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Product Description
Book Description
A glimpse at the motivation and experiences of some of history's most intrepid explorers.
Product Description
Why do explorers put themselves in dangerous situations? And, once the worst possible situation occurs, how do they find the resources to survive?
In answering these questions, Benedict Allen weaves a series of tales from his own experience as well as that of other explorers including Columbus, Cortez, Scott, Shakelton, Stanley, Livingstone and their modern counterparts: Joe Simpson and Ranulf Fiennes.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Where does one start with a book like this? My first impression as I found my self absorbed into the prose was that this has a very different feel from Benedict's other books. Perhaps it's because this is a very different environment to the others he has placed himself into before, the icy tundra of Siberia being a far cry from the jungles and deserts of previous journeys. Yet there are similarities. For a man who has spent the last 20+ years of his life deliberately putting himself into harms way in order to understand such places and peoples who inhabit them, one could argue there surely couldn't be so much difference?
And yet there is, there's something in this book that tugs at something deeper. Something ponderous and searching.
Ostensibly it's about Benedict's thousand mile trek with dogs through Siberia about 5 years ago and the thoughts that come out of that experience. As usual as the reader one finds oneself travelling with him through the highs and the lows; untested guides, being forced to learn to use someone else's dog team in a fraction of the time actually necessary, the ever encroaching decay of post soviet alcholism, a positively 'Eastenders'-esque scrap in Provideniya and of course, nearly dying in the Bering Straight...
I for one never fail to be carried along with it all, and came close to tears by chapter 40.
But as you can guess from the title, this is more than a geographical journey.
We travel through time, and through mind, listening to the thoughts and exploits of other outsiders trying to survive in hostile environments in the past and present, as well as that of our author, -who's had more than sufficient experience to comment. As we journey, Benedict's notes to himself become notes to us too. To begin with you could perhaps find yourself thinking you could skip the asides if you think yourself familiar with the subject, but as you draw closer to the end and the thoughts start to condense on the pages, you realise they're not just notes to self, asides for the reader, it's almost a form of 'thinking out loud' above the narrative. This is what he was thinking about, what was going round in his head as he tried to remind himself, rationalise, crystallise, survive.
The dogs too, the issue of their dependance on him and his responsibility for them and their lives as well as his own completes something that began back with 'Mad White Giant' and the terrible decision he had to make back then in order to survive when he was young and alone dying in the jungle. What would he do this time, several decades on, alone in the tundra when faced with the same problem?
It's highly tempting to psychoanalyse, as this is something that plays out in the psyche as well as in the environment. But it's better perhaps that you read it yourself and come to your own conclusions. There's something about it that lingers on long after you've put it down, and I find myself still mulling it over, turning the ideas over in my mind as I turned the pages a few days ago and am already debating re-reading it.
An amazing read, I feel like I've been to Siberia and back with him, a part of myself I think is still there. The author too I think.
So, the answer to the questions; 'Why do explorers put them selves in danger?' and 'How do any of us find the determination to keep going in times of despair?' Well, you'll have to make the journey with him...
And yet there is, there's something in this book that tugs at something deeper. Something ponderous and searching.
Ostensibly it's about Benedict's thousand mile trek with dogs through Siberia about 5 years ago and the thoughts that come out of that experience. As usual as the reader one finds oneself travelling with him through the highs and the lows; untested guides, being forced to learn to use someone else's dog team in a fraction of the time actually necessary, the ever encroaching decay of post soviet alcholism, a positively 'Eastenders'-esque scrap in Provideniya and of course, nearly dying in the Bering Straight...
I for one never fail to be carried along with it all, and came close to tears by chapter 40.
But as you can guess from the title, this is more than a geographical journey.
We travel through time, and through mind, listening to the thoughts and exploits of other outsiders trying to survive in hostile environments in the past and present, as well as that of our author, -who's had more than sufficient experience to comment. As we journey, Benedict's notes to himself become notes to us too. To begin with you could perhaps find yourself thinking you could skip the asides if you think yourself familiar with the subject, but as you draw closer to the end and the thoughts start to condense on the pages, you realise they're not just notes to self, asides for the reader, it's almost a form of 'thinking out loud' above the narrative. This is what he was thinking about, what was going round in his head as he tried to remind himself, rationalise, crystallise, survive.
The dogs too, the issue of their dependance on him and his responsibility for them and their lives as well as his own completes something that began back with 'Mad White Giant' and the terrible decision he had to make back then in order to survive when he was young and alone dying in the jungle. What would he do this time, several decades on, alone in the tundra when faced with the same problem?
It's highly tempting to psychoanalyse, as this is something that plays out in the psyche as well as in the environment. But it's better perhaps that you read it yourself and come to your own conclusions. There's something about it that lingers on long after you've put it down, and I find myself still mulling it over, turning the ideas over in my mind as I turned the pages a few days ago and am already debating re-reading it.
An amazing read, I feel like I've been to Siberia and back with him, a part of myself I think is still there. The author too I think.
So, the answer to the questions; 'Why do explorers put them selves in danger?' and 'How do any of us find the determination to keep going in times of despair?' Well, you'll have to make the journey with him...
9 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was so impressed with this book when I reed it. I have been reading this genre for many years now and this is truely finest. It is not only educated and comprehensive but human.
It is very sad that such honest account should be wrongly and innacurately criticised, and to make such comments after reading properly would be laying.
An excellent also captivating true story as well as thought provoking analysis of exploration.
Is better than anything I could do!
It is very sad that such honest account should be wrongly and innacurately criticised, and to make such comments after reading properly would be laying.
An excellent also captivating true story as well as thought provoking analysis of exploration.
Is better than anything I could do!
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The synopsis of this book tells the whole story about the book, its content and the author. Tells the story how little attention is paid to the detail and how much attention to general impression. Obviously the synopsis of paperback edition is edited form hardcover edition. The Shakelton is now Shackleton, but Ranulf remained with out change and it should be Ranulph. Unfortunately, the book is full of similar errors and omissions. I wonder was this book proof read by someone with a good knowledge about the Polar Regions and history. But then the whole book would be at the question? I wonder in what way Simpson, Fiennes and for that matter the author are the modern counterparts of Columbus, Cortez, Never mind, the lecturing only counts. As a Polar history expert I do not recommend this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It is pretty dull
As many others have said, there isn't a lot of point in reading this book. It feels as though the author had to write one, but his heart isn't in it, or the talent to tell stories... Read more
Published 21 months ago by T. Leunig
Certainly NOT a page-turner
I abandoned this book as it is utterly boring. It is certainly not a page-turner. Its author has a patronising and discouraging attitude. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2007 by Bob Nudas
Certainy nota page turner
I abandoned this book as it is utterly boring. It is certainly not a page-turner. Its author has a patronising and discouraging attitude. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2007 by Bob Nudas
Self-serving sensationalist
Unfortunately, this book is the rant of an ageing man with an obsession. Now having read Into the Abyss, I have no doubt that the Author is a self-serving sensationalist.
Published on 30 Sep 2007 by James Trefil
What did he discovered???
In the midst of that frizzing hell he discovered what it is that helped the great having read Into the Abyss I do not have a clue what he discovered.
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by Mimi
So exaggerated that misses the point
The author mistakes clarity for verbosity and in the end I don't know what is he trying to tell us.
Published on 19 Sep 2007 by J. A. Smolin
Ok, then. *smile, pat on the head*
Unfortunately, this book is the rant of an ageing man with an obsession. Now having read Into the Abyss, I have no doubt that the Author is a self-serving sensationalist.
Published on 15 Sep 2007 by James Trefil
High level of ignorance
Started this book with an open mind and was quite keen to read it. I'm shocked at the level of ignorance found in this book. This book just strikes me as weird, and bigoted. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by Ulf
Disappointing
Started this book with an open mind and was quite keen to read it. I'm shocked at the level of ignorance found in this book. This book just strikes me as weird, and bigoted. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2007 by Ulf
One more time
The synopsis of this book tells the whole story about the book, its content and the author. Tells the story how little attention is paid to the detail and how much attention to... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2007 by Jaguar
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