• Endurance

  • Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
  • By: Alfred Lansing
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (25,179 ratings)

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Endurance  By  cover art

Endurance

By: Alfred Lansing
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

This is a new reading of the thrilling account of one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded.

In August of 1914, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. In October 1915, still half a continent away from its intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five months, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions of the world.

Lansing describes how the men survived a 1,000-mile voyage in an open boat across the stormiest ocean on the globe and an overland trek through forbidding glaciers and mountains. The book recounts a harrowing adventure, but ultimately it is the nobility of these men and their indefatigable will that shines through.

©1959 Alfred Lansing (P)2007 Blackstone Audo, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

Nominee, 2008 Audie Award, Nonfiction, Unabridged

"[O]ne of the most extraordinary tales of heroism and determination in the history of exploration.... Prebble's narration will bring to life the despair, elation, and sheer will of these men to survive, and to triumph, together." (AudioFile)

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What listeners say about Endurance

Average customer ratings
Overall
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    20,602
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    3,487
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The most fantastic story you've never heard.

I loved everything about this tale. Great leadership book, just a great all around story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really makes you feel the emotion

The book ends extremely well, and I realized Lansing is skilled at imparting by the shape of his words the emotions of the characters. When they are imperil or exalted, I felt it with them. For a time, though, I found the story incredibly dull and boring. Only later did I realize that was, I think, intended. The crew were beset by tedium and useless action at that point in the story, and it was appropriate to feel that. If this were a movie the last three or four chapters would need to occupy half the screen time, and much of the detail of the long waitings glossed over, because a film audience could not endure what a reading audience must. I nearly quit the tale more than once, feeling myself closer to the former (hearing it on audible) but am really glad I finished it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely riveting

I am not generally a fan of nonfiction, but this was one of the most thrilling, inspiring books I have ever read or listened to, in any category, fiction, nonfiction, mystery, or thriller. Highly highly recommended to all readers!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best book on audible

This is the most fascinating story I have ever heard. If you want to be caught up in a true story that makes your own problems seem trivial, this is the one. These rough men are an inspiration to say the least.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Flawless.

What made the experience of listening to Endurance the most enjoyable?

The storytelling was flawless. This is a masterfully composed tale that left me awestruck.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story left me feeling an unusual sense of reverence for the men involved. And from now on, when I go running in the winter, I shall never again complain about the cold.

Any additional comments?

I intend to listen to this one again. And I say that about very few books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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amazing and inspiring

One could not write a fictional book with more triumph over conflict than what happened to these men. Amazing courage and fortitude.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The most gripping audiobook I’ve listened to

As a former professional mountaineer, I used to tell Shackleton’s story to many clients - especially when they felt like giving up on an expedition. Simon Prebble’s performance of this epic story is excellent and engaging, and he is the perfect actor for this book. Nothing can surpass the epic nature of the story itself, and I feel it is a story that will endure the ages, inspiring future generations of what is possible, and how far integrity, compassion, leadership and grit can take humans when they are all implemented together.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible!

This was an unbelievable story that had me on edge the whole way through! What grit and determination these men had.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Whoa

These are some tough, industrious seadogs.

This story has been wonderfully put together and the performance was perfect - not overly dramatic.

I have little interest in Antarctic expeditions but I can highly recommend giving this a listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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New standard for 5 stars.

Now I have to go take away one star from everything else I rated. Thanks alot. 4 stars

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