Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
1912, The Year the World Discovered Antarctica
by Chris Turney
Turney looks at the great leap forward in Antarctic science that was made 100 years ago with the expeditions of not just Scott and Amundsen but also those of Mawson, Filchner and Shirase. A brisk and engaging history of science and exploration in the Antarctic. An Australian scientist himself, Turney sees Mawson as the scientific hero of the age.
Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth, Ken Miyata
Two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists offer a lucid portrait of the tropics through 17 marvelous essays that introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforests.
Lonely Planet Antarctica
by Lonely Planet
Alexis Averbuck, author of the new edition of this compact and surprisingly handy guide, expands coverage of Ushuaia, the Falklands and South Georgia. With a wildlife guide and contributions from 26 Antarctic experts on the history, geology, wildlife and future of Antarctica.
Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
by Alfred Lansing
Lansing's gripping day-by-day story of Shackleton's legendary perseverance is essential reading for any Antarctic traveler.
Antarctic Marine Wildlife: Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea & Scotia Sea
by Jamie Watts
Antarctic Explorer Map
by Ocean Explorer
A full-color map of the Antarctic Peninsula, including Tierra del Fuego, the Falklands and South Georgia, at a scale of 1:2,750,000. With a map of the Antarctic continent on the reverse.
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Map
by ITMB
This handy map shows all Patagonia on one side (1:2,000,000), with a more detailed map of Tierra del Fuego (1:750,000) on the reverse.
Frozen in Time, Murder at the Bottom of the World
by Theodore Jerome Cohen
A scientist with the 16th Chilean Antarctic Expedition in the 1960s, Professor Cohen turns his experiences and actual events from the time into a novel with a strong setting at Deception Island and the South Shetlands.
Destinations of a Lifetime, 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places
by National Geographic
Ideal for inspiring and planning a dream trip, this National Geographic bucket list brings readers a little closer to visiting 225 of the world’s most breathtaking natural and man-made locales.
Penguins, The Ultimate Guide
by Tui De Roy
Featuring more than 400 photographs, this is the traveler's ultimate guide to the world's 18 species of penguins. Includes scientific discussions on penguin conservation, profiles, facts and tips on where to see them in Antarctica.
Forgotten Footprints, Lost Stories in the Discovery of Antarctica
by John Harrison
A frequent lecturer aboard expedition ships to the Antarctic, John Harrison mixes his own adventures with tales of the seamen, sealers, whalers and plain lunatics who have journeyed to the Ice to make their fame and fortune. He focuses not on Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen but lesser-known tales of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetlands and Weddell Sea.
End of the Earth, Voyaging to Antarctica
by Peter Matthiessen
In this fine book, the result of two voyages, Matthiessen captures the magic of polar landscapes and wildlife, along with the camaraderie of a ship-based polar expedition.
The Oceanites Site Guide to the Antarctic Peninsula
by Ron Naveen
The guide, which supports the Antarctic Site Inventory Project, covers 40 prime visitor sites in detail. It also includes some of the best photography we've seen. Second edition.
The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning, A Polar Journey
by Carol Devine, Wendy Trusler
An insightful miscellany from a 55-person environmental cleanup expedition in Bellingshausen, Antarctica. The authors’ travelogue is supplemented by 42 recipes, anecdotes, journal entries, vignettes and captivating photography.
Southern Light, Images from Antarctica
by David Neilson
Photographer David Neilson has turned his six journeys to the ice over the last 20 years, often with the Australian Antarctic Program (and sometimes lugging a 30-pound large format camera), into a coffee-table tribute to the continent and its wildlife. Includes 130 color and 100 rich black-and-white oversized photographs, gate-folds and double-page spreads that portray the drama and beauty of the Antarctic.
Patagonia, A Cultural History
by Chris Moss
A journalist with the Buenos Aires Herald, Moss follows a colorful cast of characters -- from Magellan and Darwin to mad kings, gauchos, and Nazi fugitives -- in this vivid overview of the culture and history of Patagonia.
Melting Away, Images of the Arctic and Antarctic
by Camille Seaman
In her masterful series of 75 portraits and essays, Camille Seaman shows how climate change has wreaked havoc on both the North and South Poles.
The Penguin History of Latin America
by Edwin Williamson
Beginning with the Spanish conquest, this brisk history covers questions of empire, colonialism and nationalism through the 1980s.
Birds of Southern America & Antarctica
by Martin D. la Pena, Maurice Rumboll
With color plates, range maps and brief descriptions, this is a compact regional guide
Where the Earth Ends, A Journey Beyond Patagonia
by John Harrison
A spirited tale of adventures in the southern tip of South America, south from the Pampas and Patagonia to Punta Arenas, the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia -- and Antarctica.
Travelers' Tales Central America
by Larry Habegger (Editor), Natanya Pearlman (Editor)
Organized thematically with contributions set in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, this collection of eyewitness reports includes Joan Didion, P.J. O'Rourke and Paul Theroux.
Moon Handbook Patagonia
by Wayne Bernhardson
A practical guide in the Moon series, packed not only with travel necessities (hotels, restaurants, sights), but also with a good overview of history and destinations throughout Patagonia.
Antarctica, A Call to Action
by Sebastian Copeland
Copeland's collection of striking photographs includes a three-page list of sensible suggestions to protect the planet.
Antarctic Wildlife
by James Lowen
Produced by a shipboard naturalist, this handy identification guide focuses on the Beagle Channel, Drake and Peninsula regions.
Hoosh: Roast Penguin, Scurvy Day, and Other Stories of Antarctic Cuisine
by Jason C. Anthony
Antarctic traveler Jason Anthony tells the story of the continent's exploration through the celebrated 'hoosh' of early days and other polar fare.
Buenos Aires, A Cultural History
by Jason Wilsom
An exhilarating, erudite guide to Buenos Aires as it has been portrayed by writers, poets and thinkers; serves well as a guidebook, too, with a street map and detailed neighborhood descriptions.
Antarctica, A Guide to the Wildlife
by Tony Soper
Designed for the field, this compact handbook features all the species of birds, seals and whales the traveler is likely to encounter on an Antarctic voyage.
Alone in Antarctica, The First Woman to Ski Solo Across the Southern Ice
by Felicity Aston
In this inspirational memoir, Felicity Aston describes her pioneering journey -- skiing across the whole of Antarctica -- while meditating on human vulnerability, struggle and the experience of solitude in the Information Age.
