by Edward J. Larson, 2018, Kindle Edition, William Morrow publisher

One of the topics in this book was especially interesting to me because it depicted Shackleton’s 1909 attempt to reach the South Pole in 1909.  I visited Shackleton’s hut on Cape Royds in Antarctica in 1971 when I was stationed there with the Navy.  I didn’t know much about Shackleton’s expedition, however, so I didn’t have any context regarding the hut.

This book was one of the selections for our men’s book club and I took some of the pictures I had taken in 1971 to our meeting to show the other participants.  It generated some discussion as to why I had been there and what my role was during that time.

The other two topics that were covered in the book was the race to the North Pole and an attempt to climb K-2 in the Himalayas in that same year. I didn’t have any knowledge regarding these two expeditions.

The book itself wasn’t as well-written as I would have liked.  I compare it to a book a read some years ago about Shackleton’s subsequent attempt to reach the South Pole when his ship became frozen in the ice.  This book was written, I believe, in the 1950’s by a man named Roland Hungerford and is now out of print.  It was one of the most exciting books I have ever read, but “To the Edges of the Earth” was pretty boring in places.

Overall, I am glad I read this book, but for reasons other than my enjoyment of the book itself.