8 Best Antarctica Books In 2021

Written by one of National Geographic’s most prestigious photographers, Paul Nicklen showcases his love for the polar regions in his book, Born to Ice. This picture book about Antarctica blends Nicklen’s award-winning photographs with inspiring stories that will make you fall in love with this icy world.

A large format also ensures that you can dive into the icy Antarctic waters or explore beneath the ice for a detailed peek into Antarctica’s beauty. This is the best polar book that will immerse you into this desolate wilderness and leave you content flipping the pages or compel you to plan a trip.

As a historical adventure, The Stowaway: A Young Man’s Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica tells the true story of a Jazz Age boy who managed to escape a desolate future and go on the adventure of a lifetime. Billy Gawronski is the focus of this tale and in 1928 he jumped into the Hudson River and snuck himself aboard a ship. But the adventure only begins there. After a few failed tries and being sent home, Gawronski finally made it aboard one of Richard Byrd’s ships, which was headed to the South Pole.

The book is written by, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, who is a well-known journalist and filmmaker who made this tale into a full-length novel. Delving deeper than the news articles, Shapiro entertains the reader and profiles the grand adventure of a New York teen. While inspiring and thrilling, Shapiro also highlights what Antarctica was like over 90 years ago.

A few years before a teenage stowaway made his trip to Antarctica, Ernest Shackleton set aboard the Endurance with plans to cross the icy landscape on foot. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage tells the story of how one’s plans do not always go according to plan. Rather than complete is task, Shackleton became locked in ice and was forced to surviving in an unforgiven and frozen world.

Often regarded as painstakingly authentic, the author has woven Shackleton’s tale into a suspenseful story that will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. But while Ernest Shackleton was known for his ambition, after his fateful trip to Antarctica, he became a modern age hero. With this story, you will get an eye-opening account into the struggles of surviving in a world of ice.

Inspired by Ernest Shackleton’s courage and bravery, Henry Worsley set his sights on completing the trip that Shackleton couldn’t. Once a British special forces officer, Worsley also had a deeper connection to Shackleton’s journey. Frank Worsley, a man on Shackleton’s expedition, was one of Henry’s relatives. While Henry had visited Antarctica in 2008, alongside a few other descendants from Shackleton’s expedition, it wasn’t until 2015 that ambition drove him to attempt the impossible – a solo walk across Antarctica.

A combination of gorgeous photographs and intense storytelling give power to this story and narrates the courage of a man willing to face the extreme. As a true story to adventure, bravery, and the limits of the human condition, this arctic exploration book will immerse you into the harsh Antarctic world.

Another historical account of an Antarctic expedition gone wrong, Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration brings forth the tale of Sir Douglas Mason who was forced to survive in near impossible conditions in 1913. His tale gives the reader hope to go on, after Mawson himself was forced to find the strength to continue and cements himself as one of history’s great explorers.

This addicting Antarctic survival story is combined with Frank Hurley’s famous photographs of the barren Antarctic landscape, which include a few that have never been published. The photos combined with a strong narrative make this book a must read for adventure lovers.

While Antarctica is known for its research stations, Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a Mysterious Continent takes you beneath the surface and allows you to witness what scientific experiments are conducted on the ice. With a detailed account of what Antarctica is like in the modern world and how research stations function, readers can better understand how global warming is affecting our world by studying the changes happening in the South Pole.

Gabrielle Walker is a widely acclaimed scientific writer who presents the information in an exciting and interesting way. Rather than bore, this South Pole book dazzles with its tales about Antarctica. With plenty of information, readers can get a glimpse inside Antarctica’s alien world.

A modern tale, Antarctica: A Novel gives the struggles of this unclaimed continent both in conquerors and climate. With the Antarctica treaty ending, the fate of this icy continent is unknown as humans seek to harvest the resources. A once desolate landscape could soon be booming with people who will change its culture and shape its appearance. With climate change threatening the continent too, Antarctica is left in a precarious balance.

As a depiction of the fight between corporations, capitalism, and environmentalism, Kim Stanley Robinson gives an in-depth look into this hidden world. With historical accounts and modern-day tales, this is the best polar book that gives an all-encompassing overview of Antarctica.

While Antarctica is a mysterious land, Antartica’s Hidden History: Corporate Foundations of Secret Space Programs uncovers the stories of how Antarctica has been used in the past. While most consider Antarctica to be unclaimed, secret space programs run by the United States and other nations have worked to cover up ancient artifacts and extraterrestrial encounters.

As an audiobook, this story narrates how Antarctica has shaped the world and how it will continue to change in the coming years. With government secrets and mysteries coming to light, this arctic exploration book will enlighten you on current world affairs and their connections to Antarctica.