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Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer
Ernest Shackleton is one of history’s great explorers, an extraordinary character who pioneered the path to the South Pole over 100 years ago and became a dominant figure in Antarctic discovery. A charismatic personality, his incredible adventures on four expeditions have captivated generations and inspired a dynamic, modern following in business leadership. None more so than the Endurance mission, where Shackleton’s commanding presence saved the lives of his crew when their ship was crushed by ice and they were turned out on to the savage frozen landscape. But Shackleton was a flawed character whose chaotic private life, marked by romantic affairs, unfulfilled ambitions, overwhelming debts and failed business ventures, contrasted with his celebrity status as a leading explorer.
Drawing on extensive research of original diaries and personal correspondence, Michael Smith's definitive biography brings a fresh perspective to our understanding of this complex man and the heroic age of polar exploration.
Drawing on extensive research of original diaries and personal correspondence, Michael Smith's definitive biography brings a fresh perspective to our understanding of this complex man and the heroic age of polar exploration.
443 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2014
59 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Michael Smith
22 books35 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Smith gave up a 30 year career as a leading business and political journalist to write the bestselling biography, An Unsung Hero - Tom Crean. He was formerly Political Correspondent and Industrial Editor of the Guardian, City Editor of the London Evening Standard and Business Editor of the Observer. He has a long-standing interest in Polar expedition. He lives in East Sussex.
Michael Smith gave up a 30 year career as a leading business and political journalist to write the bestselling biography, An Unsung Hero - Tom Crean. He was formerly Political Correspondent and Industrial Editor of the Guardian, City Editor of the London Evening Standard and Business Editor of the Observer. He has a long-standing interest in Polar expedition. He lives in East Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 11, 2019
This is a well written and quite detailed biography of Shackleton, and also a history of antarctic exploration at the turn of the last century. At its core is Shackleton the man - a complex, flawed and ultimately tragic man who Micheal Smith really brings to life. He was virtually incapable of living a “normal”* life, always restless, a philanderer, drawn to wild money-making schemes which inevitably failed. His expeditions were invariably poorly planned and only partially funded, and his selection process for expedition members was often random. But in a crisis, of which there were many, he was a different man. In the words of fellow explorer Sir Raymond Priestley “For scientific leadership, give me Scott. For swift, efficient travel, Amundsen. But when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”
*I appreciate my idea of normal may be different to others, but I’m betting for most of us it doesn’t include regular voyages of polar exploration lasting several years.
*I appreciate my idea of normal may be different to others, but I’m betting for most of us it doesn’t include regular voyages of polar exploration lasting several years.
July 10, 2022
https://thebestbiographies.com/2022/0...
Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) is best remembered for the dramatic heroics and tragic misfortunes associated with his Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917 which resulted in the loss of three men. But this was just one of four such trips he would undertake before he died at the age of 47. During a less star-crossed expedition in 1907 he hoped to be the first person to reach the South Pole but, running critically low on supplies, had to turn back 100 miles short of his goal.
Smith’s narrative is less an intellectual exploration of its subject’s life and far more a tale of the adventures (and misadventures) encountered by Shackleton. In this respect, it is reminiscent of Candice Millard’s excellent “The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” documenting the former president’s harrowing odyssey through the Amazon forest.
Much less seems to be known about Ernest’s early life than of his ocean-going adventures, however, so his childhood melts away at a rapid pace – about a page per year. Compared to the rest of the book, the earliest chapters are relatively dull and unremarkable. But once Shackleton is out to sea, both he and the biography find their sea-legs.
The most appealing aspect of this book is undoubtedly Smith’s coverage of Shackleton’s antarctic adventures. The author’s distillation of these journeys proves utterly captivating in nearly every respect – particularly when Shackleton and his men are slogging through snow while cold, wet, hungry and exhausted.
Smith captures the intense internecine rivalries, the strengths and weaknesses of key characters, and the jockeying for social rank quite nicely. Shackleton himself is a marvelously fascinating (and equally confounding) character with two distinct personalities – one on land and the other on water (ocean and ice). Smith captures this dichotomy superbly.
But fans of great biographies will also notice areas where this book falls short. First, Smith’s writing is not consistently observant or colorful. Readers familiar with Caro or McCullough will note occasions when this author could have lingered in a moment and more fully described a scene. But instead of feeling fully enmeshed in Shackleton’s world, the reader more often feels like someone learning about distant events through an interesting news article.
In addition, Smith forgoes most opportunities to educate readers who are not particularly fluent with nautical terminology or technique. And finally, while Smith exposes Shackleton’s strengths and weaknesses brilliantly throughout the text, the narrative tends to employ unnecessary hyperbole at times…particularly in its final chapters.
Overall, Michael Smith has written is a commendable biography of the peculiar and peripatetic Ernest Shackleton. It is primarily a tale of adventure – of peril and perseverance – but it also paints the poignant portrait of an unsettled soul who never quite found what he was seeking.
Overall rating: 4 stars
Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) is best remembered for the dramatic heroics and tragic misfortunes associated with his Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917 which resulted in the loss of three men. But this was just one of four such trips he would undertake before he died at the age of 47. During a less star-crossed expedition in 1907 he hoped to be the first person to reach the South Pole but, running critically low on supplies, had to turn back 100 miles short of his goal.
Smith’s narrative is less an intellectual exploration of its subject’s life and far more a tale of the adventures (and misadventures) encountered by Shackleton. In this respect, it is reminiscent of Candice Millard’s excellent “The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” documenting the former president’s harrowing odyssey through the Amazon forest.
Much less seems to be known about Ernest’s early life than of his ocean-going adventures, however, so his childhood melts away at a rapid pace – about a page per year. Compared to the rest of the book, the earliest chapters are relatively dull and unremarkable. But once Shackleton is out to sea, both he and the biography find their sea-legs.
The most appealing aspect of this book is undoubtedly Smith’s coverage of Shackleton’s antarctic adventures. The author’s distillation of these journeys proves utterly captivating in nearly every respect – particularly when Shackleton and his men are slogging through snow while cold, wet, hungry and exhausted.
Smith captures the intense internecine rivalries, the strengths and weaknesses of key characters, and the jockeying for social rank quite nicely. Shackleton himself is a marvelously fascinating (and equally confounding) character with two distinct personalities – one on land and the other on water (ocean and ice). Smith captures this dichotomy superbly.
But fans of great biographies will also notice areas where this book falls short. First, Smith’s writing is not consistently observant or colorful. Readers familiar with Caro or McCullough will note occasions when this author could have lingered in a moment and more fully described a scene. But instead of feeling fully enmeshed in Shackleton’s world, the reader more often feels like someone learning about distant events through an interesting news article.
In addition, Smith forgoes most opportunities to educate readers who are not particularly fluent with nautical terminology or technique. And finally, while Smith exposes Shackleton’s strengths and weaknesses brilliantly throughout the text, the narrative tends to employ unnecessary hyperbole at times…particularly in its final chapters.
Overall, Michael Smith has written is a commendable biography of the peculiar and peripatetic Ernest Shackleton. It is primarily a tale of adventure – of peril and perseverance – but it also paints the poignant portrait of an unsettled soul who never quite found what he was seeking.
Overall rating: 4 stars
February 5, 2022
The first half of the book was painfully boring, but once I got through that, it was a good book.
February 12, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable portrait of a singularly remarkable man. Smith captures the complex and inspiring spirit of this polar explorer with color and thorough research. Adding Antarctica to my bucket list. Lol!
January 15, 2020
This version written by Michael Smith was well researched and was an enjoyable read. It filled in the unknown features from other authors. Really a great accomplishment.
March 17, 2017
A well thought out book on a great explorer and his triumphs and tribulations.
February 20, 2021
Always been intrigued by stories of the golden ages of discovery and exploration, and indeed the legend of Sir Earnest Shackleton.
Michael Smiths book is a fantastic tribute to Shackletons legacy, which tells his genius as a leader and explorer and also his flaws in his personal life
Michael Smiths book is a fantastic tribute to Shackletons legacy, which tells his genius as a leader and explorer and also his flaws in his personal life
March 12, 2015
While reading this biography, I was lucky to attend a lecture here in Dublin on Ernest Shackleton by the author, Michael Smith, and it really brought this superb book to life. Smith has become THE living historian on Antarctic Exploration, by default, as a result of the many excellent books he had now written, including the superb biography of Tom Crean - An Unsung Hero.
It is only in recent years that Shackleton has begun to surpass, in Scott, the doyen of British Society at the time, in terms of recognition and steem. This book is meticulously researched and shows the explorer in both the good light that he shone while exploring the Antarctic and the bad light he displayed while "marooned" back in domestic life at home in Britain. The author refers to his marital indiscretions, disastrous business decisions and his fiscal irresponsibility. Due to his obsession, since boyhood, with exploration, he was a loving husband, but, effectively neglectful of a loving and loyal wife and a stranger to his children.
But, as an explorer he had no equal. He was a "man's man" in many respects, but, his boyish charm and enthusiasm appealed to the opposite sex. He could instinctively select competent and loyal teams for each venture and instil loyalty and unyielding following in his men. His men came first, glory second and he led by example, mucking in with his men on even the most tiresome tasks. Also, his "door was always open" to use a modern phrase. He built hid teams through conviviality without losing discipline or respect. He had an unsurpassed depth of vision, leadership and compassion, but, balanced by a capacity to be vague, unrealistic and dreamy, perhaps, even hapless, in other facets of his complex life. He was in many ways, a poet!
Smith writes in rich prose, creating a page turner that is passionate and engaging in style. A compelling read. The "devil is in the detail", to use another cliché! In the process, Michael Smith portrays his subject as, perhaps, one of the greatest leaders that the world has known. Churchillian would not be far off in describing his leadership style. His positivity and opportunism proved inspiring to others. The fact that he was not a public schoolboy or a member of the Royal Navy, but, Anglo-Irish with little patience for bureaucracy, probably, caused the British Establishment of the time to show bias towards the more conservative and reverent Scott. Shackleton thrived in adversity and had boundless energy, causing resentment and envy in the more aloof and regimented Scott and his mainly upper class and old monied supporters. His achievements though surpassed those of Scott.
His fault? Relying on roguish charm, "a gift for the gab", quick thinking and improvisation at the expense, perhaps, of more strategic and thorough planning. To use an Irish philosophy: Ah! Sure, it'll be grand! He had doubters at the start of some ventures, but, the majority of these became "Shackleton Men" by journey's end.
To quote from the book:
"His finest qualities were a remarkable gift for leadership and an unrivalled instinct to survive. Those with a touch of genius look at most things in the same way as everyone else, but at critical moments they have a vision and insight which is beyond ordinary people. Shackleton was such a man. He did not have to die to become a hero; he earned the unswerving loyalty of his men because he always put their lives first. The safety of his men was more important than the Pole itself. Sir Raymond Priestly......said:
'For scientific leadership give me Scott. For swift and efficient travel, Admundsen. But, when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.'"
A ripping yarn! A great read.
It is only in recent years that Shackleton has begun to surpass, in Scott, the doyen of British Society at the time, in terms of recognition and steem. This book is meticulously researched and shows the explorer in both the good light that he shone while exploring the Antarctic and the bad light he displayed while "marooned" back in domestic life at home in Britain. The author refers to his marital indiscretions, disastrous business decisions and his fiscal irresponsibility. Due to his obsession, since boyhood, with exploration, he was a loving husband, but, effectively neglectful of a loving and loyal wife and a stranger to his children.
But, as an explorer he had no equal. He was a "man's man" in many respects, but, his boyish charm and enthusiasm appealed to the opposite sex. He could instinctively select competent and loyal teams for each venture and instil loyalty and unyielding following in his men. His men came first, glory second and he led by example, mucking in with his men on even the most tiresome tasks. Also, his "door was always open" to use a modern phrase. He built hid teams through conviviality without losing discipline or respect. He had an unsurpassed depth of vision, leadership and compassion, but, balanced by a capacity to be vague, unrealistic and dreamy, perhaps, even hapless, in other facets of his complex life. He was in many ways, a poet!
Smith writes in rich prose, creating a page turner that is passionate and engaging in style. A compelling read. The "devil is in the detail", to use another cliché! In the process, Michael Smith portrays his subject as, perhaps, one of the greatest leaders that the world has known. Churchillian would not be far off in describing his leadership style. His positivity and opportunism proved inspiring to others. The fact that he was not a public schoolboy or a member of the Royal Navy, but, Anglo-Irish with little patience for bureaucracy, probably, caused the British Establishment of the time to show bias towards the more conservative and reverent Scott. Shackleton thrived in adversity and had boundless energy, causing resentment and envy in the more aloof and regimented Scott and his mainly upper class and old monied supporters. His achievements though surpassed those of Scott.
His fault? Relying on roguish charm, "a gift for the gab", quick thinking and improvisation at the expense, perhaps, of more strategic and thorough planning. To use an Irish philosophy: Ah! Sure, it'll be grand! He had doubters at the start of some ventures, but, the majority of these became "Shackleton Men" by journey's end.
To quote from the book:
"His finest qualities were a remarkable gift for leadership and an unrivalled instinct to survive. Those with a touch of genius look at most things in the same way as everyone else, but at critical moments they have a vision and insight which is beyond ordinary people. Shackleton was such a man. He did not have to die to become a hero; he earned the unswerving loyalty of his men because he always put their lives first. The safety of his men was more important than the Pole itself. Sir Raymond Priestly......said:
'For scientific leadership give me Scott. For swift and efficient travel, Admundsen. But, when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.'"
A ripping yarn! A great read.
June 1, 2015
For a one-stop-shop on Shackleton this is it. Meticulously researched by Michael Smith and presented in a way that you feel you almost know Shackleton by the end.
Throughout the book you can just feel Shackleton's desire to get back out to the Antarctic as you follow him fail in many businesses including politics and home life. He was not a person to stay at home with the wife and kids.
The book goes over how Shackleton tried to get Finances for expeditions and even if he did not have it all covered just go anyway.
The survival instincts of Shackleton and his men on the cross Antarctic expedition will leave you shaking your head just wondering how many of them survived. The way expeditions are planned and practised now compared to in Shackleton's time are worlds apart.
Oh how I would have loved to be at one of Shackleton's lectures after one of his returns. As that's not going to happen one by Michael Smith would also be great.
Throughout the book you can just feel Shackleton's desire to get back out to the Antarctic as you follow him fail in many businesses including politics and home life. He was not a person to stay at home with the wife and kids.
The book goes over how Shackleton tried to get Finances for expeditions and even if he did not have it all covered just go anyway.
The survival instincts of Shackleton and his men on the cross Antarctic expedition will leave you shaking your head just wondering how many of them survived. The way expeditions are planned and practised now compared to in Shackleton's time are worlds apart.
Oh how I would have loved to be at one of Shackleton's lectures after one of his returns. As that's not going to happen one by Michael Smith would also be great.
November 26, 2016
Shackleton non ha mai raggiunto il Polo Sud. Ha fatto due spedizioni ignorando cani, slitte e sci, preferendo sprofondare nella neve fino all’inguine e trascinare le slitte da sé. Partiva sempre con una nave non adatta, troppi pochi soldi e tanta approssimazione. Shackleton che "non sapeva fare niente" voleva solo andare a caccia di una grande fortuna senza trovarla mai, sbagliando ad ogni passo eppure era uno che non si è mai lasciato distogliere da questo suo obiettivo e ad ogni caduta era uno che si rialzava come pochi.
Shackleton non sapeva andare in barca a vela e ha attraversato il mare dell’Antartica con un vascello rappezzato da casse di cibo. In mezzo ai ghiacci o sotto la luce dei riflettori di un palco, Shackleton riluceva, quasi fosse circondato da un’aurora, in privato era amareggiato, irritabile. Shackleton amava perdutamente sua moglie – quando era lontano.
Eppure questo libro racconta di una vicenda straordinaria. Una lotta per la sopravvivenza portata avanti da un uomo che fondamentalmente di grande aveva il cuore il posteriore, inteso come “fortuna.”
Probabilmente il libro di avventura più bello che io abbia mai letto.
Shackleton non sapeva andare in barca a vela e ha attraversato il mare dell’Antartica con un vascello rappezzato da casse di cibo. In mezzo ai ghiacci o sotto la luce dei riflettori di un palco, Shackleton riluceva, quasi fosse circondato da un’aurora, in privato era amareggiato, irritabile. Shackleton amava perdutamente sua moglie – quando era lontano.
Eppure questo libro racconta di una vicenda straordinaria. Una lotta per la sopravvivenza portata avanti da un uomo che fondamentalmente di grande aveva il cuore il posteriore, inteso come “fortuna.”
Probabilmente il libro di avventura più bello che io abbia mai letto.
January 21, 2018
This isn't a bad book, although it possibly falls between two stools. For those who know little about Shackleton, I doubt that they will be won over. For those who know a certain amount, they won't discover much more about the epic journeys that haven't been better described elsewhere.
That said, the book does go some way to explaining why the erstwhile darling of many a management mogul was such a failure as a businessman, and yet so inspiring when his men needed this most. In short, Shackleton was a failure on land, but a superhero amidst the ice and snow.
What a great paradox between a man who, when massively in debt would give away his earnings to charity, who failed on two Antarctic expeditions because he had never bothered to learn how to handle dogs or skis, and yet could manage a 1000 mile plus sea journey in little more than a row boat, followed by an epic mountain hike, without losing a single life.
The last book I reviewed was by Primo Levi. Shackleton's feats of endurance seem self-indulgent by comparison, but this remains a riveting tale of the sort of hero from a bygone age, from whom we can all learn a lot.
That said, the book does go some way to explaining why the erstwhile darling of many a management mogul was such a failure as a businessman, and yet so inspiring when his men needed this most. In short, Shackleton was a failure on land, but a superhero amidst the ice and snow.
What a great paradox between a man who, when massively in debt would give away his earnings to charity, who failed on two Antarctic expeditions because he had never bothered to learn how to handle dogs or skis, and yet could manage a 1000 mile plus sea journey in little more than a row boat, followed by an epic mountain hike, without losing a single life.
The last book I reviewed was by Primo Levi. Shackleton's feats of endurance seem self-indulgent by comparison, but this remains a riveting tale of the sort of hero from a bygone age, from whom we can all learn a lot.
June 15, 2018
Praise to Shackleton! Most importantly, praise to Michael Smith for bringing the life, the legend and the adventure to life with this wonderful book!
From the onset I was hooked. Where I have seen some reviews complain about the extensive range of family history of each explorer mentioned, I was intrigued. As I read on I felt the story come to life and the overwhelming odds Shackleton faced became impossible odds and beyond my own comprehension. I particularly hold respect to Smith by displaying the facts to the reader with no judgement or bias allowing us to make our own minds as to character of Shackleton. There were some skeletons in the closet in Shackleton's life and so why should they be cast aside and ignored and not mentioned, after all this is a book on his life, his FULL life.
The adventures of Shackleton were truly beyond words and imagination but Smith manages it with care, precision and love.
I started this book thinking Shackleton as a hero but after reading this book I KNOW he was.
From the onset I was hooked. Where I have seen some reviews complain about the extensive range of family history of each explorer mentioned, I was intrigued. As I read on I felt the story come to life and the overwhelming odds Shackleton faced became impossible odds and beyond my own comprehension. I particularly hold respect to Smith by displaying the facts to the reader with no judgement or bias allowing us to make our own minds as to character of Shackleton. There were some skeletons in the closet in Shackleton's life and so why should they be cast aside and ignored and not mentioned, after all this is a book on his life, his FULL life.
The adventures of Shackleton were truly beyond words and imagination but Smith manages it with care, precision and love.
I started this book thinking Shackleton as a hero but after reading this book I KNOW he was.
August 23, 2020
Extremely readable account of Ernest Shackleton's life and his unyielding obsession with exploring the polar caps. I didn't know much about his actual exploits until reading this book, just a general knowledge understanding that he was one of the "heroic era antarctic explorers" and exhibited tremendous leadership skills in bringing his men home safely. But what was a revelation was how inept he was a planning, drumming up and managing finances, logistics and organisation. Simply hopeless! His amazing feats of leadership involved him managing to extricate himself and his men from the truly dire situations that he got them into through his lack of other essential skills and his inability to secure and / or use the right expertise to make his exploration goals feasible. I enjoyed this book immensely and learned so much. I live with a Shackleton descendant but don't recognize many of his traits in my in-laws; I guess his gene pool went via Ireland, whereas the Shackletons I know stayed home in Yorkshire.
November 28, 2021
I wonder whether it is systematically the case that a good crisis manager like Shackleton turns out to be either too optimistic or too pessimistic for the "smooth sailing".
Nevertheless, bringing a team together (and bringing them back), for a previously-unheard of greatest feat of reasonable courage in a necessary endeavour of rational exploration of this planet, has firmly put him among the very few who deserved their place in the pantheon of exceptional humans.
As a sidenote, Russia always appears to such people to "have tremendous potential", but it invariably deceives their expectations, and while a failed business investment wasn't what broke Shackleton's financial back, I count among my acquaintances a few generous, but perhaps too optimistic, souls , for whom it was the case. The Eldorado ever-present and ever-fascinating, somewhere there, on the horizon...
Nevertheless, bringing a team together (and bringing them back), for a previously-unheard of greatest feat of reasonable courage in a necessary endeavour of rational exploration of this planet, has firmly put him among the very few who deserved their place in the pantheon of exceptional humans.
As a sidenote, Russia always appears to such people to "have tremendous potential", but it invariably deceives their expectations, and while a failed business investment wasn't what broke Shackleton's financial back, I count among my acquaintances a few generous, but perhaps too optimistic, souls , for whom it was the case. The Eldorado ever-present and ever-fascinating, somewhere there, on the horizon...
July 23, 2023
I found this an absolutely absorbing book even though it took me forever to get through it. It's also what I call a "dense" book. It is so well researched and detailed, it meant that I couldn't skim through it, nor was it a book that I could sit with for hours on end. I had to read it in small chunks. And it's LONG.
Shackleton was an amazing man, explorer, adventurer. While I knew about his famous rescue of his men off of Elephant Island, I had no idea of his previous trips. Actually the Elephant Island rescue happened about 3/4 through this book, so there was a lot to his life that was described beforehand.
The author is clearly an admirer of Shackleton, which is fine. This is not a hagiography. Shackleton is presented with his warts and shortcomings and yet I came away with huge appreciation for who he was and what he did.
An excellent read.
Shackleton was an amazing man, explorer, adventurer. While I knew about his famous rescue of his men off of Elephant Island, I had no idea of his previous trips. Actually the Elephant Island rescue happened about 3/4 through this book, so there was a lot to his life that was described beforehand.
The author is clearly an admirer of Shackleton, which is fine. This is not a hagiography. Shackleton is presented with his warts and shortcomings and yet I came away with huge appreciation for who he was and what he did.
An excellent read.
April 3, 2021
Overall, it is a very detailed account of Shackleton’s life and at times the amount of information given made it hard to get through for me. In the end, however, it’s Smith’s ability to describe great feats of exploration in intimate detail that makes this book such a memorable and compelling read. I finished the book feeling like I knew Shackleton in some small way and wishing I could have met him. A thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring read.
April 30, 2025
Litt kjedelig skrevet, men historien om Shackleton's ekspedisjoner er virkelig spektakulær! Dette må være noen av de tøffeste strabasene folk har overlevd.
Uten å røpe for mye kan jeg si at Shackleton's personlighet gjennomsyret ekspedisjonene, på godt og vondt.
Dette er en god og fullstendig bok om en eventyrer jeg visste veldig lite fra før. "Into Thin Air" er bedre skrevet og vanskeligere å legge fra seg, men denne boka forteller om vesentlig heftigere ekspedisjoner.
Uten å røpe for mye kan jeg si at Shackleton's personlighet gjennomsyret ekspedisjonene, på godt og vondt.
Dette er en god og fullstendig bok om en eventyrer jeg visste veldig lite fra før. "Into Thin Air" er bedre skrevet og vanskeligere å legge fra seg, men denne boka forteller om vesentlig heftigere ekspedisjoner.
September 13, 2020
A well written, detailed but always exciting book on Shackleton’s life. The book reads like an adventure novel rather than a biography, due to the extraordinary adventures Shackleton undertook, with the severe highs of achievement and lows of failure and disaster.
November 14, 2021
A fine biography of Shackleton. It will be interesting to compare it to Ranulph Fiennes bio which comes out next year.
February 27, 2022
Captivating
March 18, 2022
A great leader
Good historical vision of the man . Warts and all . Great leader of men but a hopeless businesses man. They don't make them like that anymore.
Good historical vision of the man . Warts and all . Great leader of men but a hopeless businesses man. They don't make them like that anymore.
February 7, 2020
(Book source: Public library loan)
While on the shelf alongside other brilliantly researched and crafted biographies, I did sense some premature judgment from the author. Rather than allow Shackleton’s behaviour to surmise the impatient, reckless explorer that he was, we were predisposed to this rather early on. I found myself with a distinct dislike and anger at Shackleton upon finishing the book that even the author’s detached respect couldn’t offset, however...it took a few days of chewing the cud to put him in context with the era he lived in. Yes, he barely had a plan and never had the money before he set out on his adventures (failures?), but society was set up to allow and to idolise this man, AND let him do it 3 times over without qualification. Or did he have that qualification (not on paper) that put faith enough in him to propel him forward and do more than the everyday man would and in turn push the exceptional to go further than he could?
All the information was there - and what a life! - in the seamless craftsmanship of sources and archives into an epic timeline was certainly displayed by the author. Just the above prejudice that I felt could have been more contextualised and handed over to the reader to make their own conclusion.
While on the shelf alongside other brilliantly researched and crafted biographies, I did sense some premature judgment from the author. Rather than allow Shackleton’s behaviour to surmise the impatient, reckless explorer that he was, we were predisposed to this rather early on. I found myself with a distinct dislike and anger at Shackleton upon finishing the book that even the author’s detached respect couldn’t offset, however...it took a few days of chewing the cud to put him in context with the era he lived in. Yes, he barely had a plan and never had the money before he set out on his adventures (failures?), but society was set up to allow and to idolise this man, AND let him do it 3 times over without qualification. Or did he have that qualification (not on paper) that put faith enough in him to propel him forward and do more than the everyday man would and in turn push the exceptional to go further than he could?
All the information was there - and what a life! - in the seamless craftsmanship of sources and archives into an epic timeline was certainly displayed by the author. Just the above prejudice that I felt could have been more contextualised and handed over to the reader to make their own conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2014
It's hard to believe that it's been over 20 years since Roland Huntford wrote his superb biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton; there was a burst of interest in Shackleton at the turn of the century which produced a number of good books about his expeditions, his leadership style, the Endurance's cat, etc., but Smith has stepped up and written an excellent new bio that takes into account all the latest research on this fascinating and flawed man. While pulling no punches - Shackleton was unfaithful to his long-suffering wife, addicted to get-rich-quick schemes, and mostly uninterested in science - Smith does a great job of illustrating his good points as well; Shackleton was generous to a fault, a good judge of men, and he led from the front. Smith gives full coverage to the often-neglected Nimrod expedition and goes into much more detail on the last years of Shackleton's life than is often the case. This is a great place to start, but I can assure you: once you start reading about this man, you will find it very difficult to stop. I know; I never have.
June 13, 2015
Did not finish. I love books about explorers, but this one was very dry and did not come to life for me. It is very well researched, but the conventional structure was dry as dust. It seems that every time someone is introduced, we have to go back to their parents, who they were, when they born, etc., all facts told in a thorough and dull manner. No doubt this will be a central resource for scholars, but my fellow armchair explorers may want to give this one a miss.
January 31, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this story of Shackleton - not just his most famous attempt to cross Antarctica, but his other Polar trips prior. Michael Smith is a very good writer and this book gave me much more insight into Shackleton's personal failings and successes. Recommend!
March 25, 2015
Started out a bit dry but captured my attention and held it once the exploration started. I felt it was well-written and factual. Both Shackleton's strengths and flaws were presented for the reader to interpret.
August 17, 2015
Gripping biography of Shackelton's magnetic personality and adventures in Antartica. Despite his all too human flaws an inspiring tale nevertheless of what the human spirit can achieve when tested to the limits.
March 5, 2015
...and my wife thinks a room with seventy degrees is cold. Bah!
My second Shackleton book and I have had enough. I know more about him than I care to know.
Quite a good book. Worth the read.
My second Shackleton book and I have had enough. I know more about him than I care to know.
Quite a good book. Worth the read.
February 6, 2016
Extraordinario libro sobre uno de mis ídolos. Muy entretenido e informativo. Un líder como pocos.
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