This was a brilliant read. At times frightening to even for a moment put yourself in the hero's shoes, and awe inspiring to see the wonder he created. Excellent writing, descriptions, really put the audience in the moment.

It's better to be a live donkey than a dead lion.

Full disclosure, I've never read a book by David Grann and didn't love it. This book was no different. In another riveting book by Grann, The White Darkness tells the tale of Henry Worsley who dreams of crossing the Antarctic on his own. Long an adventurer in his own right, Worsley spent years in the British military while pining for the icy abandon of the South Pole. Finally, Worsley is able to complete the quest of his idol, Ernest Shackleton, and he and his two companions (and relatives of those who originally traveled with Shackleton) voyage together to the South Pole.

Not satisfied with making history just once, Worsley decides to traverse the Antarctic alone with no food caches, just a single sled and his own fortitude. A lifelong leader, he always said "It's better to be a live donkey than a dead lion" but his quest puts his motto to the ultimate test.

The White Darkness is short, coming in at only 140 pages. It's built off Grann's previous retelling, a short article in The New Yorker. The book doesn't specifically improve on the earlier piece, but the photos are stunning. I was able to finish the book in about 2 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it.

David Grann always delivers an interesting, factual book that reads like fiction. This one hits very close to home as it took place very recently, and you probably heard about some of the events before starting it. A quick read that sucks you in and gives you a great background to one man's obsession with conquering the pole!

David Grann's latest book discusses the life of Henry Worsley, a British Special Forces officer who idolized Ernest Shackleton. Actually, he was related to one of the men on Shackleton's expedition. Worsley's interest in Shackleton bordered on obsessive and it led him to Antarctica, not once but twice. I have been very interested in Shackleton myself, ever since I first read Alfred Lansing's incredible book chronicling his expedition, so I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the description. It was an extremely interesting read. It was admittedly a short read, reminding me of a very long magazine feature. Reading the author's note, I learned that it did first appear as a feature in The New Yorker. I appreciated having a book version of it--it was cool having the pictures along with the text. (Although I had a digital ARC from NetGalley, I was delayed in my reading so I also grabbed the hardcover at my library.)

Henry Worsley felt such a connection with his hero Ernest Shackleton that he felt compelled to replicate Shackleton's expeditions. Or maybe obsessed would be a better word. While he was successful in his attempt to reach the South Pole, it was his last outing to walk across Antarctica alone that prove to be his greatest challenge.

I sat down to take a look at this book and before I knew it, I was at the end. In it's brief 160 pages, it is filled with fascinating details and pictures about Shackleton and Worsley. It had me googling all sorts of things due to an "I'm curious about this or that" factor. I love it when a book challenges me to learn more about topics outside my normal interest. This book certainly did that.

There was not one minute of boredom with this book. Now I know I must read more books from this very talented author.

My thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley.

Grann is the epitome of journalism. What he has done with the Lost City of Z and the Killers of the Flower Moon, he does once again with the riveting, and at times hard to believe, true story of Henry Worsley and his trek through the South Pole. The White Darkness is a story about a man meant for exploration: a natural leader and tireless traveler with a healthy appetite for adventure.

THE WHITE DARKNESS is by David Grann who also wrote Killers of the Flower Moon, a finalist for the 2017 National Book Award. In this new book, Grann provides background on the Antarctic adventures of Ernest Shackleton and his early twentieth-century team while focusing on a descendant of one of those original explorers, Frank A. Worsley who was the captain of the H.M.S. Endurance. Henry Worsley was so invested in his ancestor and the events related to the search for the South Pole that he led subsequent treks in 2008 and 2015, successfully following Shackleton's routes across Antarctica. Grann's non-fiction narrative is a relatively short (160 pages), but powerful account filled with dozens of images from both Shackleton's and Worsley's trips. For more on this topic, see also Alfred Lansing's Endurance or Caroline Alexander's The Endurance. And for more real life adventure happening right now, see this New York Times' article about how two men are each trying to cross Antarctica alone: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/11/sports/antarctica-race.html

We have always sought to explore the unknown. There have always been men who want to be the first to be somewhere, the first to do something. The spirit of adventure runs strong with some – too strong to ignore and so strong as to lead to truly astonishing accomplishments.

In “The White Darkness,” author David Grann offers up the story of one such man, a man whose lifelong affinity for the idea of polar exploration and the men who pioneered it led him to become a polar explorer himself. His devotion led to incredible feats, Antarctic adventures the likes of which we hadn’t seen in nearly a century.

The book – which sprang from an article Grann had written for the New Yorker – tells a tale both gritty and uplifting. It’s a story of how we might share the triumphs of the past while pushing forward along our own paths.

“The White Darkness” is the story of Henry Worsley, a British Special Forces officer who carried with him a decades-long fascination with polar exploration – the adventures of Ernest Shackleton in particular. He was a good military man and a loving husband and father, but deep down, he burned with a desire to explore the Antarctic ice.

He idolized Shackleton, whose efforts to become the first to reach the South Pole (and then to cross the entire continent of Antarctica on foot) never reached full fruition. Shackleton’s failures resulted in even more fame, as his staunch leadership wound up saving the men in his charge on more than one occasion. He was a far better leader of men than he was Arctic explorer … and he was a damned good Arctic explorer.

Worsley was deeply, fundamentally connected to these stories. His distant relation Frank Worsley was one of Shackleton’s men. He bought memorabilia and ephemera connected to the voyages. Henry dreamed of undertaking the same harrowing journeys that Shackleton and his men had tackled.

And so, in 2008, he made his dream come true.

Worsley – along with Will Gow and Henry Adams, also descendants of Shackleton’s crew – set off to celebrate the centenary of Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition by pioneering a route through the Transatlantic Mountains and finishing approximately 100 miles away from the South Pole. Three years later, Worsley led a six-man team in retracing Roald Amundson’s route to the Pole, again marking the 100th anniversary of the original feat.

But with every challenge conquered, another rose to replace it in Worsley’s psyche.

That’s how it came to pass that in November of 2015, Henry Worsley set out on his most dangerous expedition yet. He was going to cross the Antarctic continent on foot. And he was going to do it alone. And unsupported. And in 80 days. Would this be his latest, greatest triumph? Or would this journey be the one that finally proved too much? Or would it wind up somewhere in between, somewhere floating in the snowblind blankness of the titular white darkness.

There are few genres so rife with the potential to transport as narrative nonfiction, when a writer can seamlessly combine the prosaic deftness of the best fiction with the rock-solid reality of true stories. Those writers are out there, and they’re good. A few are even great.

David Grann is great.

Henry Worsley’s story would be compelling no matter who told it – it is that exhilarating. But while the thrills inherent to this story are obvious, it is Grann’s subtler machinations that make the tale spring to life. Worsley cuts a heroic figure, but Grann allows him to be human in ways that, far from undercutting, serve to elevate that heroism.

The picture painted of Antarctica is bleak and evocative. Grann’s synapse-stirring knack for breathing life into a landscape is here in full force, aided by the inclusion of photos from Worsley’s expeditions – and from those led by Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. The unending white and the shattering cold, the innocent-looking nooks and crannies that might mean rough travel or even death – it’s all there, on every page.

And on every page is triumph. The indomitability of the human will utterly permeates this book; it saturates every page. Henry Worsley’s is a particular kind of courage, the kind that not only allows one to set forth on a grand and dangerous adventure but convinces others to follow. He is graceful and dignified, a throwback in the best way.

“The White Darkness” captures the spirit of Henry Worsley, as an explorer and as a man. It is a tale of victory and defeat, of determination and desire. It’s an enthralling examination of what drives someone to attempt to the ice at the bottom of the world, all while crafting a vivid sensory recreation of the harsh nature of that place.

A riveting true story of Henry Worsley, a born leader and man obsessed with exploring the challenging, breathtakingly beautiful terrain of Antarctica, following in the footsteps of his idol Ernest Shackleton.

I immediately became immersed in this remarkable story. Worsley’s notes and recorded telecommunications of his exploration are pieced together expertly by David Grann, never dragging with details. Photos are included in all the right places.

Worsley’s first exploration leading a courageous crew through this brutal and unforgiving landscape and a separate solo journey years later both took my breath away. It never ceases to amaze me what a human body and mind can endure and when they decide ‘no more’. I was overcome with emotion nearing the final pages. Worsley sacrificed so much to make his dreams reality. My heart went out to his wife and children.

*will post to various online venues upon publication.

Within the pages of The White Darkness you will find a true narrative of Henry Worsley, a man in possession of grit, fortitude, and never giving up.
All clearly layered out by a writer that does these tellings of lives, complexities, and struggles, so well.
He defines Henry Worsley’s great character up against the Antartica, the white darkness a test of it and his life.
“As is true of many adventurers, he seemed to be on an inward quest as much as an outward one—the journey was a way to subject himself to an ultimate test of character.”
Empowerment reading within.
In that blanket of whiteness, the endless white into the beyond, treading through freezing conditions with no clear sign of end, onwards with sheer determination.
This is a biographical read but also a motivational and a self-help read, that lets the read empathically understand that everyone have their own Antarctica to battle, to see through, to adopt fortitude, and fight through disappointment and failure, and persevere through.
David Grann has written many great works on lives and roads, tales of adventure against odds, and this exceptional work pieces together research and great photos contributed by Worsley’s wife, Joanna.
A biography that may stay close to you heart and mind, whilst in warmth and comforts, and reflecting upon one mans survival against the bitter extremes of cold.

The White Darkness was previously printed as a New Yorker article and I understand a major selling point of publishing a book is the stunning photographs of the landscape, which can only translate so well via Kindle.

That being said, for a quick read David Grann packs an emotional punch, making you fall in love with Worsley and his family, attempting to get into his head and explain the desire to explore. I was completely unfamiliar with the story but did read Ernest Shackleton's "South" in college and so knew about his history. Worsley's tale of following in Shackleton's footsteps is a fascinating one and Grann tells it well, though I wish this could have been longer, an expansion from the article.

A good, short little read where descendants of polar explorers decide to recreate their ancestors' trips. The premise is great but the book is very short, leaving out much of the detail about hazardous exploration that makes it so much fun to read about. This is more of an article than a true book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about the life long obsession that Henry Worsley had with the Ernest Shackleton expeditions to Antartica and his striving to recreate and exceed what Shackleton was able to achieve. While successful in repeating Shackleton's race to the south pole with two other individuals, he eventually lost his life when he tried to become the first person to solo trek across Antartica. The book is well written and is short which makes it a very quick read.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read about what obesssion with a deadly environment or those who have an interest in exploration.

I received a free Kindle copy of The White Darkness by by Daid Grann courtesy of Net Galley  and  Doubleday, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazonand my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as the description interested me and I enjoy reading The Killers of the Flower Moon by the author.

This is the story of an obsessed man. Not only was he obsessed with polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton, but also with the idea of walking across Antarctica--alone. British explorer, Henry Worsely, a sculptor, photographer, horticulturalist, collector of rare books, maps and fossils, and an amateur historian, also took up needlepoint at one time to help settle his nerves when he was deployed with the Special Forces in Northern Ireland. He had already reached the South Pole two times (with groups) before deciding to make a solo trip to Antarctica. Soon to be made into a feature film.

David Grann's significant talent has turned to a mesmerizing story of polar compulsion. Take three descendants of men on Earnest Shackleton's failed Nimrod exploration doggedly determined to retrace the intended route to the south pole. Then take the compulsion to the next logical step - and the next. How far will one of them go to honor his hero? Would Shackleton have approved? This is a gripping tale of hero worship, determination, grit, pain, self sacrifice, and obsession that shouldn't be missed. The pictures of the original expeditions paired with the contemporary attempts are both awe inspiring and terrifying. High recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for making an advance copy available for an honest review.

I knew almost nothing about Antarctic journey before reading this book. I knew it was dangerous, of course, but not to such an extent. This was a fascinating story, and David Grann has proven once again that he can write compelling non-fiction. It's a slim book, so it would be a great introduction to anyone new to the author or the subject.

This story about Henry Worsley and his quest to follow Shackleton' s footsteps to the Antarctica covers two expeditions, the second solo. Biographical information is solid and you want Worsley to succeed. Those interested in Shackleton will be intrigued by this well illustrated account.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

My obsession with Antarctic explorers began when I was eleven and read The Great White South by Herbert Ponting, the photographer on the 1911 Scott expedition. As a girl, I held a heroic idealization of Scott and his men freezing in their hut. It seemed all so heroic, then. Later readings lowered Scott in my estimation.

Henry Worsley idolized Ernest Shackleton for his courage and leadership. Although Shackleton was never able to complete his expeditions, he did save his men's lives. And Worsley's own grandfather had been with Shackleton on his failed expedition to the reach the South Pole.

Henry made a career in the army, completing Special Forces training while pursuing his obsession by collecting Shackleton artifacts.

The White Darkness by David Grann tells the story of how Henry Worsley, after retirement from the army, participated in a centennial expedition retracing Shackleton's trek, along with two other descendants of the original team. The goal was to reach the South Pole, which Shackleton failed to do. They made it. Not content with this achievement, Henry afterward endeavored to complete the other journey that Shackleton had to abandon: crossing the Antarctic. Henry, though, would do it solo.

Once again, I am amazed how men can be driven to endure the unimaginable physical stress of the Antarctic, not just once, but returning again to the dangerous beauty of ice. A hundred years ago men wanted to bring honor to their country and the Antarctic and Arctic were the last unexplored places on earth. But there has always been something more, a need for men to test themselves to the ultimate, to conquer the most extreme conditions imaginable.

In this short book about Henry Worsley, Grann covers the history of Antarctic exploration and conveys a chilling exposure to the 'white darkness' of the freezing desert landscape that has lured so many men to their deaths.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Thank Doubleday and Netgalley for the ARC of this upcoming long form non- fiction. David Grann does a great job making history compelling, and this is no exception. My only disappointment was the short length; I thought this was a full novel length until I downloaded it. So it ended too soon.

David Grann has been one of my favorite New Yorker reporters for years, ever since I read his "Trial by Fire," a fascinating look at a case of arson, written with fantastic verve and twists and turns. I've since enjoyed almost everything he's done, especially the stories on men's obsessions that take them to dark places. The White Darkness is another great job of reporting, originally published in The New Yorker, and I'm thrilled it is being published in book form.

In The White Darkness Grann takes us to Antarctica, following the obsession of Henry Worsley, who, in 2015, at 55 years old, embarked on a solo venture across Antarctica, hoping to follow the course that his hero, Sir Ernest Shackleton, tried and failed to conquer 100 years prior.

To tell this story, Grann spends a good amount of time looking at Shackleton's own journeys, looking at why Worsley thought he was an admirable leader. Grann also looks at Worsley's prior visits to Antarctica, in 2008 and 2011, when he successfully retraced other famous Antarctic exploration routes from 100 years prior.

These are fascinating stories of human planning, training, endurance, and foolhardiness. It makes you wonder the purpose of it all. At the same time, it is entirely understandable. There is beauty in exploration and testing humanity. There is wonder on earth.

The White Darkness also asks, What is failure? Shackleton, after all, relatively close to his destination, called off his own trans-Antarctic venture. He and his crew survived. In contrast, Shackleton's contemporary and competitor Robert Scott, the second (just five weeks after Amundsen) to make it to the South Pole, is often criticized for not giving up, losing himself and his crew in 1912. Worsley has to fight this demon when times get dark: does he fail to meet his destination and thus succeed in surviving, like his hero, or does he stubbornly push himself across the threshold that will lead to his demise?