An Interesting and Enlightening Biography

SUMMARY
“You may not know my name, but chances are you have encountered my family legacy.” starts Gilbert Grosvenor in the prologue to his biographical story of his role at National Geographic. Grosvenor, a Yale graduate, followed in the footsteps of four generations of family members at the National Geographic Society, including his great-grandfather Alexander Graham Bell.


A Man of the World highlights Grosvenor’s family history as well as his rise through the ranks at National Geographic starting in 1954. Grosvenor was witness to six decades of exploration, and education by the National Geographic with the likes of Jane Goodall, Jacques Cousteau, Robert Peary and Louis Leakey. Grosvenor served as Editor, President and Chairman of the Society and shepherded the early days of evolution from a print media empire with the iconic yellow bordered gloss print magazine to also include a website, social media, television, books, film, and many other educational initiatives.

REVIEW
I loved getting my hands on those beautiful yellow bordered magazines each month. My father gave me a subscription as a Christmas gift when I was twelve, and I was forever enamored. The photography was awesome and I was soon dreaming of one day becoming a National Geographic photographer. Coincidentally, my first subscription occurred about the same time that Gilbert Grosvenor had become editor of the magazine.

One of my favorite stories Grosvenor shares in this book was his 1979 invitation to an expedition to the North Pole. That story had me hooked, not only did he dive under the North Pole ice, but while underwater he suspended himself upside down, and he took four steps on the underside of the North Pole ice. He had walked under the North Pole.

A Man of the World is an interesting and enlightening biography. I loved reading about the explorations sponsored by National Geographic, and especially appreciated the behind the scenes look at National Geographic’s management. I was disappointed to see that very few women had played any type of leadership role in the company. When Grosvenor finally recruited a highly qualified woman she was subsequently passed over for promotion by others and sadly forced to leave for a better offer.

I listened to the audiobook and would rate the overall performance as well as the pacing and inflection as good. National Geographic fans will love this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Though his career path had been paved by four generations of his family before him, Gilbert M. Grosvenor left his own mark on the National Geographic Society, founded in 1888 and recognized the world over by its ubiquitous yellow border. In an unflinchingly honest memoir as big as the world and all that is in it, Grosvenor shows us what it was like to “grow up Geographic.””

Turns out, I’m one of those arseholes that starts their reviews with, “I really wanted to like this book, but….”.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. I wanted tales of high adventure to places I’ll likely never go. While there was some, it was mostly just the recounting of how GMG went from privileged child, from whose mouth “the family yacht” comes naturally, to a privileged adult.

Sour grapes? Probably. I also think The National Geographic’s long history of racism and exploitation needed more than a single sentence, conveying little more than a literary shoulder shrug.

2/5

Thanks to NetGalley and National Geographic for this ARC.

Grosvenor, born in 1931, grew up in a household that held science, explorers and nature in high esteem, he is the great grandson of Alexander Graham Bell and some of the greatest minds in science were frequent visitors to his family home. As an adult, he took on the role of photographer, editor and finally, president of the National Geographic Society. This fascinating book is his memoir, a look into some of the most fascinating places, discoveries and minds of the twentieth century. Prepare to be awed