ebooks The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen's Race to the South Pole; Revised and Updated (Modern Library Exploration) by Roland Huntford in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Don't take ponies to the AntarcticBy B. SmithVery excellent look at the personalities of two polar explorers; their journeys; and their fateful competition finally to reach the South Pole. I was fascinated by the differences between these two people; Amundsen and Scott. Amundsen was methodical to an extreme. He learned about every aspect of polar travel; through visits with explorers; volunteering on expeditions; reading; and direct training about skiing; running dogs; nutition; sailing into polar waters; etc. etc. He was conpulsive about understanding everything possible about everything that might have an impact on an expedition. Amundsen also valued the knowledge of indigenous people about traveling in polar regions; food; clothing; etc. He didn't see them as savages with nothing to teach. Scott was haphazard and careless in his approach. He took the attitude that a large and well-funded team could wing it and overcome problems as they occurred. He didn't value the knowledge of indigenous people who had lived in the Arctic for eons. He took ponies to the Antarctic as pack animals. He hated sled dogs. What is there for a pony to eat in the pack ice? Nothing. What can a dog eat? Seals. Penguins. In the worst case even another dog. The author also discusses the more general differences between Norwegians and the English as regards exploration and even behavior toward subordinates.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Great Book About a Little Thought of ExpeditionBy Don GosneyWhen this book first came out close to 30 years ago it was such an inspiration to me that it prompted my two lengthy expedition trips to the Antarctic.I've used this book as a lesson in leadership to young people attending high school and even college (it was required reading in a leadership class that one of my students just took over the summer at Cornell University).The difference in leadership styles demonstrated here between Scott and Amundsen is night and day and it's clear that this is one of the main reasons why Amundsen reached the South Pole 34 days ahead of Scott and why he was able to live out his life basking in the glory of his accomplishments while Scott and his team relied on Scott's wife to try to drum up support for her husband's tragic end succumbing to the cold just 11 miles from a supply depot.Reading the book was great but "reading" it again through the CDs while driving was very enjoyable. There were numerous times when I arrived home and sat in the driveway listening to another chapter before heading into the house.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Story You Won't ForgetBy apavI watched the seven-part BBC series called "The Last Place on Earth" before reading this book. Huntford takes you from the beginning of polar exploration to the extraordinary feat of Roald Amundsen and his team and the aftermath. The Norwegians were first to reach the South Pole; but the British were hailed as heroes (having died in their attempt). Using primary sources; the author painstaking builds a case for incredible incompetence of the British Scott and contrasts it to the profoundly capable Amundsen. This is an excellent account of remarkable men and the times in which they lived.