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Summary: Eco-Challenge champions will feel like pip-squeeks...AMAZING
Review: A stunning achievement!!! ...not just the feat, but the novel. Sir Ernest Shackleton attempts to keep his crew of 27 alive for over 2 years ... stranded, unprotected in the Antarctic. It's true. It's true.Alfred Lansing's 1959 account drawn directly from the diaries of survivors is a superbly-written, gut-wrenching experience. You cannot put this book down. One of the absolute best books I have ever read, hands-down, period...dot. Order this book right now!!
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Summary: An unforgettable tale of the power of the human spirit.
Review: I had the fortunate luck to read this book (parent's hardcover copy) when I was in junior high school (about 1969) and it was old then! Unfortunately I misplaced it a long time ago. What an outstanding and unforgettable story. I have never forgotten it and will now be purchasing another copy to enjoy again and to share. If you enjoy survival stories you will enjoy this immensely - a must read. How did they do it? I enjoyed "The Perfect Storm" but this book blows that one away!
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Summary: Just go ahead and buy multiple copies--you'll need them
Review: I almost never borrow books and rarely lend them. But my niece (she's in the Navy) said I had to read Endurance. She lent me (unknown to her) a hardcopy first edition. As other reviewers have said, no one could have made-up this book. It is *way* too unthinkable. I got to the last page of the book, read the last sentence, then turned back to the first page and started the whole thing all over again. Really. I've never done that with any book--ever. Anyway, I bought another four copies from Amazon and gave two to my niece when I returned the original (and told her to stop lending out the first edition). That leaves me with one for myself and one to lend out. Barely enough. The hardcopy (out of print) edition has some awesome pictures and a map on the inside cover. The paperbook is missing both. Hopefully someone will reprint this book again with the pictures and map included. You might be able to find the pictures somewhere on the Internet(I haven't yet)
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Summary: A great adventure story.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. At first I had my doubts only because the events took place between 1914-1916, and I was interested in a travel/adventure story that was more up-to-date. However, I'm very glad I purchased this book, and I'll bet that little has changed in the remote and harsh environment of the Antarctic since the early 1900's. This book is about the adventures of a group of 27 men (and one stowaway) who set sail for the Antarctic continent in an effort to make the first Trans-Antarctic voyage under the leadership of Edward Shackleton (i.e., sail to the Antarctic, cross the continent by foot, and board a ship which had landed on the opposite side of the continent). This is a truly riveting adventure story. I'm amazed at the teamwork and long-suffering of these men. If such an adventure was attempted today without the aid of technology, there would be tragic loss of life. Certainly God was on their side. Even though they endured incredible pain and hardship, God was merciful time and time again. Many things went wrong, yet there were many other perils which they were saved from. Unfortunately, people like this either don't exist any more or are extremely hard to find. There's only one nagging question in my mind concerning this book: Whatever happened to the ship and crew which was supposed to meet them on the other side of the Antarctic and make provisions along the land route which they were to travel? If you've read "Into Thin Air," then you'll find the teamwork of the men on the Endurance to be a refreshing change from the "every man for himself" attitude of most of the climbers of the Everest expedition. I highly recommend this book. And if you like this book (and I'm sure you will), then you will also like "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer (another book which I highly recommend).
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Summary: Absolutely exciting and truly incredible
Review: I learned about this book from hearing the CEO of Amazon.com speak to the Commonwealth Club of California, two weeks ago. His enthusiasm for this book caused me to immediately go to the library for it. How lucky I was to hear about it. This book is truly one of the real "finds" of all time. Although I had known of Shackleton and of his feat, I did not know how he had accomplished it.Now Im still not sure, and afterward,Im sure, neither did he. It just one of those incredible episodes.Suffice to say that he was able to keep the respect and obedience of his men through some incredible times. I was particularly impressed with the writing of the author. His description of the "rollers" off Cape Horn was great. How he conveyed the lifting of the small boat to the heights of these tremendous waves, and how , after a time, the men allowed it become commonplace, " a thousand times a day", and how the author has Shackleton quickly convince his two companions to join together to negotiate a steep mountainside "like tobogganeers without a toboggan" is thrilling stuff. I was lucky that the library copy had a map, as I found myself time and again referring to it. This is my first experience with Amazon.com, but it wont be my last.
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Summary: "Gripping" is only word I can use to describe Endurance.
Review: Because individual tastes vary, I sometimes hesitate to recommend movies, restaurants or even a good books for that matter. However, this is not one of those times. As an armchair adventurer, I found this incredible story of courage and hardship second to none. More exciting than John Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" (even I find that hard to believe), more eyewitness accounts than in Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm" and overall more gripping than Robin Knox Johnson's "A World of My Own". Shackelton was a true leader of men.
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Summary: Pass the seal stew and dog pemmican!
Review: An absolutely incredible read. What I found most amazing was that the men put up with so much misery and yet maintained a command hierarchy and good morale. Explorers of that era weren't the whining incarnations covered in the media today. A very inspiring tale filled with danger and difficulties from beginning to end.
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Summary: Best book I've ever read!!
Review: If this had been a fiction book, it would have been totally unbelievable! The fact that is is a true story makes it the most incredible book I've ever read in my 46 years!
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Summary: What a powerful little book!
Review: I found it on Amazon by chance and bought it based on the great reviews. Now I wouldn't be without it. When it turned up I must say, I was expecting something a little thicker. Having read about Mawson's Expedition in "Home of the Blizzard" my first thoughts were - where's the rest of the book. Although it is comparatively lightweight, Lansing provides a well written account of Shackleton's leadership and the courage of his men. It's an uplifting story of survival against impossible odds. If it were fiction you'd say it was unbelievable. Knowing that it actually it happened is awe inspiring. It is an easy book to read, (lasted barely more than a night)but POW what a story. My copy is now dog-eared and long gone, doing the rounds of the office. One word of advice though, buy two copies because once you've read it, you'll want to share it around.
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Summary: It was so good, I named my boat after it.
Review: Rarely do I read books that make me feel as if I am actually part of the story, but this is one such book. From the opening of the book to the end, the story grips one's mind like a Grizzly bear trap can envelope one's body and soul. It is a remarkable story told by a remarkable story teller, and anyone who likes adventure will be hard pressed to put the book down once they have started reading it. This book was truly a forerunner to such books as "The Perfect Storm," or "Into Thin Air." The amazing thing about this story, is when it all took place. Shackleton was one tough hombre, as were the men he lead. There are a few tough sea lions as well. Your eyes and mind will be frozen to the pages, (just like their ship Endurance was frozen in time) until you have finished the book. By far one of the greatest stories of mans survival against one of the planets most deadly environments.
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