I be a NatGeo junky . my collection of this magazine span four decade . this publication be magnificent for many of the reason that have already be state . if human be to send a capsule into deep space so that a alien culture might come upon it and learn something about the Earth and it be inhabitant , many have suggest that the capsule contain the entire National Geographic collection - 1888 to the present . in what other publication can you find fascinating article , map , rendering and photo on Pterodons , a frog epidemic , Lewis & Clark , the Hubble space telescope , and balinese culture - and all this in a single issue ?! it truly be the Universal Encyclopedia . answer accusation : the magazine report on `` the world and everything in it '' as honestly and evenly as any publication could hope to do . in the past decade , many of Geographic 's story have focus on imperil species , culture or ecosystem . these be hugely important issue that we should be proud to learn about . I get incense when people accuse the magazine and its editor of be political -lrb- leftist -rrb- . every article -lrb- I have read every issue since 1961 -rrb- which concern the environment explore both side of the issue at hand - the need of people and the impact on the planet . the Magazine have not become more liberal in the past 4 decade , the world itself have become a more impoverished place as the we number have soar past 6 billion . this magazine get my absolute highest recommendation . I wish that everyone out there would subscribe to and collect National Geographic . not only will they become a ornament on you bookshelf or coffee table , but you 'll be wiser and more worldly after immerse yourself in they , as well .