Mountains of Madness: A Scientist’s Odyssey in Antarctica

In December of 1988, and again in October of 1992, paleontologist John Long mounted two scientific expeditions to the forbidding Transantarctic Mountain range of Antarctica. His goal: to find and bring back ancient specimens of fossilized fish dating back over 350 million years. Ultimately, the expedition fulfills this mission. But, perhaps even more important, Long’s experiences on this vast and frozen wasteland end up altering his perspective on life forever.Mountains of Madness is by turns enlightening, entertaining, and exhilerating as the highs of scientific discovery alternate with the grueling yet essential routines that must be practiced every day just to stay alive. It documents the day to day trials of a real Antarctic sledging expedition, enlivened by colorful descriptions of the diverse prehistory of the continent. In addition to a wealth of scientific information, we come to see the human side of Antarctic science.Mountains of Madness is a moving tale of science, exploration, and human endurance. It is the story of how real science is practiced in a unique and demanding setting, chronicling what life is like in the field, where scientists come close to sacrificing their very lives for the sake of advancing human knowledge. Like the polar explorers from the early 1900s in whose footsteps they flollow, Long’s team faces the unknown and the unpredictable in the pure and simple quest for knowledge.