Admiral Richard Byrd: Alone in the Antarctic

by Paul Rink

Although less well known than his famous flight over the North Pole, Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s adventures in Antarctica are just as remarkable. Wide-eyed youngsters will feel the excitement and danger as they read about the isolated and tight little manned station where Byrd lived, separated from his crew; the temperatures that plunged to 60 degrees below zero; and Byrd’s brush with death when a small stove he needed to keep warm—and stay alive—filled the air with carbon monoxide. It’s a tale of personal courage and dedication, all set against a backdrop of perhaps the harshest environment on earth.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Survival, Adventure, Biography Memoir

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2006

About the author

Paul Rink has worked in mechanical and steam engineering, physics, and electronics. He did intelligence work during World War II, then devoted himself to writing books for young teens, articles for such magazines as Esquire, and television dramas.

Reviews

[Elly Sands]

I certainly have had my share of Antarctica armchair adventures recently! The story carried this book as the writing was not that great. But I didn't realize it was written for young adults. It's an amazing true exploration into the Antarctic with it's sub zero temperatures and the domino effect it has on everything. Byrd's months of isolation were harrowing and I'm not sure what kept him alive except for his strength and determination. I truly felt his isolation and weariness and his starving for light during the dark winter months. Personally I would have given up but his will for survival and carrying out his duties got him through. I'm not sure why I am drawn to these isolation experiences other than they truly show the strength of the human spirit. Plus it's a refuge from the sometimes craziness of the world.

[Lara]

Admiral Byrd's story is an amazing one--every bit as thrilling as the stories of Scott's or Shackleton's expeditions. This pretty much reads like an adventure novel. While I kind of think Rink went a little overboard at times with the dramatic language (and unfortunately misused the word "literally" waaaaay too often for my taste), he's done a great job here of presenting Byrd's story in a way that will appeal to kids. The audiobook narration was pretty great as well--Jay Snyder sounds a lot like James Callis to me, so I kept imagining Baltar from Battlestar Galactica or Dr. Grant from Eureka was reading it to me--ha!

Anyway, I'm definitely looking forward to reading about Byrd's experiences in his own words very soon.

[Igor]

The book may be not for everyone, yet I love it. It tells a story of a great leader and explorer. The inextinguishable passion he is burning with, the adversities he puts him through, the trust he puts in people, the lessons he learned, all of it is an plentiful source of inspiration and aw for me. I am very happens that I had an opportunity to tap into this source.

[sam]

In this true story set in the 1930s on the Antarctic Continent (during the brutal winter no less), Richard Byrd acts on the intrusive thought had by many cubicle workers and decides to live alone for six months in an ice cave and man a weather station. The book is Byrd's journals during his time spent alone, and it provides really interesting commentary on which elements of life, such as routine, curiosity about the natural world, and self-reward for difficult tasks, are necessary to prosper and stay sane in such an alien situation. The most important lesson I learned was the value of a good chimney.

[Onur Demir]

ı wanna really wonder

[Frank]

Excellent short story on Byrd's survival in the Antarctic

[Cannon Sharp]

This dude really hunkered down alone in antartica for six months

[Janelle Wagner]

Had I not needed to read this book for book group, I’d never have picked it up. It was a slow start, but I must say, I really enjoyed it. So interesting and full of stuff I knew nothing about. Hard to imagine choosing to go live in such conditions. Everyone but one in our book club loved it, and the outlier said Admiral Byrd was too full of himself and she couldn’t get past that to enjoy the book.

[Phyllis]

Interesting autobiographical insight into the mind of one of our most famous explorers. If you have ever pondered what it would be like to live in a little hut in isolation from other humans before the days of tv, internet, etc. (a la Thoreau), but to do this in Antartica in Winter in the 1930's...this is YOUR book!
Very good read.

[Connie Curtis]

Probably my favorite book of all time, or at least in the top four. This man spent the six winter months alone in the Antarctic. Great detail of how he lived (and nearly died a few times). Any time you feel like it's too cold outside, read this book and count your blessings.

[Glen Tucker]

Byrd survives six months in Antarctica overcoming CO poisening and horrendous conditions, whilst ensuring his colleagues believe him to be ok. Otherwise they would have risked certain death to rescue him.

[Dana]

Overall a great story of a single man's desire/will to live. I enjoyed the subject more than the writing itself. It seemed to be aimed at a younger crowd, but the story of survival is one that I love, and the South Pole truly takes one to his limits, especially 75 years ago.

[Richard Hakes]

A tale of man against the elements. Still not sure why he did it? Story of a man alone getting himself poisoned with carbon monoxide from the stove. Still not sure why he didn't fix it? Or even why he did it alone?

Another off putting thing about the book is Byrd's resemblance to David Cameron?

[Mark Estorino]

This bok was good. It was a bit slow but at the end it was a good story. It was about antarctica and people trying to live there. You should read it.