A Man of the World

The captivating inside story of the man who helmed National Geographic from the 1960s to the 1980s is a front-row seat to iconic feats of exploration, from Jane Goodall’s first assignment to the discovery of Titanic, offering a rare portrait of one of the most iconic media empires in history.

In the middle of the 20th century, there was a man whose name–and magazine–was recognized from Tanzania to Siberia. His vision for a world full of wonder created one of the most unique and beloved institutions on the planet. His name is Gilbert M. Grosvenor.

For more than 100 years, Grosvenor’s family led the National Geographic Society, building it from a Victorian club in 1888 to a powerful media empire recognized the world over for the iconic yellow rectangle that has outlasted nearly all rival brands. In this swashbuckling memoir, Grosvenor tells the story of “growing up Geographic,” from editorial assignments that took him from the Arctic Circle and into the jungle with Jane Goodall to the helm of the flagship magazine as its editor-in-chief, growing its circulation to more than 10 million subscribers, and launching a book imprint, television programming, and a geography education initiative. Grosvenor’s life spans the sweep of Henry Luce’s “American Century” and is set against some of the most breathtaking locations this planet has to offer, including the temples of Angkor Wat and the banks of the Nile, and events such as the crowning of an African prince and the funeral of Winston Churchill. And it is lived against the challenging backdrop of simultaneously serving an active membership and documenting a changing planet.

This extraordinary memoir from one of the most successful media executives of the 20th century–filled with pirates, royalty, treasures, frostbite, shipwrecks, impenetrable jungles, hidden tombs, and ancient temples–is the story of American journalism writ large. And it’s a galvanizing call to action that will inspire readers to explore and protect our world.