Hi friend,

I'm currently reading Endurance by Alfred Lansing. It's the story of Shackleton's 1914 journey to the Antarctic and how it goes horribly wrong. Shackleton and his crew were ice-locked for ten months before the ice crushed and sunk their ship. To survive, they begin crossing the ice floes, slowly inching toward civilization, hundreds of miles away.

It's a journey of adventure that turns into a fight for survival. The story of Shackleton and his crew is not only interesting but inspiring.

Most of us will never face the challenges that Shackleton faced. But there's still plenty to learn that can apply to our lives—leadership, courage, and perhaps most importantly, endurance.

The more time I spend with Shackleton and his men, the more things are put into perspective. I'm only about a third of the way through the book, but already, things are jumping out of me. Here are just a few things that have stood out to me so far.

Is the spirit of adventure reserved for the extraordinary?

Back in 1914, there were still places on Earth that few people had explored. The Antarctic was one of those places. And Shackleton was one of those people.

Most of Shackleton's men were ordinary. And yet, they were able to go on an extraordinary adventure and came back with the story of a lifetime.

But now I wonder, can ordinary people still journey into the uncharted territories of our time? To lead an interesting life, you must do interesting things. But...

Space is the final frontier that is so difficult to explore that you must be an astronaut before you can even start.

Technological innovation is more accessible, but it is increasingly becoming more and more exclusive. Available only to those who work in big tech.

Genomic innovation requires would-be adventurers to obtain the highest levels of education and an incredible amount of funding.

The barrier to entry is seemingly becoming greater, requiring more out of those willing to journey into uncharted territories. I'm wondering what impact this will have on innovation and discovery.

By endurance we conquer

It's incredible what Shackleton and his crew endured. All while attempting to maintain some semblance of everyday life. They played soccer, exercised their dogs, and celebrated Christmas–as if they were simply on vacation in a foreign land.

However, fate was often cruel and delivered devastating blows. Despite facing the worst conditions, they persevered and refused to let their circumstances destroy them.

Alfred Lansing was unaware of the immense success that his book would achieve

Endurance was first published in 1959 and went out of print in 1961. Then, in 1986, over twenty-five years later, it was reprinted. Over the next decade, it sold over half a million copies. It was a massive success, and Alfred Lansing, who died ten years earlier, never knew.

Have you ever discovered a book that deeply impacted you long after its initial release?

Endurance is quickly becoming one of my top reads. It is a fantastic book to start the new year with. Shackleton and his crew were remarkable, not because they were extraordinary, but because they were ordinary men doing the extraordinary.

Happy reading! 📚