Subjects:  1. Cartography    2. History    3. History: World    4. Maps & Road Atlases    5. Science    6. Travel    7. Cartography, geodesy & geographic information systems (GIS)    8. History of science    9. Technology / Cartography   

Reviews (8)

A better guide for Argentina...
I found this guide to be occasionally inaccurate and lacking much needed info for any serious birding, though it is useful as a backup/reference for other area guides. Instead of this book, I recommend you consider "Birds of Argentina & Uruguay" by Tito Narosky and Dario Yzurieta. If not easy to find on Amazon, try Birdlife International, or just pick up a copy in Buenos Aires.

A good area guide
This book is a very good guide. The thing I like most about it is its size. It is actaully smaller than "Birds of North America". It is a field guide not a desk reference like Howell and Webb "Birds of Mexico", that is about 3x larger or Hilty "Birds of Venezuela" 4x larger. These two books are actually too large to use as field guides. Many rip out the illustrations and bind them separately, because the books are too big to lug around. The only reason it did not receive 5 stars is because the range maps are in the back of the book.But "Birds of Costa Rica" does not even have range maps and it is considered excellent by many.

There Is A Better Choice for Antarctic/South GeorgiaBirding
I was extremely frustrated using this book on my recent trip to Antarctica and South Georgia.Some of the plates do not do an accurate job of depicting the birds and the distribution maps are also not entirely accurate.The professional ornithologist on my tripagreed with my observations and recommended that I purchase another book: "Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Antarctic Peninsula" by E. Couve and C. Vidal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antarctica    2. Birds    3. Birds & Birdwatching - General    4. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Southern Cone of South America    8. Birds & birdwatching    9. Birds and Natural History    10. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching    11. South America   

Editorial Review

Following his "Arctic dreams" that began with a photograph of the haggard crew of the ill-fated ship Read more

Reviews (61)

Adventure in the Arctic
If you like an exciting adventure that you don't want to end and if you enjoy the style of writing that makes you feel you're actually there experiencing what the writer is going through you'll enjoy this book. To gain an understanding of some of the native peoples of the frozen Arctic wilderness and this unique place on earth read this book!

Unbridled narcissism in an arctic setting. ?Spiritual?
I could not agree more with every word of Isha Beharim's review. My first impression at the beginning of the book was of the author's extreme self absorbtion, and the impression never left me, and the self absorbtion never left the author either, despite whatever "spiritual" experience he may have had. The book, by the way, never comes within a country mile of anything even remotely spiritual, and I think perhaps the word was used in the sub-title only to improve sales, although, who knows, maybe sadly this sort of stuff passes for spirituality for this guy.
It's more like a 10-star book
because it has all the things great books are supposed to have. It's exciting, honest, moving, educational, thoughtful, humorous, philosophical. You'll be different after you read it.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century Description And Travel    2. Arctic regions    3. Biography    4. Description and travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Explorers    7. Inuit    8. Polar Regions    9. Sailing - Narratives    10. Simon, Alvah    11. Simon, Diana    12. Social conditions    13. Travel    14. Travel - Foreign    15. United States    16. Travel / Polar Regions    17. Travel writing   

Reviews (1)

It Makes You Want to Go
Alex Hall has translated his knowledge of and love for Canada's Thelon River in this excellent book.It is not a "how to" book, as the adventures he takes are not of that sort.On their own very few people could cobble together the support and equipment, and then find a survivable route given the scant mapping available.Alex's years in the North have given him the skills and connections to pull off successful trips.Alex writes an account of how he puts it all together and travels the river with groups of visitors.His love for the Barrens, the Thelon, and the North shine through and make the reader appreciate his adventures.It also makes you want to go on one with him.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. General    3. Nature    4. Northwest Territories    5. Travel writing   

Reviews (2)

A scholarly work
Historian David Yelverton takes a long overdue look at Scott's Discovery expedition, the first significant attempt to probe the interior of that great southern continent. He pays great attention to Scott's difficulties in securing funds, crew, supplies and so forth. And, of course, Yelverton writes at length on the Discovery herself, an leaky craft that would have never made it south were it not for the constant struggle at the pumps.There is also a good deal on the cooperative effort with the Germans (!) on making often difficult magnetic observations, one of the principal reasons for the expedition in the first place. A less negative look at Scott's first expedition
Recent writings on Antarctic exploration have not been kind to Scott's leadership. If you're interested in a different look at the man (to some degree) and the first (Discovery) expedition try this book.The author gives one a sense of life on the expedition and takes one along through daily life on the ship, over the winter and on the sledging journies. Heavy on detail and a bit too focused on 'righting the wrongs' of Huntford, etc., the result seems an extremely well-researched view of the scientific goals and results of the expedition. (And, perhaps the author can be forgiven for the emphasis on righting wrongs--previous works have certainly emphasized contrary views.)I've long felt that viewing the turn-of-the-century expeditions through today's 'lens' is problematic. Scott and the others were English men of their time and subject to those values, just as we are products of our time.I recommend the work to those interested in a detailed view of that first expedition, how its course affected the Terra Nova expedition, and a different view of the explorers and the expedition--placed in their time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (1901-1904)    2. 1868-1912    3. Antarctica    4. Arctic Islands And Antarctica - History    5. British National Antarctic Exp    6. British National Antarctic Expedition    7. Discovery And Exploration (General)    8. Discovery and exploration    9. Expeditions & Discoveries    10. History - General History    11. History: World    12. Polar Regions    13. Scott, Robert Falcon,    14. Travel    15. Geographical discovery & exploration    16. True stories of endurance & survival   

Editorial Review

When Jonathan Waterman set out to cross the Arctic Circle by way of kayak, cross-country skis, and a dogsled, he was less interested in conquering the 2,200 miles between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans than in learning to live as the Inuit had before him (Read more

Reviews (26)

buy this book
Jon Waterman is a writer who belongs between the hardcovers.His explorations and introspection make for compelling reading.

Articulate Adventurer
Who was it who said, "less is more"? That's one truth that stands out in Jonathan Waterman's "Artic Crossing" - a epical solo trip of the Northwest Passage done without fanfare, without oodles of sponsorship dough. I liked the author's cool, understated writing style, the wry observations about his sufferings and about the Inuits. No hyperbole, none of self-inflation that is so common in adventure writing, this book is truly believable. A wonderful read.

excellent book
in Arctic Crossing Jonathan Waterman, Kabloona extraordinaire gives us a a great gift. This guy can write, this guy can listen to the silence, this guy can paddle,hike, take in the wonder and freezing cold andbring it back home to those of usall warm in our living rooms. this guy is amazing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arctic Islands And Antarctica - History    2. Arctic regions    3. Canada - General    4. Description And Travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. History    7. History: World    8. Journeys    9. Native American    10. Polar Regions    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. Travel - Foreign    13. Waterman, Jonathan    14. Canada, Northern    15. History / Native American    16. Nord-Ouest, Passage du    17. Voyages   

Reviews (6)

Magnificent
This book should get an 11 and be read by every adventurer intheuniverse. It is the inspirational story of Freuchens life adventuring in and around Greenland at the turn of the century.....an amazing life, a remarkable man, a fantastic book. If you plan to read only one book in your life forget about Dosteovsky, Proust, and Shakespeare, and read this. I liked it

One of the great adventurers and story tellers.
Unlike many European adventurers who forced their vision upon the natives, Peter Freuchen adopted their ways.He was quite a remarkable individual.His life jumped from one life changing adventure to another.This book covers his life in the Artic, which was remarkable.Later in his life, he wrote a book which covers this material and other adventures (including Alaska, the Soviet Union) called 'Vagrant Viking'. I highly recommend that book too. Arctic Adventures
I have truly enjoyed this book, even more so, due to being the granddaughter of the Great Peter Fruechen. Have had several comments from different people to his books written. I am quite happy to hear of it's continuance of exceeding responds. Nicole Tuluganerk from Nunavut ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. Polar Regions    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (3)

Alaska by an Alaskan
Many of the best-known books about Alaska, its people and wilderness, have been written from an outsider's perspective (John McPhee, for example, or Joe McGinniss), with an outsider's sense of detachment and strangeness, as though what they were commenting on were just slightly odd on some level. "My sense of wilderness is personal" - Margaret E. Murie
Mardy Murie is often referred to as "The Grandmother of American Conservation" and "The Grand Dame of the American Conservation movement, but somehow after reading her story, these titles barely seem adequate to describe such an incredible and personal woman.While we may liken Murie to women like Rachel Carson or Anna Botsford Comstock, Murie's journey is singular.We follow her from her childhood in Wyoming to graduation at the University of Alaska, through love, into the far reaches of the Alaskan North. "And I see them dancing....."
I, first, heard of Mardy Murie and her husband, Olaus, while watching John Denver's The Wildlife Concert.He wrote A Song For All Lovers for their deep and abiding love for each other and for the state of Alaska.The song's beauty gave rise to my curiousity.And, recently, while watching a documentary of Mardy's life, I became determined to read this book about her life.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Alaska - Local History    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Description and travel    7. Essays    8. Frontier and pioneer life    9. General    10. Murie, Margaret E    11. Natural history    12. Pioneers    13. Regional Subjects - West    14. Travel    15. United States - West - Pacific (General)    16. Women    17. Arctic regions    18. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Antarctica    2. Geographical discovery & exploration    3. Maps, charts & atlases    4. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    5. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (1)

Antarctic Wonder
Having spent some time with Joan Myers and seen her other books, I am convinced that this will be an excellent collection of photographs from Antarctica. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Antarctica    3. Description And Travel    4. Discovery And Exploration (General)    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Expeditions & Discoveries    7. History    8. History: World    9. Myers, Joan,    10. Pictorial works    11. Polar Regions    12. Travel    13. Travel - General   

Reviews (11)

Great read...
God this book was amazing. It took me months to read because it was so dense with information and I kept gaping at the pictures, but it was worth it. The best thing about Frozen in Time was that the anthropologists that excavated the bodies were so emotional about it. The whole book, despite being a scientific account, is so incredibly creepy. One of the creepiest books I have ever read. The contents of this book completely permeated my brain, even after I finished reading the book.
Gripping and Insightful
I got this book for my birthday this past year and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.It is a well written account not only of the fate of the Franklin Expedition, but also of the difficulties and many hardships faced by many of the Arctic Explorers of the time.It details the many problems that faced the various crews prior to Franklin's fated expedition and those of the many crews that searched for those 128 men.
Excellent research team and analysis
Having had the luxury of actually communicating with Dr. Beattie and his team of their work, I can attest that they carried out their project professionally and with dignity. This is in contrast to many who tried or will try to answer the fate of the 129 (this field of research is ripe with many egos fighting for turf over which theory of their demise is correct, and the "glory" of finding that "holy grail" -- either Franklin's grave or his log books).
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1786-1847    2. Arctic regions    3. Biography    4. British    5. Discovery And Exploration (General)    6. Discovery and exploration    7. Expeditions & Discoveries    8. Explorers    9. Franklin, John,    10. General    11. Great Britain    12. History    13. History - General History    14. History: World    15. Sir,    16. World - General    17. History / World    18. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Antarctica    2. Description And Travel    3. Dictionaries    4. General    5. Polar Regions    6. Reference    7. Travel writing   

Reviews (4)

Her visit was intended to research the landscape; her book is about the crazy people she found there
McMurdo Station, Antarctica is home to freezing temperatures, months of nearly total darkness and regular near-hurricane force winds. It's also home to a permanent station, McMurdo, and for a season was home to author Gretchen Legler, who tells of this season and those who have journeyed to Antarctica to escape life. Her visit was intended to research the landscape; her book is about the crazy people she found there. ON THE ICE is thus about an exploration few others will make: you'll have to read the book to live her discoveries vicariously.
Horrible...Sorry, Really Horrible
I'm sorry to say this, but this is simply a horrible book.Gretchen Legler is too self-absorbed, too self-pitying, simply too selfish. Her grant from the NSF Artist and Writers Program surely wasn't intended to fund this whining drivel about how much her parents don't love her, about how she found lesbian love in Antarctica, about tangental ramblings that meander into nothingness.
Should be titled "How I became infatuated with Ruth (in Antarctica)"
I completely agree with the comments made by the reader from Cleveland.This book is horrible!Roff Smith's book "Life on the ice" is infinitely better.NSF got ripped off funding this author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antarctica    3. Authors, American    4. Biography    5. Essays    6. Essays & Travelogues    7. General    8. Homes and haunts    9. McMurdo Station    10. McMurdo Station (Antarctica)    11. Nature    12. Nature/Ecology    13. Personal Memoirs    14. Nature / Essays   

Reviews (6)

Trust your money and your life but not your wife with Ernest
What an expedition! There is a lot to be learned about leadership and survival by the adventurers on this journey. If you like men against the elements, who survive by their wits and never ever give up, this is the tale for you. A great winter read.

A True Leader
Shackleton was an amazing man full of true grit and true leadership. Among the many things that stand out in his story of survival is the importance of keeping a journal. Even after many supplies and equipment were left on the ice, the men were instructed to continue to carry their journals. And what if they had not? Where would be the true story that outshines most fictional adventure stories in the minds and imaginations of many, including myself? Sheer will and nerve.
Ernest Shackleton's description of his voyage into and subsequent escapefrom Antartica is amazing.The matter of fact tone with which he describeshis adventure seems wildly juxtaposed on the events which he led his mensafely through.It's an interesting read which gives some glimpse into thecalm and mechanically rational mind of Shackleton, the reason he and hismen survived.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (1914-1917)    2. 1874-1922    3. Adventurers & Explorers    4. Antarctica    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Discovery And Exploration (General)    7. Discovery and exploration    8. Earth Sciences - Geography    9. Historical - British    10. Imperial Trans-Antarctic Exped    11. Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition    12. Science    13. Science/Mathematics    14. Shackleton, Ernest Henry,    15. Sir,    16. Travel    17. History    18. Journeys    19. Shackleton, Ernest Henry    20. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (6)

Pretty good
His message on the caribou herd is 5 star message. It is a shame what may happen to the caribou herd if or when drilling happens. All in all a pretty good book.

Adventure in a Place Most of us Will Never Visit
It takes a special kind of couple to spend their honeymoon following a herd of caribou across northern Canada and Alaska for four months. Getting used to each other is hard enough, but then to be swimming rivers that are barely free of ice, to climb mountain ranges in the snow, meeting up with grizzly bears that are not overly friendly.
Why ANWR must be preserved, even made a Nat'l Monument or Park
Husband and wife team of Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison decide to spend their honeymoon in just about the most off-the-beaten-track way possible: they're going to migrate with caribou.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Arctic regions    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Grant's caribou    6. Heuer, Karsten    7. Human-animal relationships    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Travel    10. Travel - General   

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Wildlife    4. Nature / Wildlife   

Reviews (23)

Never Give Up
Lennard Bickel's "Mawson's Will" is the story of Australian geologist Douglas Mawson's 1911-1912 Expedition to Antarctica, and more particularly, his desparate struggle to return alone from a sledging expedition gone badly.
Bickel's Gift
Rarely has fiction served the truth so well. Rarely has the truth served fiction so well.
An Unbelievable Tale of Courage and Will
I couldn't put the book down, once I started.I was awestruck by the courage and will demonstrated by Mawson.I would have given up long before.These types of men are fast-disappearing from our society--a real tragedy for us. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (1911-1914)    2. 1882-1958    3. Antarctica    4. Australasian Antarctic Expedition    5. Australian    6. Discovery and exploration    7. Expeditions & Discoveries    8. History - General History    9. Mawson, Douglas,    10. Polar Regions    11. Research & Methodology    12. Scientific Expeditions    13. Sir,    14. Sports    15. Travel    16. History / Polar Regions   

Editorial Review

In 1989, Deborah Shapiro and Rolf Bjelke willingly set sail for a land of ice and snow. Their goal (reminiscent of the Age of Exploration): to captain a 40-foot sailboat, the Read more

Reviews (9)

Sail to Antarctica
An incredble journey. Nice to read
This is a very interesting book.I was amazed with their strength to accomplish their dream. The only negative aspect is that the book sometimes has a lot of details and it lacks more details about their day to day activities.

A little slow, but overall a good book.
While I can't quite share the enthusiasm of several of the other reviewers (Viking spirit and all that), I thought this was a solid book and enjoyable to read.It generally moves along at a slow pace, but this is to be expected given the nature of the trip.Accounts alternate from Deborah's view to Rolf's.Of the two, Deborah is the slightly better writer and she sometimes hits on long bouts of excellent descriptions of everything from the weather to their mood.Rolf's writing is more technical but provides a decent balance to Deborah's.This may not be hardcore, edge-of-your-seat adventure (though there are tense moments), but it's a good bet for anyone interested in long distance sailing, Antartica, polar environmentalism, or any combination of these. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antarctica    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Northern Light (Yacht)    4. Polar Regions    5. Sailing - Narratives    6. Sports    7. Travel - General    8. Active outdoor pursuits    9. Geographical discovery & exploration    10. True stories of endurance & survival   

Reviews (7)

Original and a fun read
For every scientist stationed in Antarctica, there are five support crew including dish washers and trash men. Luckily for us the author, Nicholas Johnson, was among them.
Having been there...
Having spent 12 years working "on ice" and at every US Station and Ice Breaker, I can say this: Johnson has only scratched the surface on the lunacy, idiocy and buerocratic hell the US Antarctic program has become.
You will enjoy this book.I promise.
Big Dead Place is a great combination of Antarctic history and Antarctic humor.It's fascinating to see that a place that could be described as an icy hell has somehow become a beaurocratic one as well.While the tone of the book is lighthearted, with an emphasis on humor, it's clear that Johnson cares deeply about Antarctica.This book gave me a great insight into Antarctica, one that I doubt I could have gotten elsewhere; it did so whilst being funny!If you get this book, you will be entertained and you will learn something about what is probably the strangest place on the planet.I can't recommend it highly enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography/Autobiography    2. Discovery And Exploration (General)    3. Expeditions & Discoveries    4. History    5. History: World    6. Polar Regions    7. Public Policy    8. Public Policy - General    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Antarctica    11. Social Science / Popular Culture    12. Travel / Polar Regions    13. True Stories   

Reviews (1)

Everything you would like to know and see
Great book including history, geology and fauna of antarctica. Excellent photographs. Very recommendable book for a cheap price for everyone who is interested in the blue continent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antarctica    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. General    4. Natural history    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Polar Regions    8. Reference    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Nature / Reference