Customer Reviews: Read 387 more reviews...
 Wet Sleeping Bags December 10, 2008
Like almost every other reviewer here, I regard Shackleton's odyssey has one of the most incredible tales of human endurance...ever. His men...survive months of exposure to the Antarctic cold, on the floating, shifting ice pack...and nobody dies. If it weren't thoroughly documented it would be an unbelievable tale. As it is, it is a tale both remarkable and wonderful and is a testament of Shackleton's leadership and the grit of a remarkable crew.
Still for me, there was one thing that it is difficult to regard as literally possible...wet sleeping bags. If I can remember rightly the author states that most of the men's sleeping bags...bed rolls...were wet during most of the ordeal. I just don't believe this. I was stranded in Alaska in conditions far less horrific than the one's encountered by Shackleton's expedition. Nevertheless, the thing I feared the most was getting my sleeping bag soaked [it rained most of the time]. I truly believe that...although the temperatures were in the 30's and 40's...that I could not have survived 2 nights in a wet bag. All the sleeping bag's insulative properties would be lost and there would be nothing to protect me from the cold.
In the case of Shackleton's men, their sleeping equipment was reported as uniformly wet from their dousings in the frigid sea. Yes, given the extreme low temperatures, these bags would have frozen right up and it would have been possible to knock some of the ice from the surfaces of the bags but internal ice would have stayed and thawed on contact with warm human bodies. The crew would indeed have 'slept wet'...for months. It's scarcely credible unless their's something I'm unaware of...
Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico
Great! October 5, 2008
I can't believe I didn't read this book earlier in life. I'm recommending it to everybody!
 Good delivery and quality September 2, 2008
came on time and in good condition! And very inexpensive compared to about 15 dollars at the book store!
Remedy July 28, 2008
Aptly named, this is a stunning story of courage, strength and perseverance. Good medicine for a nation of whiners.
Just Incredible Account ,Absolutely Incredible July 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This account of Shackelton's expedition to Antarctic is a read like no other. I could not put this book down,nor could I believe the constitution each person on the crew had to continue forth under such insurmountable odds. The author, Lansing has provided a compelling book. His research of events are smoothly seamed together captivating the reader. Even if ones interest usually doesn't lean toward the topic of explorer, I promise you this book will consume you. Its message is especially good for any of us who may be feeling "overwhelmed" by what our lives are tossing our way... you will be giving thanks at the comforts you have by comparison to this expeditions minimal articles to provide their continued existence. As another reviewer mentioned, buy the hard or soft-cover not paperback version as these include all of Hurley's photographs which are essential to this book-seeing is believing and you won't believe what this photographer captured. Enjoy, you will share the events of this book over and over with many.
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