How much can live on twelve inches of the Earth? Plenty. In fact, look closely and you’ll find A World in One Cubic Foot (Univ. of Chicago, $45). National Geographic photographer and one-time assistant to Richard Avedon, David Liittschwager traveled the world and focused on one cubic foot of six distinct habitats. Ranging from Central Park to a Central American cloud forest, from Tennessee’s Duck River to a Polynesian coral reef, Liittschwager’s subjects yield not the lush panoramas of classic nature imagery but the finest details of the tiniest creatures. A cubic foot of water under the Golden Gate Bridge harbors some 9,000 living organisms; a drop of this water reveals their diverse shapes, textures, and delicate colors. And who dreamed that the Temae Reef’s squat lobster (.49” across) boasted such dazzling orange spots? Whether you’re looking the minuscule (.39” long) shell-less marine snail in its black speck of an eye or admiring the velvety green moss on a river cooter’s back, these elegant, amazing pictures are simply beautiful. Oh, and—the photos are complemented by essays from distinguished writers—poets, journalists, scientists—who also live in these places.