The Ice Diaries

The Untold Story of the USS Nautilus and the Cold War’s Most Daring Mission

By: Captain William R. Anderson, Don Keith - contributor

Narrated by: Roger Mueller

The greatest undersea adventure of the 20th century.

The Ice Diaries tells the incredible true story of Captain William R. Anderson and his crew's harrowing top-secret mission aboard the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. Bristling with newly classified, never-before-published information, The Ice Diaries takes listeners on a dangerous journey beneath the vast, unexplored Arctic ice cap during the height of the Cold War.

"Captain Anderson and the crew of the USS Nautilus exemplified daring and boldness in taking their boat beneath the Arctic ice to the North Pole. This expertly told story captures the drama, danger, and importance of that monumental achievement." (Capt. Stanley D. M. Carpenter, Professor of Strategy and Policy, United States Naval War College)

"Few maritime exploits in history have so startled the world as the silent, secret transpolar voyage of the US Navy's nuclear submarine Nautilus, and none since the age of Columbus and Vasco da Gama has opened, in one bold stroke, so vast and forbidding an area of the seas." (Paul O'Neil, Life Magazine)

©2008 Captain William R. Anderson (P)2019 Thomas Nelson

Submarines made real & great

I was 12 years old when the Nautilus made the North Pole voyage . It made me more grateful of being an American knowing that the Navy was Conquering the last great ocean. I remember being scared of the Soviet Union and this book made me proud & appreciate that our Navy had and still does have their best and brightest at work for our safety and Liberty.

Exceptional!

A true story of the American spirit. Excellent book! I have to add 5 words to be finished WHY?

Enjoyable even without any prior military/sun knowledge

I really enjoyed listening to this book! I have no prior knowledge of subs or military interest/experience, but was enthralled by how devoted each crew member was and the secrecy behind their arduous mission.
Would definitely recommend.

Must read!

This is a must read if you’re at all interested in exploration, nuclear power, the US Navy or sailing. Fascinating story and very well told.

I’m not sure if the narrator’s accent is authentic because it seemed very inconsistent, but maybe that’s me. I got over it after an hour or two. Worth it.

An Ice Cold Thriller About Submariners

I really enjoyed this book. The narration was really good. I served in the US Navy for six years and would have felt honored to be on his crew anytime anywhere with one small exception. I was not a submariner, but other than that I would have been grateful, as he really honored his crew. So spoiler alert, the crew received the Presidential Unit Citation which is the highest group award issued to US Navy and Marine Corp Units. Rare to get for service unrelated to being in combat. I appreciate that a big deal was made of it and actually presented by President Eisenhower. My riverine unit in Vietnam received one (two actually because I was in two different awarded units). Mine was “presented” to me by a Yeoman (clerk) by way of saying. “ Oh looks like you can wear the PUC ribbon, I guess you can but one at the commissary ( store) when you get stateside”.

Anyway, after hearing this story I feel the need for adventure. I am not kidding. I already pulled out my Milepost book for Alaska and charted a course, on the road, for the Arctic.

Really recommend this Audible book.

An incredible journey

This book tells the journey of the USS Nautilis, the first nuclear powered submarine, going under the North Pole in 1958. There are a lot of details about the events leading to the trip under the top of the world. The book is interesting and well written. The narration is solid.

Interesting account, but not spellbinding

A spectacular achievement and hats off to Captain Anderson. But somehow, it comes across as a series of press releases; or little news updates. It caught my imagination more when I was young than now, ‘reading’ it.

Bravo Zulu USS Nautilus (SSN 571)

As a former submariner, I always wary of "true" submarine stories. This book was great! This book written as an exciting novel than a dry rendition of facts. Submariners are constantly drilled in damage control, so imagine my surprise to learn the Emergency Air Breather system wasn't installed until the Nautilus. The Nautilus can do spirit was demonstrated so many times like periscope repair, Mk 19 gyro troubleshooting, and the engineering of the EAB system. What an honor it must have been to serve with Commander William R. Anderson and the Nautilus crew.

Outstanding!

As a fellow Blue nose myself, this is an exciting recollection of the dedication and ingenuity of submariner's everywhere. Thank you for writing this wonderful book!

no big deal

I was expecting so much more from the book, but gave it a five star bonanza only because of the guys on the boats that risk their lives daily. I do not believe women should serve on boats as they take up three times as much room as a man on-board.