Antarctica: Secrets of the Southern Continent

by David McGonigal (Editor)

The geology, ecology and biology of the "continent for peace and science."

This comprehensive, fully illustrated and reader-friendly book honors the International Polar Year (2007-08) with a spectacular range of information on Antarctica and the Antarctic Islands, the world's harshest environment.

Antarctica features up-to-date material from an expert team of scientists, expeditioners and historians. Included are more than 600 photographs, illustrations and maps. Among the topics covered are:


Prehistory of Antarctica Geology and geography Flora and fauna Climate and the nature of ice The Antarctic ozone hole The explorers Current scientific research Conservation issues The impact of global warming The Sub-Antarctic Islands. Detailed information is found on current issues of land, law and treaties, shipping, resource exploitation, and tourism. Also included are the Antarctic Treaty, a gazetteer and a bibliography.

Front-page news reports cover the relative health of Antarctica. This authoritative book could not be timelier.

Genres: Travel, History, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2008

Reviews

[Meg]

This book was very informative. It had a lot of great information about animals, climate, and geography. The photographs of the animals were very adorable! This was a very large book, so be prepared if you get this from your library like I did.

[Vicki]

It's probably not supremely accurate to mark this down as a travel book, even though there is some information on tourism in the book. But if this gorgeous book doesn't make you want to go to Antarctica, then I don't think you're looking closely enough. The photography is positively stunning, and the book is beautifully laid out. There's a lot of information in here, but it doesn't follow that it's overwhelming. This book is great for browsing in an idle 20 minutes, but it's also excellent for research. It's got everything from why the poles are the way they are, temporally speaking, to the political situation of the continent. It's a great one -- beautiful, informative, and relevant, but never in a preachy way. It's always extremely engaging. (And very very heavy. Take a bag to the library with you.)

[Mark Desrosiers]

An enormous, lavishly illustrated book detailing everything you need to know about the world's freakiest continent -- from wildlife (surprisingly lush) to geography, to all the heroes and scientists that ventured inland over the centuries. Some of this will enter your dreams too -- Haggit's Pillar, for example, or the dense, mossy rata forests in the Auckland Islands -- where you can find penguins peeking out between the trees. Plus blue ice and elephant seals and Titus Oates trudging to his death in a blizzard. Tough to read cover to cover -- its range and depth will break your brain (plus it's a huge book) -- but nonetheless you will get lost in its beauty & desolation.

[Peter Tillman]

A book I expected to like more than I did. It's certainly comprehensive . . . And massive. Literally!

Good photos, some good maps. I enjoyed the first half of the book, then started bogging down in dozens of unfamiliar birds (I'm not a birder). History section started well, but I bogged down with unfamiliar explorers who didn't actually do much. Or just sailed somewhere near the continent. Or got involved in a silly dispute about who got off the boat first on the first landing! (No, I'm not making this up.)

The book had a "chief consultant" and a whole bunch of "section consultants." No one seemed to be in charge of making sure the book became a unified whole, so the seams show, and there is quite a bit of unnecessary repetition between sections. And definitely more history than I wanted to know. I would have liked better maps. Still, overall a good book, worth checking out from your library if they have it. 3.3 stars.

[Alison]

A large but insightful NF book about Antarctica, that even if the reading of it daunts you, just staring at the wonderful photography will blow you away will be enough. A lot of work went into this book and it was very well done. Bought myself a copy after buying one for school. Well worth it if you are a fan of Antarctica. Reading level at teen and older teen due to the scientific nature. But as I said, you can just gawp at the pics and be delighted.

[Anita]

I actually keep renewing it from the library because I’m enjoying looking through the book.

[Frederick Masterman]

In doing research for my fourth novel, I ordered this book to give me a visual 'feel' for the fifth largest continent on Earth. The photography is enthralling, the text accurate and incisive, the spirit unbeatable. I have never been to this 'alien' world on our own world, but found this book an inimitable introduction to Antarctica. I recommend the volume to anyone interested in the wondrous, vast diversity of environments on our planet, and in particular to the awesome reality of a place so different from the lives of most of us that it's almost a fantasy adventure to enter. A great encyclopedic addition to our knowledge of our own planet.

[K. 🦉]

So much information, which is why this book is huge!

Really enjoyed reading about the various aspects of Antarctica. This book really covers everything from expeditions, to wildlife, and the current state of the continent. The photos and illustrations are really beautiful and help to highlight the beauty of such a remote place.

[Melissa]

for Scott, not me.