The North Pole

Reviews

A dazzling book - soulful, awe-inspiring, and deeply thought-provoking. Erling Kagge takes readers on a journey they’ll never forget Erling Kagge transforms and consoles us A philosophical adventurer or perhaps an adventurous philosopher As an explorer Erling Kagge is world class; as a writer he is equally gifted An electrifying memoir of a daring journey through Earth’s most unforgiving landscapes. Intrepid explorer and philosopher Erling Kagge masterfully intertwines the adrenaline of his 58-day ski trek to the apex of the world with captivating lore, forgotten histories of past expeditions to the frozen unknown, and profound reflections on survival and our planet's fragility. A bouillabaisse of pure delight. Erling Kagge is an extraordinary individual. He is an adventurer in the true sense of the word, exploring his curiosity with physical and intellectual and creative capabilities, all of which are prodigious, and fully engaging the reader in his adventures. They tend to leave us in wonder, while conveying a curious stoicism, as he invites you to join him on the journeys, experience the frightening dangers and profound sights, share the often sheer craziness, executed with sublime daring, skill, and even wry humor, that make the read chilling. At the conclusion of a Kagge read, I usually note my hands are sweating A distinctive, thoughtful, and quietly moving work by that rarest of creatures, a genuine philosopher-explorer. Erling Kagge in this gem of a book demonstrates how the North Pole has served as a container of countless human hopes, dreams, and sorrows—including his own Erling Kagge’s decades-long obsession with the North Pole has produced an extraordinary book that defies genre: an elegant travel account, a learned history and a psychological thriller wrapped in one. He evokes the “silver-shining vacantness” of the North Pole like no one else could This book is a deeply affecting odyssey through time and space, as we footstep with Erling Kagge to the North Pole, alongside all the crazed, idealistic, inspiring individuals who attempted to get there over the centuries. This book is the perfect guide if you know you will never make it there yourself Erling Kagge is a deeply thoughtful writer who has a strong and very individual style. The North Pole proves to be the perfect subject for him Expand reviews