This is one of the most harrowing true adventure stories ever told. In the Summer of 1914, Laurence Shackleton set out to be the first man to cross Antarctica. What was to follow for him and his crew of 27 men was a many months long battle with the harshest elements Earth can offer. The story is not about the ultimate ending (which most people know), it is about the ability of this crew to survive as long as they did and to endure defeat and hardship at every turn. Shackleton and several members of his crew took incredibly detailed notes which survive to this day and paint a picture of bravery, perseverance, and leadership that set the high bar for adventure and survival in the modern age. This is also a lesson in strength of character and sheer will to keep going that any of us can learn from.