Basically Bipolar: Laughing Maniacally through the Dark Delirium of a Polar Winter . . . or two

by Rex Nelson

At some point you’ll think, “These people are nuts,” and you’ll be right. You may find yourself suddenly glad for the little things in life, like sunlight (a big little thing) or above-zero temperatures (equally appreciable). What you might not know is that the lack of these things can drive a person nuts. Or in this case, more nuts. That’s the road five guys have chosen as they spend an isolated winter together at the summit of the Greenland ice cap. Throw in colossal special effects, a twisting murder mystery, spontaneous combustion, a bit of climate change science, and the longest car chase ever captured in print and you have Basically Bipolar. Truth be told, none of that actually occurs within these pages (except the bit of climate change science—apologies), but they’re likely to be occurring at any given moment in the knife-edge-of-sanity mindset of the protagonist, whom you get to laugh at as he loses his marbles. Don’t worry, he knows he’ll survive because he’s done this before—in Antarctica—and he willingly chose to do it again, so it’s really his own damn fault. To assuage your concern and spoil the ending, eventually he gets to leave.

Genres: Nonfiction

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2018

About the author

Rex enjoys all aspects of Southern culture and specializes in the history of the Delta regions of Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. He believes barbecue must be pork, college football should be played in the afternoon, crappie is the best-tasting fish in the world, Southern governors should wear seersucker in the summer, Friday lunch at Galatoire’s is one of the world’s great traditions and Delta Italians make better tamales than the tamales you find in Mexican restaurants.

Reviews

[Debra Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to winter over the Arctic or Antarctic, look no further. This be the wackiest and funniest account of what it's like for techno-cum-outdoors dude, Rex Nelson, who has spent several isolated winters in these extreme environments.

I met Rex on an expedition to the Arctic this summer on board the M/V MONROVIA. One evening he read an excerpt from his book and I wanted to hear more. Once I began reading of his very detailed and humorous experiences of working and living in complete isolation with just a few guys, I had a greater appreciation for the tenacity and insaneness of those who devote months at a time to living in these very extreme conditions.

His descriptions of the landscape are lyrical and and the accompanying photos in the book introduce you to natural phenomena that are so rare and beautiful. Thank you Rex for sharing them with us.

Reading Rex's accounts of day-to-day life in Antarctica and Greenland will give any fellow adventurer a pretty accurate idea of what to expect on both a physical and emotional level. (keep a sweater handy, you'll get chilly)

[Marla Vizdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the author's first book. Rex shares an interesting perspective of what it is like to spend months on the Greenland ice cap with four others, who are also tasked with data collection. They face subzero temperatures, compromised conditions, and limited companionship. Rex reflects back to time he also spent in the Antarctic, as he relates tales of his time on the ice.

[David Marantelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into what goes on at a polar research station.