Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
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Book Reviews of Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Book Review: Adventure and danger combined with a fantastic study of human nature and leadship.
Summary: 5 Stars
What strikes me so profoundly is the leadership study the book almost unitentionally provides in its views of Shackleton. Over and over he makes seemingly intuative choices that are really well thought out, showing his intimate study of the men in his crew and they prove perfect for maintaining peace and harmony amoung his men stuck in very close quarters for the better part of two years. That there was so little tendancy for rebellion speaks volumes about his character and what he inspired in others. He was careful when need be and seemingly reekless when the situation called for it such as his decision to slide down the mountain in the final stage of the rescue trek.
This alone would make for wonderful reading, but you live the life on the men on the ice suddenly finding yourself running for your life from a Leapord Seal that came lunging out of the sea planning to eat you. We are not talking about a cute little Sea World animal, but a twelve foot creature that out weighs you ten to one and will catch and kill you unless you companions can shoot it in the next few moments.
Even though you know the outcome this book never lets go of its grip on you until the end which is unsettlingly sudden. The lives of the men demonstrate the values and importance of things too often neglected in our day and age. A tremendous tool to teaching values!
Book Review: A triumph in adventure storytelling
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the most fascinating adventure stories I've ever read.
Expeditions to Antarctica in the 20th century did not always turn out well. And this is one of many that did not achieve its objectives. The idea was to cross the Antarctic continent. And I do recommend the book by Vivian Fuchs and Edmund Hillary on the first successful crossing of Antarctica, which was completed only in 1958.
This book is about the 1914-1916 Shackleton expedition, which attempted to start by reaching Vahsel Bay in Antarctica using a strong 144-foot, 350 horsepower wooden ship named the Endurance.
But the Endurance never quite reached Vahsel Bay. Instead, it became stuck in the ice near the Antarctic coast and eventually had to be abandoned. That left the crew having to find a way to reach land, survive on that land, and find a way to send for help so that it could be rescued. Even for a crew that had been prepared for being in cold weather and difficult circumstances, this turned out to be tricky. It makes one amazed at how able people are to survive in extreme environments. And, of course, this book is a testament to the leadership of Ernest Shackleton.
Not only is the book very well-written and suspenseful, it also includes some terrific photos about the expedition. It's a great work of non-fiction, and I highly recommend it.
Book Review: Just Buy IT
Summary: 5 Stars
.... OK, just go order this book right now and read it.
Now that we have that out of the way. Wow what a story! Ernest Shackleton what a man. Since the south pole had already been "discovered", in 1914 Shackelton decided to dog sled across the continent of Antarctica! Unfortunately opon reaching the east coast his ship became locked in the ice eventually completely demolished by the ice flow. Cast out they lived on a floating ice pack for five months! When they were down to one small berg they abandoned the ice and sailed in very small lifeboats to a barren rock Elephant Island. Here the majority stayed behind and Shackleton and small group sailed again in one of the lifeboats over 600 miles to a whaling port! Talk about endurance, the word pales in the accomplishment of these men. And mostly in the fortitude of will that one man Shackleton had.
Some enlightening aspects:
The men on Elephant Island so desperate for cigarettes they smoked the inside packing of their boots.
Shackleton dirty, stinky and having just climbed over impassible mountains knocking on the door of the whaling portmasters door and stating:
"My Name is Shackleton".
I highly recommend this white-knuckle, bone crunching, gut-wrenching adventure story that you will not be able to put down and will enthrall you. I was so excited I also bought the complete photo record by Frank Hurly.
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Book Review: Just simply incredible.......
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a story anyone evenly remotely interested in high adventure should make time to read. And you think you have troubles? You need to read this amazing story. It is full of incredible events and stars some of the most interesting and powerful characters. Ernest Shackleton has got to be rated one of the top five leaders in all history. His concern and dedication toward his crew astounds. Just when you think that things are getting better for the crew of Endurance.......wham, another major hurtle. You can barely put this book down. It is unreal how strong and durable these men were during the most adverse of conditions. The story is well written by the author and what a story it is. He makes you feel like you are the 29th crew member with his phrasing and with his descriptions of Antarctic exploration. "Endurance" is the perfect word for it's title. I hope you will not miss this epic adventure. These were men like no others I know of, during a time when they didn't have the modern adventurer's high tech systems of communication and rescue. Their bravery and their physical powers are off the scale. I can't recommend this book more highly to you. If you even half-like adventure, this one's for you. It pales our modern day adventurers. I think it is the Adventure of the Millenium, bar none. Read it.Book Review: The Greatest survival story ever.
Summary: 5 Stars
Unfortunately we live in an age when the word "Hero" is used to describe some footballer for scoring a goal; or an actor that says something marginally controversial; not a man who drags himself and his comrades across the worst, most lethal terrain known to man. That tabloid overuse of the word "Hero" is to the detrement of the English language, as comparing men like these to a sports man is like comparing chalk and cheese. To read of their feats of bravery is an honour, few are worthy to stand in their shaddow.I must admit that I have always considered Sir Ernest Shackleton to be one of my all time heroes (along with Sir Douglas Barder), his tale of leadership, courage and endurance is covered well by other reviews, I would just like to say how much of an inspiration and enjoyable read Mr Lansing's book is. I came across the story of Sir Ernest when visiting the Fram museum in Norway (the Fram was Amundsen's ship that got him to the South Pole) and picked up the book as soon as I could; I was not disapointed!
The book ends in tragedy. After achieving the impossible they returned to an England loosing over 5000 men a week to war in the trenches of Flanders. That such brave men volunteered to fight for King and Country after their horrendous ordeal is a tribute to their valour.