After the North Pole: A Story of Survival, Mythmaking, and Melting Ice

Norwegian adventurer and philosopher Kagge (Walking: One Step at a Time) chronicles the many failed and successful attempts by Arctic explorers to reach the pole by any means, weaving in recollections of his own 2023 trek. The book spans centuries of exploration, from ancient Greeks’ speculations of Hyperborea to the author’s own experiences. Through detailed descriptions of frostbite, disease, murder, cannibalism, and starvation, readers can sense the magnitude of death and suffering endured to reach the fabled area and the extraordinary people who would seek out such peril. The international competition to reach the pole, the personal fights between rival explorers, and the philosophical aspects of endurance and bravery are all illustrated here. The book is a historical treatment rather than an adventure text. Though the numerous explorers become tough to track, Kagge writes with the meticulous passion of a historian who has experienced the frozen journey himself.