Thanks to Neil Shubin, Dutton Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book! The author's wonder at the magic of the nether regions of the earth is infectious. He is masterful at weaving scientific discovery into the narrative of the locations and characters presented so that the story is seamless and effortless to follow. This short book (288 pages) is arranged into a Prologue, eight Chapters, and an Epilogue. The chapters are each on a different aspect of polar research, but there are connections between them so that they work together to build the overall narratives of the history of what is now the Arctic and Antarctic, the science of survival in the extreme conditions occurring in both poles, the history of exploration in polar regions, the changes that are now occurring in both polar regions and its probable effects on the rest of the planet, and other related aspects of polar science. I highly recommend this book for anyone fascinated by the Arctic and/or Antarctic.

In advance of my review, I'd like to thank the Neil Shubin, NetGalley, and the publisher for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I like Neil Shubin. In fact, I requested this book because of how much I liked his previous book: Your Inner Fish. And, on paper, I even liked the premise of this book, which sought to "shift our understanding of life, the cosmos, and our future on the planet." I would argue that this book did not accomplish this task, but rather, provided multiple unique (and entertaining) anecdotes about Shubin's travels throughout the polar regions.

In no way am I displeased I requested or read this work. In fact, there is a ton of historical and factual information, along with tons of interesting stories that are condensed into this 290 page book. However, rather than acting as one coherent and well-planned work, the story seemingly meanders unapologetically from one disconnected story to the next. This disconnected storyline can be distracting for many readers, as it was for me.

Overall, this book seems to me to be a retelling of Shubin's accomplishments and experiences in the polar regions, rather than a book designed with the intention of educating the readers.

Very cool nonfiction book about exploration of some of the most desolate places in Earth. had a fun time with this one and would recommend for anyone interested in the subject.

A real treat for anyone in love with the polar regions.

I am a fan of Neil Shubin - I have read and enjoyed two of his previous books, but this one is a bit different. First, it is not a classic popular science work - more of a travelog and history book. Second, it is more a series of essays on various polar-related topics than a coherent story - but it is so compelling you can hardly put the book down.

The author shares his experiences from many expeditions he was part of (or led), including many interesting observations (“with no news, internet, or external sources of information, the main distractions in camp are the ones we carry inside of us”). I especially liked his set of rules for working in polar regions: 1. Don’t get cold. 2. Don’t get hot (“The general advice for working in cold places is: rush only when necessary”). 3. Don’t get dry. 4. Keep your head in the game. 5. It takes a village. 6. Think inside the box (“Thinking ‘outside the box’ is for the whiteboard at home, not for polar expeditions.”) 7. Experts mess up.

In addition to these recollections, Shubin retraces other scientific discoveries in the Arctic and Antarctic from the so-called "Heroic Age" (which lasted from the end of the 19th century until World War I) to the present day. And on top of all that, there are even a few paragraphs about my favorite creatures: „Because they accomplish all these feats while looking like cute teddy bears under the microscope, tardigrades have developed a loyal fan following."

Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.