Day in the World

Put together by ADay.org, a branch of the foundation Expressions of Humankind (an organization dedicated to scientific research and education focused on the photographic image and the written word), this collection includes a foreword by Sir Richard Branson and an introduction by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both of whom emphasize the project's aim to "document humankind" and "creat[e] the potential for a better world." The images each capture a slice of life on May 15, 2012, and are often organized according to theme%E2%80%94getting ready for the day, buildings around the world, and self-portraits. Though equal billing for professional and amateur photographers is noble in concept, the collection would have been better served by more careful organization and editing. Unfortunately, a day is not narrow enough a scope to provide a sense of universality. That the thematic organization of like-tasks seems to follow a Western clock only further undermines the project's aims. 1,000 color photos. (Oct.)