South

By: Ernest Shackleton

Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard

His destination Antarctica, his expectations high, veteran explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton set out, on the eve of the First World War, in pursuit of his goal to lead the first expedition across the last unknown continent. Instead, his ship, the Endurance, became locked in sea ice, and for nine months Shackleton fought a losing battle with the elements before the drifting ship was crushed and his crew marooned.

Shackleton's gripping account of his incredible voyage follows him and his men across 600 miles of unstable ice floes to a barren rock called Elephant Island. It records how, with a crew of four, he crossed 850 miles of the worst seas in a 22-foot-long open boat and how, after landing on South Georgia Island, they then had to traverse over 20 miles of mountainous terrain to reach the nearest outpost of civilization. Shackleton recounts, too, the efforts of his support party aboard the Aurora, who in temperatures of -50 degrees and winds of 80 m.p.h. still managed to drop off supplies on the opposite side of the continent, little suspecting the fate of the Endurance and the ordeal of its crew.

An astonishing story that explores the limits of unparalleled human courage, Shackleton's South ranks among history's greatest adventures.

©1970 Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

One of the best first hand accounts I’ve ever heard!

Shackleton has no ego, and tells the story matter of fact of the incredible journey of him and his men through Antarctica. Whatever struggle the average person is going through, this story helps put things in perspective. There are a lot of lessons for how to persevere and push through incredible hardship. Both physical and emotional. A must read.

Survival in the South

South is a remarkable story of survival under conditions where I wouldn’t have thought survival was possible. From enormous ship crushing ice flows, to starvation and scurvy, to sailing across the open ocean in a modest rowboat, these explorers fought the elements in extreme isolation without help for 2 years and scarcely lost a man!

unimaginable!

THIS is my 3rd accounting of the Endurance I have read/ watched/ heard. I had by far the most insight into the adventure. I listened to this when it was 90 degrees outside and the telling is so vivid I could literally FEEL the cold and WET.

Gripping, moving, brilliant story

I listened to this one in the car on my way to and from work each day. As the end approached, I would sit in my car and listen - I couldn't bring myself to turn off the player. I even cried, twice. I never cry.

Leadership

“South” is one of the greatest examples of leadership as told by that leader. Narration is good also. If you are aspiring to be a leader or a better leader this is a must listen.