Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders: 1

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I was once a world-traveler. This had nothing to do with my courage and everything to do with my father being in the US Air Force. I had the privilege of being born in Germany and living in The Philippines, Italy, England, and even Nebraska. And all over the United States. Foer is married to Dinah Herlands, a medical student at Yale, whom he met while an undergraduate at Yale. We spent five years planning, researching, and writing this book, and we can’t wait for you to read it. It contains ourmost treasuredwonders, from Galileo’s middle finger to everyone’s favorite giant flaming hole in the Turkmenistan desert. There arenew maps and illustrations, gorgeous photos, and useful information oneverything from preventing premature burial to not getting killed by one of Australia’s many deadly animals. One of the many examples of hidden wonders discussed in the book is the Great Blue Hole in Belize. This underwater sinkhole is a breathtaking marvel of nature, with its perfectly circular shape and mesmerizing shades of blue. Despite its striking beauty and uniqueness, the Great Blue Hole remained relatively unknown to the world until recent years. By featuring this lesser-known wonder, Atlas Obscura sheds light on the incredible natural formations that lie hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered and admired by those who venture off the beaten path. A travel guide for the most adventurous of tourists . . . a wonderful browse [for] armchair travelers who enjoyed Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York and Frank Warren’s PostSecret.” —Library Journal

Drogin’s book had dozens of such curses in it, and he had collected at least a dozen more to include in the second edition, which was never published. Inside his copy of the book, he still has a baggie of antique file cards, full of book curses. For those who have always yearned to travel, experience new cultures, and discover the untold stories of our world, Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer is the perfect guide. This extraordinary book stimulates the imagination and encourages readers to explore the hidden gems that lie beneath the surface, providing a glimpse into the rich tapestry of human creativity and the wonders of nature. While it is unclear exactly how this skin book got to the Athenaeum, anecdotal evidence suggests it was donated by John Fenno, Jr.’s daughter sometime in the 19th century. There it sits today, describing the life of the man it is also made from.Writers Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ellen Morton have put together a sumptuous compendium of some of Obscura's more photogenic oddities. There are tons of fabulous photographs and illustrations throughout and while hardcore weird history buffs might prefer it if descriptions were a tad more in depth the authors smart, gently quippy analysis of each entry is certainly enough to whet the appetite and send fans scurrying to do research of their own. A few days ago I had read a cool book on strange places to visit in the world. It was an interesting book and gave me some cool ideas. If I had a complaint it was the book was not that big and highlighted 51 places to visit.

This feeling obviously stayed with me, and it’s at the heart of Atlas Obscura. So it is a great joy, alongside my incredible co-author Rosemary Mosco and our talented illustrator Joy Ang, to announce the official release of the Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid. It’s a book for any young person who loves adventure, exploring, or just daydreaming about the world and wondering, what’s out there? Beholding hundreds of off-the-beaten-path gems, this book is a treasure chest of wanderlust where readers are transported to places they’re certain to have never encountered.” — Marie Claire

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Born in Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1809 to a struggling family, Allen fell into a life of crime at the age of fifteen, after a chance meeting with a master thief. He spent most of his life in and out of different jails: while incarcerated, he would read books, learn trades, and get on well with everyone, but as soon as he got out, he would return directly to burglaring and highway-robbing. Eventually, he died of tuberculosis at the state prison in Charlestown, MA. But these, I freely admit, are just a few scattered examples—and they're among the easiest for U.S. residents like me to visit, to boot. Many of the landmarks in Atlas Obscura are significantly less accessible—even if you're a wealthy and seasoned world traveler, even if you happen to be in the same country (or even on the same continent) they're in, or near. The presence of an entry in the Atlas must not be read as encouragement, a promise of availability, or any guarantee of safety. Geography, politics, radiation, wild beasts, structural issues... the barriers are as diverse as the entries themselves—which is exactly why (or at least one big reason why) this collection is such a treasure. This book is so rich with information, research, and photographs. It brings new locations, objects, and monuments to light in a unique way with showcasing the strange and outstanding corners of the world that will bring out numerous emotions from disbelief to wonder. It is an entertaining travel book that makes me want to reach out of my comfort zone and begin exploring the world, but it is also filled with history on places and people that I would have not otherwise learned, which makes it all the more captivating. You'll be occupied for hours, discovering Fingal's Cave in Scotland, a sea cave with walls perfectly hexagonal columns, or the Tree Cathedral in Italy, a piece of living architecture that continues to grow. There are also morbid findings, like did you know that the Overtoun Bridge, located in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, is known as the dog suicide bridge? Since the 1960s, around 50 dogs have perished after leaping to their deaths from the same spot on the bridge.

Inspired by our growing Atlas of almost 15,000 unique places around the world, the kids’ book includes places such as Blood Falls in Antarctica, the Crystal Caves in Naica, Mexico, and the Root Bridges of Cherrapunji, India. Atlas Obscura is a joyful antidote to the creeping suspicion that travel these days is little more than a homogenized corporate shopping opportunity. Here are hundreds of surprising, perplexing, mind-blowing, inspiring reasons to travel a day longer and farther off the path. . . . Bestest travel guide ever.” Or perhaps your exploration takes you underground, delving deep into the heart of a modern urban city. Beneath the bustling streets of Montreal lies an extensive network of tunnels known as the Underground City. Within this subterranean maze, a parallel universe resides, boasting a mesmerizing blend of shops, restaurants, and theaters. As you descend further into this hidden realm, the intricate web of passageways becomes almost maze-like, a testament to human ingenuity. Despite the labyrinthine complexity, the Underground City hums with life, filled with individuals seeking respite from the freezing Canadian winters or simply relishing in the thrill of navigating through an underground metropolis. This captivating world below ground mirrors the layered nature of Atlas Obscura itself, encapsulating a rich tapestry of experiences waiting to be explored. The book continues to take readers on a whirlwind exploration of extraordinary places and hidden wonders that span the globe. From the towering sand dunes of Namibia's Skeleton Coast to the breathtaking glowworm caves of New Zealand, Atlas Obscura introduces readers to a world of awe-inspiring discoveries. The magnificent architectural marvels of Petra in Jordan, the whimsical Fairy Circles in Namibia, and the ethereal beauty of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand are just a few of the countless examples that invite readers to step off the beaten path and embrace the wonders that lie beyond the familiar. Another fascinating example highlighted by the book is the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. This peculiar museum is like no other, dedicated to showcasing a collection of strange and captivating artifacts that blur the line between fact and fiction. Visitors to the museum are greeted with exhibits such as the Micromosaics of Harold Napoleon, which features intricate mosaics made from the tiny wings of butterflies. The Olfactory Archive is another exhibit that captures the imagination, exploring the complexities and nuances of human scent. The Museum of Jurassic Technology stands as a testament to the hidden wonders that can be found even in our everyday surroundings, encouraging readers to see the beauty and fascination that surrounds them.Expand Your Palate: Explore the world through your taste buds by trying new and unusual foods. Seek out restaurants or markets specializing in international cuisine. Be adventurous and sample dishes with exotic ingredients or from lesser-known cultures. Expand your culinary horizons and engage in cross-cultural connections. A travel guide for the most adventurous of tourists . . . a wonderful browse [for] armchair travelers who enjoyed Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York and Frank Warren’s PostSecret.” —Library Journal What a strange and wonderful book! It is as curious and surprising as Saddam Hussein’s very own Blood Qur’an—written in his own blood—which I would never have known about had I not read the amazing Atlas Obscura.”