The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition

Amazing story well told.

Bookstores are flooded with various titles covering Shackleton's Endurance expedition, but I heartily recommend starting with this excellent release from Caroline Alexander. The narrative is a well told accounting of the origins of the voyage, the expedition itself, and a good epilogue that feeds your desire to know what became of these guys after the completion of the journey. Alexander did her homework here - she talked to the few remaining crewman still alive after all these years as well as the family members of those crew members that have passed away. However, what sets the book apart from the rest of the field is the lush, magnificent printing of 170 of Frank Hurley's stunning photographs. The photos do more than any words can to enhance the readers understanding of the stunning polar conditions and deprivations suffered by the crew. Flip through any of the other books about the Endurance, and you'll find a only small sub-set of Hurley's photos, usually notable only by their poor reproduction quality (Shackleton's own 'South' memoir springs to mind). In addition to its intrinsic value in describing one of the foremost adventurers of the Polar Age, the book is also helpful to anyone looking to learn about leadership. Shackleton took his responsibilities of leadership very seriously & practiced the art long before anyone like Peter Drucker or Tom Peters came along to give it a name and study it. Shackleton's tendency to be inclusive rather than exclusive and his expert reading of the personalities that comprised the crew were the key differences between survival and death. Alexander does a wonderful job reporting the episodes that capture the essence of Shackleton's role as a true leader of men.

Superb writing that holds you to the story. The author delves into the reasons Shackleton picked the crew he did and it makes sense. The adventure is weaved throughout the historical story and it is intense. I learned a lot and am even more impressed by Shackleton's handling of the situation. He was a superb leader and knew what he was doing. This book is very difficult to put down because you become totally engrossed in the events. It is almost as though you are a member of the crew.

The Endurance is simply excellently told, and with captivating photography. I was stunned the first time I read it ... and, it has been a re-read every year, twice a year (at least once per hot summer and every cold January) since that first page turner. What a company of men, led by a resolute and ultimately fair individual, can do is astonishing ... and inspires hope (and humility). You will wonder at the predicament and cringe at the odds ...and then marvel at what ... and how ... they overcome them. Then, suffer right along with those left on the island ... The book chronicles the 'refuse to quit on even one man' efforts of Shackleton, who struggled against unimaginable hardships in the most inhospitable place on earth, in an effort to deliver His men to safety ... from what must surely be an unavoidable fate. The journey will astound you ... enthrall you ... have you re-reading pages to try to appreciate the magnitude of the circumstance ... and then have you shaking your head in awe. These men WERE made of sterner stuff. Shackleton was not a perfect man, but ... a perfect hero for that very reason. Our world could use more like him. I encourage you to try this book ... it will change your outlook ... on many things. Q.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Just an incredible story about an exploration trip that got into serious trouble but through the incredible leadership and determination of the crew all of them made it home. A photographer was brought on the trip, an incredible feat itself given the load, so the book is not only an incredible story but has pictures throughout. This is an inspirational book about taking risks, preserving during hard times and determination to solve the problem that confronts one.

Enjoyed this book tremendously. Made me feel I was right there with them through it all.

This is an excellent photo and text over-view of the Endurance journey and the associated drama that followed its sinking. The photos are the key to this version of the story, giving something to the epic that words alone cannot give. I have long been fascinated by the Endurance expedition and this book is a "must have" to complete any collection of, or visit to, this story. The fusion of multiple versions of the story gathered from many different persons and the compilation of various types of data and historic sources also make this book a unique and special read. Though space and publishing would not allow inclusion of all available photos, one flaw might be that the author was not able to include more photos. I found this to be a great addtion to a Shackleton/Endurance collection.

This is, without a doubt, the single best non-fiction chronicle demonstrating perseverance, courage and leadership of all time! The magnitude of adversity encountered by the crew is only captured in this illustrated version of the story. Most of photographer Hurley's glass plates had to be destroyed but those that remain are sufficient documentation of the incredible unwavering leadership of Shackleton which enabled crew members to endure overwhelming hardships and accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. All the important lessons in life are contained within its pages and that any of the participants, let alone all of them, survived is the miracle. I scour used book stores and eBay so I always have at least three copies on hand to give to various nursing home residents, VA hospital residents and teenagers so they get to experience both the true adventure as well as the leadership examples exhibited in the book. And the responses of the recipients keep me purchasing (usually for less than $7 each) more to distribute. An incredible true life tale with lessons for all of us.

Bellísima edición, es un libro de arte espectacular

Having read all the books on Shackleton's incredible and heroic Antarctic expedition, where his own superb leadership skills are worth a study in their own rite, Caroline Alexander's outstanding and well researched narrative makes this book the best written on this extraordinary epic of courage, stoic endurance and leadership so far written. The book is a study in the balance between maps, photographs and narrative. Altogether the book is a must read!

The book came in very good condition with a nice brown covering, as shown in the pictures above. The only downside was that there was a slight indent in the bottom right corner of the paper covering, as can be seen in the third image included above. Otherwise, the quality was perfect. The pages are thick and slightly glossy. The book includes a number of pictures, almost all taken by the voyage’s photographer Frank Hurley. These images are high quality and placed perfectly to add to the story’s progression. As for the story itself, it is an incredible and true tale that will captivate your imagination. The narration is largely based off the diaries of those on the expedition - most notably that of Ernest Shackleton. It is easy reading and yet incredibly detailed. I would certainly recommend this product to those looking to gift a book for dad, brother, or anyone who enjoys reading.

The book shows excellent pictures, 100 years old. Praise the photographer. The text uses different views, great. The voyage was useless, even if the goal had been reached. It did not result in new knowledge, in new cartography. All things were known. It was inhuman in collecting the sailors. It served only the own or national ego. For rescue, the public was asked.

C'est un très beau livre, une histoire de survie incroyable illustrée par les très belles photos prises par le cameraman membre de l'équipage.