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One Day, One Night: Portraits of the South Pole
One Day, One Night offers a riveting account of the challenges, the adventure, the wonder of life at the South Pole Station. This work of narrative non-fiction reveals mind-boggling science, from secrets of climate change locked under the ice, to the edge of the universe and the beginning of time. Immerse yourself in land and skyscapes. Gawk at Polies running to the Geographic South Pole naked when the temperature reaches –101°F. Find yourself bathed in perpetual darkness, frozen into the eight months of winter in the most isolated place on Earth.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
442 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2023
Wow. What a deep dive into the world's harshest continent, Antartica. At times a breathless study of scientific phenomena, other times a damning indictment of former contract runners, this book chronicles two " Over-Winterers" or "Polies" at the Amundsen- Scott South Pole station.
Right off the bat, as much as I wanted to like the book itself, I was frustrated by the somewhat dated references and the attitudes of our two narrators. A couple that over wintered together, one is a scientist manning a piece of scientific equpiment and the other signs up as a dishwasher to be with him. They just.... seem to complain or even not talk about their respective situations. The scientist develops into giving us a virtual tour of points of interests, while the dishwasher laments the working conditions, the lack of opportunities to be heard, the frustrations, etc. Two tonally differnt ideas. They wintered over 2000 to 2001 ending around the time of September 11th. So those references are 23 years past.
The other thing that gets me is the shocking managment of the people in one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Indeed, many of the complaints (rightfully so) boil down to " they don't listen to us and we don't feel heard". People struggle with alcoholism, back stabbing, indifference. All the while surrounded by -50 to -117 temperatures, no sunlight, no real significant communications, and somewhat limited supplys.
But the beauty and grace shine through of this inhospitable environment. They build a society down there, malcontents and misfits and social oddities all come together as Americans to further the cause of Science. The book, in particular relates the ozone layer to such mysteries of the cosmos as dark matter, quarks and muons. It would actually serve as a good primer to cosmology for the uninitiated.
Again. The subject matter is incredible, the stories contained also incredible. The presentation and connecting the dots, less so.
Right off the bat, as much as I wanted to like the book itself, I was frustrated by the somewhat dated references and the attitudes of our two narrators. A couple that over wintered together, one is a scientist manning a piece of scientific equpiment and the other signs up as a dishwasher to be with him. They just.... seem to complain or even not talk about their respective situations. The scientist develops into giving us a virtual tour of points of interests, while the dishwasher laments the working conditions, the lack of opportunities to be heard, the frustrations, etc. Two tonally differnt ideas. They wintered over 2000 to 2001 ending around the time of September 11th. So those references are 23 years past.
The other thing that gets me is the shocking managment of the people in one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Indeed, many of the complaints (rightfully so) boil down to " they don't listen to us and we don't feel heard". People struggle with alcoholism, back stabbing, indifference. All the while surrounded by -50 to -117 temperatures, no sunlight, no real significant communications, and somewhat limited supplys.
But the beauty and grace shine through of this inhospitable environment. They build a society down there, malcontents and misfits and social oddities all come together as Americans to further the cause of Science. The book, in particular relates the ozone layer to such mysteries of the cosmos as dark matter, quarks and muons. It would actually serve as a good primer to cosmology for the uninitiated.
Again. The subject matter is incredible, the stories contained also incredible. The presentation and connecting the dots, less so.
March 25, 2018
Adventure: a year’s commitment to live in an exotic place, with extreme weather, alongside a hearty group of individuals. For most, the South Pole does not readily fit the bill. But for married couple Dr John Bird and Jennifer McCallum, it’s the choice of a lifetime, “the road less travelled.” In One Day, One Night, they detail their summer and winter over as Polies.
After a call from a colleague requesting a technician at the Amundsen-Scott station at the South Pole, laser-experienced scientist Dr Bird consults with his wife, Jennifer, about the possibility of both of them spending a year there. Jennifer is game to join the kitchen staff, despite the interruption in her music training. Hired with only months until start dates, they complete training and prepare in a frenzy.
Jennifer and John take turns writing up their experience. Each begins their chapters with quotes, grounding their reflections in a community of wisdom-seekers. John’s segments focus on the science of the station: gathering weather and climate data, ice measurements, and the construction of the new, updated facilities. He explains phenomenon such as the aurora borealis, the mesosphere, neutrinos, and cryogenics, as well as provides portraits of the other scientists and technicians with whom he works. Jennifer concentrates on her work in the kitchen and interpersonal relationships.
At points, the book feels as long as the antarctic winter. The Polies’ complaints pile up, especially during the bleak midwinter, when “some people went wacko” (pg 234), overwhelming the more buoyant dramas: the stars, photography expeditions, the 300 club in which people run naked into the -100 degrees after a sauna, and holiday festivities. While the alternating viewpoints reflect an equinamimous relationship between John and Jennifer and an expansive perspective, they do not help focus the narrative.
One Day, One Night is a travelogue and a scientific treatise on a year’s worth of information gathered at the South Pole. The cold is palpable, as well as the warmth of the people enduring it for a worthy purpose.
After a call from a colleague requesting a technician at the Amundsen-Scott station at the South Pole, laser-experienced scientist Dr Bird consults with his wife, Jennifer, about the possibility of both of them spending a year there. Jennifer is game to join the kitchen staff, despite the interruption in her music training. Hired with only months until start dates, they complete training and prepare in a frenzy.
Jennifer and John take turns writing up their experience. Each begins their chapters with quotes, grounding their reflections in a community of wisdom-seekers. John’s segments focus on the science of the station: gathering weather and climate data, ice measurements, and the construction of the new, updated facilities. He explains phenomenon such as the aurora borealis, the mesosphere, neutrinos, and cryogenics, as well as provides portraits of the other scientists and technicians with whom he works. Jennifer concentrates on her work in the kitchen and interpersonal relationships.
At points, the book feels as long as the antarctic winter. The Polies’ complaints pile up, especially during the bleak midwinter, when “some people went wacko” (pg 234), overwhelming the more buoyant dramas: the stars, photography expeditions, the 300 club in which people run naked into the -100 degrees after a sauna, and holiday festivities. While the alternating viewpoints reflect an equinamimous relationship between John and Jennifer and an expansive perspective, they do not help focus the narrative.
One Day, One Night is a travelogue and a scientific treatise on a year’s worth of information gathered at the South Pole. The cold is palpable, as well as the warmth of the people enduring it for a worthy purpose.
November 20, 2020
Riveting account of life in Antarctica, a must read for anyone interested in the harsh landscape.
March 9, 2024
I've always been fascinated with the South Pole, and the experience of visiting - finally got my hands on a copy of this book.
I wish I hadn't.
I've never read a book where the author is so distinctly awful as a person, and so unaware of their awfulness. The book is authored by a husband/wife team; John's enthusiasm for his work, the land, the base, and science all shine through. He writing is interesting and concise whilst still being discriptive. He conveys so many interesting facts about the science which goes on at the Pole and the running of the operation.
But Jennifer. Oh Jennifer. Her whole first chapter she is insufferable, and the rest of the book goes from there. She is whiny, incompetent, infantile, arrogant, immature, overly sensitive, rude, snobby - from her very first day.
She comes across as lazy, self centred, slovenly, and materialistic; she sounds like the worst kind of colleague, even worse to be stuck with her for a whole season with no chance of escape. She's a dishwasher who thinks shes the main character; the speech she gives to the entire base about not feeling respected was so cringe.
Her writing sounds like it was generated by AI, or at the least run through a thesaurus because she's intellectually insecure. Example of thesaurus speak from the very first page she writes, and it gets worse from there:
"We touch down amidst a land of legends where a history of fortitude, vision, and nationalistic competition has evolved to present-day political rivalries entwined with scientific collaboration".
My curiosity was assuaged, I learned a lot, but mostly I came away with a huge amount of respect for anyone who survived the winterover of 2001 with this person.
I wish I hadn't.
I've never read a book where the author is so distinctly awful as a person, and so unaware of their awfulness. The book is authored by a husband/wife team; John's enthusiasm for his work, the land, the base, and science all shine through. He writing is interesting and concise whilst still being discriptive. He conveys so many interesting facts about the science which goes on at the Pole and the running of the operation.
But Jennifer. Oh Jennifer. Her whole first chapter she is insufferable, and the rest of the book goes from there. She is whiny, incompetent, infantile, arrogant, immature, overly sensitive, rude, snobby - from her very first day.
She comes across as lazy, self centred, slovenly, and materialistic; she sounds like the worst kind of colleague, even worse to be stuck with her for a whole season with no chance of escape. She's a dishwasher who thinks shes the main character; the speech she gives to the entire base about not feeling respected was so cringe.
Her writing sounds like it was generated by AI, or at the least run through a thesaurus because she's intellectually insecure. Example of thesaurus speak from the very first page she writes, and it gets worse from there:
"We touch down amidst a land of legends where a history of fortitude, vision, and nationalistic competition has evolved to present-day political rivalries entwined with scientific collaboration".
My curiosity was assuaged, I learned a lot, but mostly I came away with a huge amount of respect for anyone who survived the winterover of 2001 with this person.
February 12, 2018
My husband was in the US Navy for 11 years. He explored every continent except Antarctica and Australia. He's had a dream of flying down to the South Pole, landing long enough to step out, and leave. The weather conditions are so extreme but this book helps give you insight on how people can adapt to any given conditions. The journey is one that I, personally, wouldn't want to take; however, I felt immersed into the experience. Very intriguing and educational! I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews