“Through endurance we conquer.”
Is there a line of work as awe-inspiring and exhilarating as exploring? Turning imagination into a profession, history is littered with an array of incredible tales of humans attempting to make new connections, conquer all climates and unearth new knowledge for the world around us. Often times these expeditions come with great challenges, however, and explorers often forge their legendary reputations in the history books on the back of incredible feats of bravery and resilience. Join us at What We Reading as we pay homage to some of the most jaw-dropping adventures with the best books about explorers and expeditions!
The Travels of Marco Polo – Marco Polo
Marco Polo is one of the most famous explorers from all of history, and The Travels of Marco Polo remains one the most influential books on exploration ever published. In it, Polo chronicles his travels across China and wider Asia in the 13th Century, offering a historical glimpse into what was one of the first instances of the West meeting the East. Whilst this remains an iconic piece of historical work, it also makes for an exhilarating read. For historians and adventure lovers alike, The Travels of Marco Polo remains as timeless as ever.
True Spirit – Jessica Watson
True Spirit is a remarkable real-life tale from Jessica Watson. Watson tells the tale of her journey across the world, a trek that took 210 days and spanned 22,000 nautical miles. All of this was accomplished by Watson at the age of 16.
In one of the most inspirational books on exploration, Watson details the challenges and obstacles she overcame during her voyage, etching her name in the history books as the youngest person to sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe.
Arabian Nights – Wilfred Thesiger
Arabian Nights is the first-hand account of Wilfried Thesiger of his exploration of the ‘Empty Quarter’ of Arabia. Educated in Eton and Oxford, Thesiger rejected a life of comfort in the West in favour of a life of exploration and adventure.
Aiming to replicate the heroism of figures like T.E. Lawrence, the British military officer set out to explore the sands of Arabia, encountering people who had never seen a European before and who had been taught to kill all Christians. Arabian Nights is still not only one of the best books about explorers for those looking for a first-hand account of mapping experiences on the road but also one of the most compelling reads on the modern history and culture of the Middle East.
Kon-Tiki – Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki is a remarkable tale detailing the remarkable Kon-Tiki expedition. On a balsa wooden raft, Heyderdahl and five other men mapped out a course spanning 4,300 miles (6,900 km) across the Pacific Ocean. From South America to the Tuamotu Islands, Kon-Tiki not only remains one of the most compelling tales of exploration for readers but also a remarkably insightful scholarly read.
Across the book, Heyerdhal recounts the history and cultures of the Polynesian Islands, as well as imparting a wealth of information on the natural world of the Pacific. This not only makes Kon-Tiki one of the best books about exploration in history, but also an invaluable resource for those looking to learn more about Pacific Geography.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
Sir Ernest Shackleton is one of the most famous explorers from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and the fate of his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition remains his most enduring feat. Attempting to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent, in 1914 his ship, the Endurance was trapped in pack ice, slowly crushed and sent to the depths of the ocean. It would take 107 years for researchers to ever observe the ship again.
Alfred Lansing’s Endurance vividly brings Shackleton’s heroic journey and the fate of his expedition back to life, offering a remarkable tale of resilience, leadership, and courage that all combine to create a breathtaking read.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Wager By David Grann
Madhouse At The End Of The Earth – Julian Sancton
Another one of the best books about Antarctica, Julian Sancton’s Madhouse at the End of the Earth chronicles the harrowing story of Adrien de Gerlache and his crew’s early polar expedition.
Drawing on a wealth of new material and exclusive access to the logbook from the Belgica, Sancton takes readers on an exhilarating ride through how the crew found themselves trapped in the ice of the Antarctic waters, forced to hunker down for a long winter. Faced with subzero temperatures and months without a sunrise, this remarkable story of survival pushed all of the men to their physical and mental limits and Sancton does a stellar job in bringing the most scarcely-believable tales from the age of discovery to life here.
Cradle of Gold – Christopher Heaney
Author Christopher Heaney brings to life both the big-hearted explorer Hiram Bingham and his expeditions in Cradle of Gold, dubbing American explorer Hiram Bingham as ‘history’s real Indiana Jones.’ Famous for being the first Westerner to discover the ruins of Machu Picchu, the book is a thrilling deep-dive into Bingham’s quest to locate Peru’s best-kept treasure.
Heaney also does a wonderful job of capturing the complexities of Bingham’s character and the legacy of his discoveries. If you have an interest in a thrilling book about exploration, the Incan civilization, or capturing the magic of a trip to Peru, then Cradle of Gold is a must-read!
The Lost City Of The Monkey God – Douglas Preston
Nominated as a Best NonFiction read in the Goodreads Choice Awards, The Lost City of the Monkey God is a thrilling tale of lost discovery by Douglas Preston. Preston first explains the baffling mystery of the Lost City of the Monkey God, a lost discovery located in the heart of the world’s densest rainforest.
Aiming to crack a mystery five centuries in the making, Preston embarks on a mission to locate this city and its fabled treasure. Readers follow Preston on his journey as it descends from a picturesque stroll through the jungle into a near-hellish endeavour fraught with the sort of challenges that make exploring a dangerous occupation.
Over The Edge Of The World – Laurence Bergreen
Laurence Bergreen pays homage to the life and exploits of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in Over the Edge of the World.
One of the most captivating books about explorers, Bergreen documents Magellan’s rise from peasantry to one of the most pioneering individuals in his country’s history. Facing storms and pirates, forging alliances and making enemies, Magellan mapped unchartered waters and became the first person to circumnavigate the globe. Over the Edge of the World captures the thrills and dangers of the task beautifully, but also does a great job of highlighting the incredible endurance, courage and imagination needed to even embark on such a trek.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
