Tag: survival
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Left for Dead by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Left for Dead: Well, maybe they should have left the poor sea otters alone. Quick synopsis: The story of castaways left for dead in the Falkland Islands during the War of 1812. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal with as many as…
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Lost at Sea by John Wukovits
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lost at Sea: Yeah, this title is pretty spot on. Quick synopsis: The story of war hero Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew’s crash and fight for survival in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Fun Fact for Non-History People: Eddie Rickenbacker got addicted to speed when he first drove in…
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Wanderlust by Reid Mitenbuler
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Wanderlust: “Eccentric” explorer is putting it lightly. Quick synopsis: A biography of Peter Freuchen who had a life you need to read to believe. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Creatures happiest around ice are called “pagophiles.” Fun Fact for History Nerds: Male narwhal horns were believed to cure epilepsy, impotency,…
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N-4 Down by Mark Piesing
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for N-4 Down: Airship in the Arctic? What could possibly go wrong? Quick synopsis: The story of Umberto Nobile’s attempt to explore the North Pole in an airship. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The first time Santa was said to live in the North Pole was by poet Thomas Nash in…
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Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: I would have just laid down and died. Quick synopsis: The story of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914–1917 led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: No one died from the Endurance. Read the book. They all should have. Fun Fact for History Nerds: When the expedition returned…
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Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Madhouse at the End of the Earth: Belgium tried to do what? Quick summary: The voyage of the Belgica, a ship from Belgium intent on Antarctic discovery in 1897. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Antarctic Giant Petrel’s defense mechanism is to puke on you. It smells really bad apparently.…
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Icebound by Andrea Pitzer
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Icebound: You should probably take warm clothes with you to the Arctic. Quick synopsis: The voyages of Dutch Explorer William Barents in attempts to find the Northeast Passage. No, not the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: People used to believe geese were magical creatures because…
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Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Jungle of Stone: I wouldn’t even do what they did in 1839 today. Forget that. Quick synopsis: Two guys went into the Jungle and discovered the Mayans were way more legit than anyone gave them credit for. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The archaeological site of Copan, in Honduras, was…
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Antarctica by David Day
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Antarctica: I really want to go here. Someone want to make a donation? Quick synopsis: The story of Antarctica from the 1770s to today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Antarctica is a desert. It hasn’t rained there in 2 million years. Go ahead, check my work. Fun Fact for History…