City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions

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.Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Alfred Lansing

March 18, 1999
I'm a fan of survivalist accounts such as "Seven Years in Tibet," and "In the Heart of the Sea." And I loved this true account of the voyage/survival of Shackleton's crew in the Antarctic.

Asking friends and relatives if they've read it, I've heard, "I started it, but I didn't want to see everyone die!" So here's the *spoiler...nobody dies! *

The capacity of the human body to survive and of the human brain to figure out how to do it never ceases to amaze me.

Lansing's account ingeniously pieces together journals of the men involved and includes riveting details without ever being too gory. Even knowing the ending, it's a page turner. I've heard that this is the most involving ... Read More:
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.Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Martin R. de la Pena, Maurice Rumboll

July 16, 2001
This guide is good; probably the best available for the region. The birders I ran into (even a park ranger) had this guide. It is a convenient size, fitting easily in my cargo-shorts pockets while both hands held my binoculars. It describes most of species (I found a few exceptions, eg. Gray Gull, but it is fairly complete). I did find that some of the illustrations were somewhat simplistic. More detailed descriptions would be useful, but could also negatively affect the weight of the book. I used it in Parque Nacional Iguazu and los Esteros del Ibera, and it served its purpose well.
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.The Nunavut handbook: Travelling in Canada's Arctic
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Marion, Editor Soubliere

1998-12
This guide is good; probably the best available for the region. The birders I ran into (even a park ranger) had this guide. It is a convenient size, fitting easily in my cargo-shorts pockets while both hands held my binoculars. It describes most of species (I found a few exceptions, eg. Gray Gull, but it is fairly complete). I did find that some of the illustrations were somewhat simplistic. More detailed descriptions would be useful, but could also negatively affect the weight of the book. I used it in Parque Nacional Iguazu and los Esteros del Ibera, and it served its purpose well.
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.Magic Tree House Research Guide #18: Penguins and Antarctica
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce

September 23, 2008
This guide is good; probably the best available for the region. The birders I ran into (even a park ranger) had this guide. It is a convenient size, fitting easily in my cargo-shorts pockets while both hands held my binoculars. It describes most of species (I found a few exceptions, eg. Gray Gull, but it is fairly complete). I did find that some of the illustrations were somewhat simplistic. More detailed descriptions would be useful, but could also negatively affect the weight of the book. I used it in Parque Nacional Iguazu and los Esteros del Ibera, and it served its purpose well.
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.Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Owen Beattie, John Geiger

September 01, 2004
I loved this book! Well written for even the historical novice. Fascinating tale of hardship and tragedy from both historical viewpoint and human frailty. The additional trips made by the author, Owen Beattie, and company showed a true respect for humankind. His written words regarding the excavation and autopsies of the lost men, was both rewarding in explanation and thrilling in discovery. This historical book drew me in and I couldn't put the book down. I've become so fascinated with the fate of the Franklin Expedition that I am reading other books relating to this and other failed Arctic expeditions. Who knew history could be so fascinating? Highly recommended!
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.The Worst Journey in the World
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Apsley Cherry-Garrard

March 19, 1997
As an American I don't even recall being taught anything at all about Scott and his men when I was in school.
I saw a article in a Life magazine special that got me curious and did a web search and discovered Cherry's excellent book.
Its my favorite adventure book of all time and the men were a different breed than most today. Bowers in particular sounded amazing, I think I'd rather have a conversation with him than Scott if I had the ability to go back in time and meet only one.
Sure there was the occasional dry spell but considering the age of the book I thought it was remarkably contemporary sounding.
Most amazing of all to me though was the fact that after reading the book at least 3 months ago I still think about it at least ... Read More:
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.Call of the North: An Explorer's Journey to the North Pole
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Jean Malaurie

June 27, 2002
This is the most remarkable Arctic book you can buy. It is physically huge! It is a coffee table book if you have big, robust coffee table. I have never seen so many full page and double page photos in a book before. It was produced in Italy, and the picture quality is astounding. Hundreds of images of the Inuit, their ice cave homes, hunting, dogs, Eskimo carvings, family life, etc.

Worth every penny!
Bravo! An amazing man, an amazing collection of his great images.
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.The Worst Journey in the World, Volumes 1 and 2: Antarctic 1910-1913
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Apsley Cherry-Garrard

2007-08
This is the most remarkable Arctic book you can buy. It is physically huge! It is a coffee table book if you have big, robust coffee table. I have never seen so many full page and double page photos in a book before. It was produced in Italy, and the picture quality is astounding. Hundreds of images of the Inuit, their ice cave homes, hunting, dogs, Eskimo carvings, family life, etc.

Worth every penny!
Bravo! An amazing man, an amazing collection of his great images.
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Used Price: CDN$ 61.04

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.Ice Museum
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Joanna Kavenna

January 30, 2007
This is the most remarkable Arctic book you can buy. It is physically huge! It is a coffee table book if you have big, robust coffee table. I have never seen so many full page and double page photos in a book before. It was produced in Italy, and the picture quality is astounding. Hundreds of images of the Inuit, their ice cave homes, hunting, dogs, Eskimo carvings, family life, etc.

Worth every penny!
Bravo! An amazing man, an amazing collection of his great images.
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.Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica
City Travel Guides > Books > Polar Regions
by: Sara Wheeler

March 03, 1998
Sara Wheeler's journey to Antarctica began as a side trip. While researching a book on Chile, she flew to its southernmost point, King George Island, off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
"Standing on the edge of the ice field in a wind strong enough to lean on, squinting in the buttery light, it was as if I were seeing the earth for the very first time," she writes. "I felt less homeless than I have ever felt anywhere, and I knew immediately that I had to return."
"Terra Incognita" is the story of that return. It offers a fascinating snapshot of modern day scientists who are expanding the frontiers of polar research in Antarctica, framed within an engaging and well-researched history of human adventure on this most inhospitable ... Read More:
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Used Price: CDN$ 3.83