As curator of National Geographic’s Book Talk, Simon Worrall interviews authors of books about science, animals, adventure, history, and the wonders of the world. As publisher and editorial director of National Geographic Books, Lisa Thomas spends her time working with authors to create just those sorts of books. Worrall and Thomas got together to talk about their favorite books of the year.

As an untouchable, he didn’t have any hope of escaping a life of poverty and discrimination. But he was a talented artist and got a scholarship to go to art school in Delhi. To make ends meet, while at school, he sketched tourists in the main public square.

One day, he looked up and there was this beautiful