Best Arctic & Antarctica History Books of 2025

Endurance by Alfred Lansing is a gripping and intense story that recounts the harrowing journey of British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men during their 1914 expedition to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. Lansing's vivid narration of the crew's near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization is both suspenseful and inspiring. This New York Times bestseller is a must-read for anyone interested in adventure stories and the heroic age of exploration.

Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock is a thought-provoking book that challenges the conventional understanding of human history. The author presents evidence from archaeo-astronomy, geology, and ancient myths to suggest that human civilization may be older and more advanced than previously believed. The book takes readers on a journey across the world, exploring ancient monuments and revealing the fingerprints of a lost civilization. The book also warns of a cataclysmic event that may recur in irregular intervals. Overall, the book is an intriguing and entertaining read that offers a fresh perspective on human history and the potential dangers that lie ahead.

The White Darkness is a gripping non-fiction book by David Grann that tells the story of Henry Worsley, a decorated British special forces officer who was obsessed with the nineteenth-century polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. In 2015, at the age of 55, Worsley embarked on a perilous quest to walk across Antarctica alone, battling the freezing, desolate landscape, life-threatening physical exhaustion, and hidden crevasses. Grann tells Worsley's remarkable story with intensity and power, accompanied by over fifty stunning photographs from Worsley's and Shackleton's journeys. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in adventure, exploration, and the human spirit.

The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton's Endurance by Mensun Bound is a thrilling account of how the legendary lost ship of Ernest Shackleton was found in the most hostile sea on Earth. Bound, the expedition's Director of Exploration, chronicles two dramatic expeditions to what Shackleton called “the most hostile sea on Earth.” The book is complete with captivating photos from the 1914 expedition and of the wreck as Bound and his team found it. The storytelling is piano-wire taut, the writing saturated with polar moodiness. A triumph of storytelling, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in polar exploration.

Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age is a mesmerizing biography of Peter Freuchen, an adventurous Danish explorer who traversed some of the greatest frontiers of the twentieth century. The book is meticulously researched and grippingly written, providing an unforgettable tale of daring and discovery. It is an inspiring portrait of restlessness and grit, and a powerful meditation on our relationship to the planet and our fellow human beings. The book highlights Freuchen's ideals that were remarkably ahead of his time, championing Indigenous communities and environmental stewardship. Wanderlust is an absolute joy to read and an excellent addition to any travel and explorer biography collection.

The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition by Caroline Alexander is a riveting account of one of the last great adventures in the Heroic Age of exploration. The book tells the story of the shipwreck that stranded the crew of twenty-seven for twenty months. The book includes previously unpublished photographs and is a compelling read that captures the terrible beauty of Antarctica, the destruction of the ship, and the crew's heroic daily struggle to stay alive. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Arctic and Antarctica history and exploration.

"Madhouse at the End of the Earth" is a gripping true story of an early polar expedition that went horribly wrong. The young Belgian commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail for a three-year expedition aboard the good ship Belgica with dreams of glory. But the ship got stuck fast in the icy hold of the Bellingshausen Sea and the occupants were condemned to months of endless night. Julian Sancton has produced a thriller that unfolds an epic story of adventure and horror for the ages. Overall, this book is a must-read for all travel and exploration enthusiasts."

Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy is a gripping account of the disastrous 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the heroic voyage of the Karluk, a wooden-hulled brigantine. Levy's vivid descriptions of the Arctic landscape and the harrowing suffering and heroism of the crew are both evocative and chilling. The book focuses on the contrasting leadership styles of the expedition's two leaders, Captain Bob Bartlett and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and how their decisions shaped the fate of the crew. Overall, Empire of Ice and Stone is a fascinating and unique read that sheds light on one of the most audacious and disastrous expeditions in polar history.

The Last Viking by Stephen R. Bown is a captivating literary biography of Roald Amundsen, the legendary explorer who claimed the four great geographical mysteries of his time within twenty years. Bown's writing style is engaging, and he successfully conveys the excitement and danger of Amundsen's many expeditions. The book is a must-read for those who love tales of Arctic exploration and discovery, and the sixteen pages of photos add to the overall experience. Bown's ability to convey facts and figures while engaging the reader in Amundsen's life-and-death adventures makes The Last Viking an exceptional read.

Island of the Blue Foxes is a gripping account of the world's greatest scientific expedition, led by Danish captain Vitus Bering. The expedition involved over 3,000 people and cost Peter the Great over one-sixth of his empire's annual revenue. This 10-year venture discovered Alaska, opened the Pacific fur trade, and led to fame, shipwreck, and one of the most tragic and ghastly trials of suffering in the annals of maritime and arctic history. The book is a well-researched historical reconstruction that will enamor fans of the Age of Exploration. A rip-roaring tale of adventures, hardship, sacrifice, human hubris, and madness.