The Worst Journey in the World (Penguin Classics),   ISBN:9780143039389

Customer Rating: 

This should not be one's first read of Antarctic journeys but is a 'must read' in the broader collective of work of explorations before modern technology and clothing, media hype, and corporate sponsorship. The book is extremely well-written in a journal style. I'm not sure that the tremendous effort of man-hauling sledges, crevasse crossings and rescues, and facing -77F and gale force winds is sufficiently descriptive. Scott perished but 11 miles from supplies of oil and food and that perhaps best notes him in Antarctic exploration. His somewhat obvious poor choices in the use of motor sledges(for hauling) and ponies (for hauling and food)are underplayed because of the journal style. The early descriptions of killer whales navigating and busting through sea ice in an attempt to eat them, their ponies, and their dogs is noteworthy.

Customer Rating: 

Having enjoyed books on the subject of Shackleton's attempt at the South Pole, a friend suggested I check out this book concerning Scott's journey. The irony of these two stories is that Shackleton's trip (detailed very well in the book Endurance) was a failure in all regards except for the fact that he brought home every man in his group alive, whereas Scott's journey was successful at reaching the pole but then suffered multiple casualties.
The Worst Journey in the World is an amazing read, but very difficult at times. It's assumed that the reader knows a decent bit about polar expeditions as you are dumped into terminology and basic maneuvers with no explanation. I had very little knowledge of such things and found myself looking up words fairly often and rereading passages to understand what "hoosh" was or what the point of depoting supplies is. The result is that I learned a lot and eventually came to read this book on it's terms, which was highly enjoyable. However a quick crash course on polar exploration in the early 20th century wouldn't have been the worst idea before starting this read.
With all of that out of the way I have nothing left but praise. Making heavy use of the actual journals and diaries of the explorers this book gives the reader a delicious sense of immediacy. The title trip, for example, in which a three man team makes a journey in the dead of the antarctic winter to retrieve some penguin eggs for study, is one of the more gripping accounts I have ever read anywhere. Likewise, the final words and notes from Scott himself, recovered after his death, as he attempts to stumble and slog his way back from the pole during a freak blizzard are heartbreaking.
I highly recommend this book but am also compelled to give warning that it can get a bit technical at times and requires some outside knowledge for decent comprehension.

Customer Rating: 

The story of an unforgettable journey. This book has details of the journeys undertaken in 1910-1912 by the men of this polar expedition. Their courage and "never give up" attitude are a testament of the type of men they were. Reading the account of their adventures from the diaries of several different men gives a more complete perspective than the diary of one man could give. Definitely an exciting book. Leaves you in awe of what they achieved with no more than they had almost 100 years ago. They were true explorers.

Customer Rating: 

An adventure story just doesn't get any better than this, and what adds to the readers pleasure is that it is all true. I was fortunate enough to read this while on an Antarctic cruise. The descriptions of Antarctica and the conditions faced by this expedition are terrific. This book is about character, endurance, hope, tragedy, and ultimately, wonder and awe !

Customer Rating: 

This is one of those books where I was constantly putting it down to tell my wife the amazing thing I had just read only to dive right back into the book. This is the tangible definition of the term "page turner." Set in the early 1900's a group of mostly British explorers set sail and make the long journey to Antarctica. The ship voyage alone is an amazing adventure and I was awestruck by the challenges this group had to overcome before they even made it to the continent. Once there, they spent 3 years on Antarctica eating almost nothing but pemmican and biscuits and drinking tea and cocoa.

These guys were born to explore - the ultimate extreme environment junkies. Battling unbelievable cold temperature (-10 F was considered warm) where they would be disappointed if the temperature rose above freezing (the ice on their clothes would thaw and then quickly freeze again, hardening their attire) this group of explorers set up bases all over Antarctica and then start exploring.

Heavy on the scientific aspects of their journey and even heavier on the human effort to withstand their atrocious surroundings, THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD is better than any action/adventure novel you'll ever read. It's ROBINSON CRUSOE but real life and much, much colder!

I was heartbroken whenever a member of the expedition died from extreme fatigue brought on by excessive frostbite, or when a group of them were found frozen in their sleeping bags, or when one brave soul knew that the only way to save his party from his own fatigue was to walk alone into a blizzard and never come back.

I live in Minnesota and happened to be reading this during a very cold winter but felt guilty going from a warm house, into -20 temperature and into a warm building and listening to people complain about the cold. Imagine if -20 F was considered room temperature and 10 above considered a heat wave?

For adventure readers and lovers of stories about human beings stretching themselves to the extreme THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD is a must-read!

Mark McGinty is the author of ELVIS AND THE BLUE MOON CONSPIRACY