than 6500 explorations and research projects. They have also included in more recent times to support students with scholarships. For instance, since 1993 they have given a scholarship each year to a British student in conjunction with the British Cartographic Society, in recognition of the outstanding mapmaking student in the UK. This will help continue the tradition on National Geographic.

I bought National Geographics for my elderly father over 3 months ago. To this day no magazines have arrived. Tired of waiting and after a phone call from him, I barred the wait to talked to someone in NG. They told me that going through Amazon takes at least 3 months!!! and that they have shiped my order two day ago and it will take 2 weeks in transport. If I go directly through them it takes 1 months.

I will no longer subscribe to National Geographic. This year we started getting unsolicited junk from either National Geographic or their "partner" companies masquerading as National Geographic and then billing us for the DVDs, maps, etc. I expressed my concerns in a letter to National Geographic about the problem and they did not bother to contact me. Of course now they are sending these bogus bills to their "collection department." No more National Geographic magazine EVER!

GREAT MAGAZINE - BUT ...

I can not stress to you enough not to buy this on Amazon through Synapse Services, Inc. You will not get your magazine, you will not receive a refund, and you will waste your time and money! Flush your money, it's more effictive way to get rid of it.

I purchased NG for my father in June 6th 2010 as a renewal to his subscription which was expiring on Feburary 2011. I just got a last chance renewal from NG, they say my subscription is expiring? It should be good till Feburary 2012! They said they did receive an order from Synapse on June 10th but then it was canceled by Synapse in July?

NG was nice enough to give me Synapse's phone number 877-813-0320. Be sure to press 0 and go for the agent, even though it won't help you, the supervisor can't help you either!

I just got off a long phone call with Synapse Services, Inc. they canceled the subscription for no reason on their end. They never fullfilled the request? They say they refunded, but there is no refund, Amazon still has it listed active? I just wanted the magazine, they had already received payment why did they cancel it? They can't tell me? I have never been so disatisfied with a company in my life. I will be contacting Amazon, contacting the Credit Card company for payment with no service, BBB for failure to produce service, etc. I will also issue a invoice to them for my wasted time!

Basically what this company does is when they receive the actual payment from Amazon they then call up NG and cancel your subscription so they don't have to pay NG and they keep the money. Wow; what a great money making business!!!

If you like getting phone calls while you eat dinner, order National Geographic. While I was looking forward to the great photography, I regret ordering a subscription to NatGeo. Be warned, they will call you while you eat, to pitch "we will you send you a free world map, and a video and if you choose to keep the video, we will only charge you $.$$"
After a long day of answering phones at work, I don't want my home phone to ring. But NatGeo will call, they will call again, sometimes they'll just hang up on you, sometimes they'll pitch a product.
With many print publications dying off due to the internet, it's amazing that NatGeo is driving customers away by becoming a 400 lb gorilla.
And if they call my house again, I will cancel my subscription, take the loss and call it a lesson learned. (and then begin reporting to the no phone sales administration.
Really sick of it.

As others have stated, probably not a great idea to order Nat Geo through Amazon. I placed my order in June and received a cancellation e-mail from them today. If Amazon can't fill the subscriptions at this price, they shouldn't be offering it. Great magazine, just don't order it here.

I cannot understand why this is still listed to sell here. I ordered this as a gift to my son before the holidays. They made it clear I would not receive until February and that was fine. But a day ago (January 20), Amazon emailed me to tell me my money had been refunded. I wrote to them to ask why. Someone called me from Amazon (that is a good thing that they followed up), but she could not give a clear explanation for why it was cancelled -- something to do with the seller having too many or not enough or??? But if this was the case, why is this still being offered? I'm tempted to try ordering again to see what happens, but if this means my son doesn't get his subscription, or we go through this again?? And, again they warn it will take 6 weeks. This would not bother me so much if this were not still here advertised to sell.

Is it safe to say that National Geographic is the finest magazine in the world? OK. I'll go out on a limb and say it: "National Geographic is the finest magazine in the world." There. I've said it. You simply cannot beat the always compelling writing about far-off and far-out places and thing, the stunning photography and the unobtrusive design that allows the reader to concentrate on both. Bonus: Maps! National Geographic usually has a few issues a year that feature suitable for the office wall-type maps. Who doesn't love maps? Never subscribed? Look for 3-4 long (probably about 6,000-8,000 words) features per issue. Each feature impecably written, painstakingly researched and accompanied by those jaw dropping photos. This is must-have stuff and it kicks the stuffing out of another night of TV.

A rose in Hell would be all the fairer as a God-breathed thing casting its beauty even in depths of darkness.

I have grown quite fond of National Geographic Magazine over the past few years. I am not a subscriber. My parents are. Yet, even as occasional bathroom lit, this magazine has enlightened me on much and changed my view on a subject more than once.

Is there any greater prophetic voice calling out in the wilderness today? None that I have found.

National Geographic has been going after some HUGE issues: the diamond trade, modern slavery, global warming, the epidemic of obesity, nuclear waste. They have covered these issues well and cast a bright light on many of the world's darkest places.

In this new age--where we have been softened and too often cozened by the prevalence of opinion, attitude and style over fact--National Geographic is the one place I know I can go for hard hitting journalism and writing (and excellent images--let's not forget that here) that rises above the everyday.

This remarkable magazine accomplishes all this and still covers the interesting places of the world (and beyond) with excellence. One recent article of this sort that springs to mind is one they did on Badlands National Park. I visited the park this summer and feel that my visit was deepened and enhanced by having first read the article.

I give National Geographic my highest recommendation.

This is a magizine which I look forward to reading each month. This is also the only magizine which I keep subscription to over years. Usually, I simply get one years worth of any magizine since articles tend to repeat themselves. Not so with National Geographic. I enjoy this magizine so much that I even get the slipcovers National Geographic sells to keep the magizines and maps organized and neat on my shelves(I also reccomend getting the slipcovers for anyone who wants to keep your collection organised)

As a child, I would read my parents extensive collection of National Geographic magizines month after month, and read back issues for the wonderful pictures, maps, and articles about different cultures. Many a school report was based on inspiration from this magizine.

I find the articles on science, anthropology, archeology, nature, current cultural events, and the many maps(about five a year) to be great reasons to keep my subscription up year after year. My three year old enjoys the varied pictures throughout the magizine, and as he gets older he will be introduced to the great articles and he will have a better start on geography because of the many maps from National Geographic which decorate the walls in our home.

I always find something new to learn from National Geographic. This is also a current heirloom of sorts...I hope to pass on the same love of learningto my children that I learned as a child, in part due this excellent magizine.