alexs's Full Review: Alfred Lansing - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredibl...
The context for this story is a series of 'scientific' expeditions in the early part of this century funded by various national governments to conquer the last frontiers on the globe: the North and South poles. Not unlike the space race, the race to the poles had more to do with national pride than any particular scientific interests. These races were also some of the last true tests of the limits of human strength - both mentally and physically.
Ernest Shackleton's first polar expedition (a trip to reach the South pole) failed in 1907 when he and three companions ran out of food 97 miles from their goal. His second expedition (1914) is similarly fated - a fact that Lansing (author) makes clear in the first pages of this book. While the failure to reach the mission objective (the crossing of the Antarctic continent) is apparent as soon as the Endurance is crushed in the Antarctic ice pack, this is only the beginning of "Shackleton's Incredible Voyage."
What follows is a story that without Lansing's brilliant execution, could not be accepted as the truth. By pulling together the details from almost every diary kept during the trip, Lansing tells a truly fantastic tale of human endurance, and the truest, realest leadership I have ever read about.
Each obstacle that the expedition encounters on its journey to safety would make a book in itself - many required expertise and equipment that they simply didn't have. As each barrier was overcome, another would loom in front of them, each successive barrier more immense than the last.
Although the reader hears little from Shackleton except through the ears of others, we watch this at times arrogant, and always over-confident leader agonize over the welfare of his team, a responsibility which he keeps for himself. Over the course of the year and half after the Endurance is trapped in the ice pack and their return to South Georgia, Shackleton manages to keep his head despite near death from the elements on an almost daily basis.
His strength, and the strength of the men who joined him on this journey, are an inspiration to behold. It is determination such as theirs that continues to change the world even today.
This book is the most tremendous thriller I have ever read, and the fact that it is true forced me to set new personal goals to reach towards. I recommend it to everyone.
In 1914, an expedition headed by Sir Ernest Shackleton set out to be the first to cross the continent of Antarctica. Shipwrecked and marooned for mont...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.