Under the Antarctic sun, life vanishes entirely, replaced only by the endless white of nothingness. In this vast white void, a lone speck of life solemnly marches forward. The White Darkness (Doubleday, $20) is the epic story of Henry Worsley, one lone trekker who sought to conquer the unforgiving continent. Tracing the steps of the legendary Ernest Shackleton, Worsley set out by himself to complete what would be the first solo journey across the span of Antarctica. David Grann brings his masterful storytelling abilities to the trek of Worsley. White Darkness is an utterly captivating account of the dogged determination of one man who literally followed in the footsteps of his hero. Most importantly, Grann asks the question: why? In an age where the frontiers of human exploration have been pushed to the extremes, Worsley’s endurance stands out as deeply inspiring.
