Customer Reviews

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

5 star:		(292)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Anyone about to read Lansing's account of the Shackleton Trans-Antarctica expedition of 1914-1916 is in for a real treat. The collection of Frank Hurley's original photos of the journey have now been published to serve as a useful companion in helping the reader visualize the many daunting challenges that these brave men faced. The actual written version of this adventure has many things to commend it. For instance, Lansing pulls no punches when describing the torturous landscape of this ice-bound continent. The description is so graphic throughout that, even without the pictures, the reader should have no problem understanding the monstrous task facing Shackleton and his men as they tried to sledge across its upheaved surface. Based on fairly detailed diaries kept by certain members of the team, Lansing pieces together a chronology of events that stretches from the original outfitting of the expedition to its ultimate rescue two years later. A lot of facts are provided as to how the men fared along the way, what their interpersonal relations were like, and what the circumstance were that doomed the completion of the original mission. Each of the key members of the crew was assessed as to how they contributed to the overall morale of the ship. Some had a positive role in terms of raising spirits, performing critical duties, and participating in various rescue outings, while several got in the way with their selfish attitudes. Shackleton is especially singled out as a man of experience and enormous courage who often kept his own counsels but never failed in his unswerving loyalty to his men. While the original goal of making it across the continent never happened because of some unfortunate mishaps along the way, the story does have a terrific ending: a rescue like none ever seen before or since. Shackleton, with the help of some of his trusted officers and a small boat rescued from the badly crushed "Endurance", sailed across a thousand miles of open seas to South Georgia to get help for his stranded men at Elephant Island. Lansing chooses to cover this part of the voyage because it shows how dedicated and determined Sir Ernest was to a challenge at hand: huge swells; ice floes; extreme cold: vast stretches of open sea; lack of food and potable water. Their eventual arrival at South Georgia is seen as a miracle akin to hitting a target with the crudest of reckoning. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grasp the true meaning of teamwork in overcoming some impossible odds of survival.

Wow. The strength, courage and capacity to stay alive in the most extreme conditions of weather and mental toughness. An excellent book written from primary documents and interviews that give the reader an insight into the lives and conditions that these men endured throughout this voyage.

When I first heard about this story from a friend I knew I had to read the book. This is an amazing story of human endurance and leadership. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat as you can't help but imagine yourself in those circumstances. The men on this journey kept detailed journals of their journey - the author had access to these journals - the detail provided for this true story is powerful. A great read i definitely recommend.

I have purchased and sent Endurance, Schackleton's Incredible Voyage to family and friends. It is a great example of leadership, focus, tenacity, and courage. And it is a true story. I would like to see more of this kind of personal achievement.

The story of Shackelton's legendary third attempt for the South Pole should be read by everyone at least once. (Perhaps Peter Fonda in On Golden Pond might've added this one to his list of essential reading for boys along with Treasure Island.) Using source documents and interviews, Lansing's account, first published in 1959, of is likely one of the best adventure stories ever told.

With hundreds of reviews already, this is, admittedly, overkill. But this one deserves every word of praise.

The immensity of the misadventure that befell the Endurance and her crew is humbling - both for the grandeur of the voyage itself but also for the moral stature and strength of character of the men involved.

Lessons in psychology and leadership abound.

"...there was a remarkable absence of discouragement...nobody paused to think on the terrible consequences of losing their ship...there was even a mild exhilaration in their attitude. At least they had a clear-cut task ahead of them...Now they simply had to get themselves out, however appallingly difficult that might be."

"From studying the outcome of past expeditions, he believed that those that burdened themselves with equipment to meet every contingency had fared much worse than those that had sacrificed total preparedness for speed."

Although the first half consists chiefly of waiting around on ice floes, Lansing's narrative is gripping throughout. (The landscape and pace quickens upon reaching Elephant Island.) But in the end, it's the story itself that stands alone as the genius behind this read.

Pack it along with you on your next trip. Worth its weight in gold. Unless of course you have to ditch it to make room for seal blubber or a frozen penguin.

this book is about how you SHOULD live!
Go for it!

I agree with many others this must be one of the greatest survival stories ever told. If you have read the The Longest Walk and found it to be a page turner you will not go wrong buying Endurance. And we know for sure that Endurance is all true.

I saw a documentary on the Shackleton Voyage on PBS and decided to read the book. It was without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read.

It comprehensively tells the story of the Endurance in such a way that my attention was riveted from the first page until the last.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse, it would. Thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the book and strongly recommend it to others. Learned an amazing amount about arctic exploration in an easy to read and follow format. Awesome.

Endurance is a true story about an explorer named Ernest Shackleton who tried to cross Antarctica. While traveling to Antarctica, his ship got trapped in ice. He was stuck on the ice with his crew for months until his ship, the Endurance, was abandoned. They then lived on the ice until they attempted to escape back to civilization. They hiked across miles of ice and sailed in life boats to Deception Island. Shackleton sailed to an Island nearly 500 miles away, then crossed the islands uncharted interior by foot. Finally he stumbled into the whaling station with his two companions and sent a relief ship to the rest of his crew on Deception Island.
This was a great book. It kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire book. The odds of the entire crew surviving was astronomical, and to think that Shackleton actually pulled off the rescue is amazing. It was a gripping story about survival. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes history, and to anybody wants to read about a truly amazing adventure.