Terra Maxima: The Records of Humankind - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1770852425 ISBN 13: 9781770852426

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2013

Synopsis

The greatest achievements of humankind in one stunning volume.

From the most widely used languages and scripts, to the great religious communities, to the giant structures and the technological successes of the modern age -- this volume offers a fascinating overview of the records and achievements of civilization in their entirety and diversity.

More than 3000 color photographs taken by top photographers around the world celebrate the cultural and technological touchstones of human history. Ranking lists provide at-a-glance overviews while descriptive captions give substantial information on a number of topics. Concise text tells of the economic developments and population growth in our megacities, the pioneering work done in science and technology, and the remarkable innovations in the construction of museums, theaters, libraries and sports venues, among many other human achievements.

The book is set out in ten chapters, each covering dozens of topics laid out in double-page spreads filled with brilliant photographs of structures and technology.

• Countries and Nations: biggest land masses, populations, industrial production, exports
• Cities: biggest areas, infrastructures, capital buildings
• Languages and Scripts: most widely spoken and written languages, most books published
• Faith and Religion: biggest cathedrals, mosques and synagogues; most populous religions; longest or biggest pilgrimages; oldest ruins of past religions
• Megastructures: biggest skyscrapers, palaces, towers and state buildings
• Transportation and Traffic: Fastest trains, biggest and busiest train stations, longest bridges, longest freight trains, busiest ports and largest freight and passenger ships
• Aviation and Space Travel: biggest planes - passenger and military; biggest space facilities and rockets; fastest aircraft; biggest airports by size and passenger count
• Science and Research: biggest research labs and stations and observatories
• Sports and Leisure: biggest sports stadiums
• Art and Culture: biggest museums by size and number of artworks.

Fascinating browsing, essential reference, and a tremendous documentation of contemporary achievement, Terra Maxima is a unique compilation of the ultimate.

About this title

About the Author

Wolfgang Kunth is a prominent publisher of illustrated reference books. He lives in Germany

Reviews

*Starred Review* The best way to describe this book is to just say it simply: this is a compendium of all of the big things on planet Earth. This stunning and unique volume is comprised of more than 3,000 full-color photographs—most laid out across two-page spreads—that showcase the biggest and the best religious, cultural, and technological marvels of the world.The work is broken down into 10 sections: “Countries and Nations,” “Languages and Scripts,” “Faith and Religion,” “Cities and Metropolises,” “Urban Megastructures,” “Transportation and Traffic,” “Aviation and Space Travel,” “Art and Culture,” “Science and Research,” and “Sports and Leisure.” The narrative material is made up of lists (including the most populous countries in the world, the most widely spoken and widely written languages in the world, the most important temples in Hinduism, and the longest bridges in Africa) and of photo captions that illuminate interesting facts and figures. Readers will learn about the biggest container ships in the world and the populations of various areas across the planet, and they will get an inside look at the largest opera houses and theaters in existence. Beautiful photographs show off the most important natural-history museums of the world; the largest stadiums in Asia, Australia, and Africa; and the fastest train in the world.Meant as a browsable volume rather than a reference book, this is a prime example of how books can trump the Internet—readers who pick up this volume will want to spend time flipping through the pages, marveling at the facts and figures within, in a totally different experience than they can get from following links through Wikipedia or searching Google Images. The visual appeal and excellent price point make this book highly recommended for libraries of all types and sizes. --Rebecca Vnuk

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Humans have admired and studied the most outstanding products of civilization since time immemorial. Likewise, the ways that these records of achievement symbolize the cultures they represent never cease to captivate the human mind. In this book, the most important records of humankind have been brought together in one beautiful, useful compendium.

From the most widely used languages and scripts in the world and the greatest national and religious communities to giant structures and the technological successes of the modern age -- this volume offers a fascinating overview of the great record achievements of humankind, presenting them in their entirety and diversity.

With a wealth of outstanding images by top photographers of international renown Terra Maxima presents the greatest religious structures that have been built around the world. The book showcases the magnificent residences that secular rulers have had erected over the centuries as a symbol of their power, as well as the soaring monuments of contemporary architecture and the superb feats of modern engineering. Also explored are the economic developments and population growth in our planet's megacities as well as the pioneering work done in science and technology. Further sections cover innovations in the construction of museums, theaters, libraries and sports venues. Numerous ranking lists provide an at-a-glance overview, while concise descriptions supply useful background information on every topic.

Wolfgang Kunth

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1770852425
• ISBN 13: 9781770852426
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 576
• Editor: Kunth Wolfgang