This book was one of the best books I've ever read. It was very heartwarming and sad at the same time.

I first read Arctic Wild in the 1960's and have never forgotten the power of it's words and the compassion the authors demonstrated in showing the world that wolves are not to be feared. Much credit for my work in rescuing and rehabbing domestic and wild animals over the past 3 decades must go to Arctic Wild.

Having recently rescued two white wolves and being privileged to enjoy their friendship and listen to their songs, Arctic Wild has once again brought special meaning to my life.

I would like to see Arctic Wild made a required reading for all junior high and high school aged children for they are the fertile ground for changing attitudes. Of all the animal stories I've read and written, Arctic Wild stands above the rest.

Every few millennia, a book comes along that touches your heart and spirit, leaving you powerless to halt the tremendous urging of your soul to fly far, far away and seek the wonders that you have just read about.

Well along the lines of "Ishmael", except this is pure non-fiction.

Arctic Wild will fascinate you and fill you with a sense of awe and joy, the likes of which you've never felt by reading a book.

To say that this book was wonderful would be a terrible understatement - you may never read a book like this again the rest of your life.

I have backpacked on the arctic plain on numerous occasions. Having this book along helps one appreciate the beauty and inter-related nature of the terrain. This is a book to be read more than once; read it on the flight to Alaska. Reading about how the insects torment the caribou makes one appreciate that one has repellants along, and a tent to be inside of. Of the various guides I have been with, this is almost a standard reference book to have with them.

I worked for four years in a remote, eco-lodge and used to carry at least five books for the guest who wanted to know everything. When I found this book, it remidied the necessity to carry so many books. This book covers enough topics to be useful in almost every situation. It is well written and clear. This book was my life-line and I recommend it to everyone who is travelling north of the tree-line.

This book is a "must have" for the advanced undergraduate, beginning grad student, or serious amateur naturalist interested in the North. While a combination of other books may be more comprehensive, if I had to trek north to the Yukon, this is what I would throw in my backpack. Pielou's knowledge and love of the high latitudes bursts through every page, and the pen and ink illustrations convey a real sense of both fauna and flora.

Robert Ruby's Unknown Shore is a little misleading in its subtitle (The Lost History of England's Arctic Colony) in as much as the history was not quite lost nor was there actually a colony, only the briefest of attempts at a colony in a farcical plan to mine the soil for gold. That said, the book is quite entertaining as it pieces together the story of Martin Frobisher and his ill-fated Elizabethean Arctic adventures and the always fascinating Charles Francis Hall's discovery of the location of Frobisher's Meta Incognita in the nineteenth century. (For a wonderful and full account of Hall, see the very fine Weird and Tragic Shores by C. Chauncey Loomis). The two stories blend fairly well and the author keeps the narrative sparkling along at an entertaining clip. This was a good Arctic read for those addicted to these books and a good place to begin for someone who wants to learn what the addiction to these Arctic books is all about from a book that shows men whose addiction to that cold world ran so much deeper than merely reading about it.

An unfortunately rare example of an eminently readable work of history. Ruby does an outstanding job of setting his story in the context of the times with a modern historian's insight into social and cultural history. This is far more than just another in a series of the latest vogue in Arctic exploration narratives. Through skillful use of his sources, the author brings both his European and Inuit protagonists to life. The reader is left with the haunting image of fragments of a remote Arctic island studding the landscape of a prosaic London suburb as testimony to both the folly and awe-inspiring tenacity of the sixteenth-century explorers. This is fascinating complementary reading for students of the colonization of other areas of the world.

This is a tale about an English pirate-turned-explorer who few people have ever heard of, and the establishment of British colony on an Arctic island that is perhaps even less known...but that's short-changing this elaborate true adventure. Bought this one because I liked the author's last book, "Jericho," which was a history of a place, but also of archaeology itself and of wave after wave of quirky scientists who came to study the ruins of the famous city. This new book has an even broader sweep, from pre-naval power London where morality always took a back seat to fortune-seeking, to the coast of West Africa where a ship's crew was worth less to investors than a few tons of pepper, to the Czar's palace in Moscow, the roiling North Atlantic and the confusing, ice-packed passages above North America. This is a tale festooned with accurately-drawn characters. The scholarship is so clearly reliable that you know that you're not getting the pop-magazine caricatures of, say, Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm." Also, with Ruby's style of examining a place through the eyes of multiple adventurers from several eras, you're getting a deeply-textured tale that makes Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" seem one-dimensional. And you also get a fun - and often funny - yarn featuring modern reporters in polar bear pants, privateers who seize all shipping - even that of their countrymen - a pompous alchemist, mutual puzzlement as white man meets Inuit, horrific storms at sea, and discussions of the how Queen Elizabeth's sex life affected exploration. By the end, I had not only enjoyed myself but absorbed an extraordinary amount of the FEEL of an era - or two - and a place. In this sense it's also comparable to Patrick O'Brien's seafaring Maturin and Aubrey series.

This charming adventure tale, told in verse, is a pleasure through and through. The varied rhythm keeps it from sounding monotonous, and the lively story kept me turning the pages. A delightful bedtime read.

Unbelievable. A 'NEW' sort of book! Quite unlike anything else available on the shelves, this is a real family read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I'm in the UK for a while, where I first read this and where, I'm told, its something of a best-seller. Should do the same over here.

I am 38 and I enjoyed reading this book myself although I bought it to read aloud to children (My nephew is 6 but it would be great for older kids-too hard for my 4 year old niece). It captures the best of the mystery of the sea and the brave people who sail it. It is also a deeply moral tale of a man, Bruno, seeking to right the wrongs he has done even if he has to wander through all time to do it. The book never preaches but draws the reader in, making you share bruno's quest. This story is made more magical by the verse used by the author to tell the story. Although it is set initially in England the locations are so reminiscent of the feel of the New England coast that you can readily imagine the characters walking through Gloucester or Edgartown.
A great gift for children but you will enjoy it most if you read it with them.

With this delightful page-turner, the authors have drawn together a varied account of Arctic travels and adventures spanning four seasons. You feel you are right there with them as Ian and Sally Wilson traverse the tundra, rivers, lakes, ice and snow of the far north region near Hudson Bay. The insights into native culture, life styles and the lessons of the region are fascinating and deserving attention. For armchair adventurers or those who yearn to try something new, this book is both a travelogue and an instructional gem. The many pictures greatly enhance reader awareness and appreciation for the experience of this adventuresome couple. Very well written.

A wonderful book! A well written and stimulating book. Most adventure books are written by experts in adventure travel. It was refreshing to read a book written by people with no experience with a dog team, learning on the job in the harsh enviroment of the arctic. It certainly took 'guts'to battle with the elements with such limited experience, especially in such low temperatures that would almost kill the unprepared within minutes. It was because of this inexperience that one could identify with this couple, and in some ways wish you were with them, if only to give a helping hand, or work out a problem that may endanger their lives.

L. David Mech (NOT David L.) achieved something that most biologists could only dream about: he gained the trust of a wild pack of wolves on Ellesmere Island, in the high Arctic. You may have read the National Geographic article he wrote about it.
The book is more or less a filled-out version of the NG article. It's simply laid out and nicely presented with lots of photographs.
Most of the book concerns the pack's everyday activities and behaviour - socialising, hunting, feeding pups, and so on. There's some information on wolves in general, for people who are completely new to the subject. Mech also tries to describe the almost overwhelming emotion of making contact with the pack.

Mech has a scientist's style. His first priority is to make the text totally truthful, and his second is to make it clear and readable. He does very well on both points.
This scientific approach has a drawback: it's very difficult to write a 'hard' scientific book that still has the spark of delight in it. Like most people, Mech doesn't really have the knack. The main let-down is the way Mech sometimes explains the hard facts, gives a tiny, tantalising glimpse of the wolves' nature or personalities - and then changes the subject. I got the impression that he was leaving out some of the most fascinating insights, maybe because he couldn't back them up scientifically.

Still, it's a first-class introduction to the Arctic wolf. I recommend it.
And by the way, the photography is great. And Arctic wolf pups are very, very cute.

David Mech is probably the world's foremost authority on wolves. He began publishing in the early 1960s and hasn't stopped since. This is one of his best general-readership books; it contains one-of-a-kind pictures and an easy, engaging account of the team's summer stay, literally among the wolves. Reminiscent of Farley Mowatt's "Never Cry Wolf," except that Mech came prepared, and didn't need to eat mice!

Well worth tracking down, "Living with the Wolves" is out-of-print, but happily, Mech has just published a ten-year followup! Look for "The arctic wolf: ten years with the pack", ISBN 0896583538, which Amazon now has.

This guy's been at it so long that there's even a book ABOUT him: "Wolfman: exploring the world of wolves", by Laurence Pringle, ISBN 068417832X. And for an excellent accompaniement to the book, view the National Geographic video "White Wolf", where you can see many of the same wolves you met in this book.

Great story, well written. Illustrates how much a human can REALLY do when you have the will.

I read this book after reading Jennifer Niven's book on the Karluk. I would recommend the same or at least having some knowledge of the Karluk tragedy before reading this book. The book is sparse in its introduction of the people and the situations involved, so having prior knowledge of these things is recommended. However, the personal account of the captain is wonderful. I was worried that Bartlett's own account might be difficult to read, but he was obviously a man of many talents including writing. The book reads quickly and is easy to understand - with the exception of a few seafaring terms which I had to look up. Highly recommended!

In Jean Craighead George's new picture book, Nutik the wolf pup and Amaroq the Inupiat Eskimo boy, two characters recently added to the world of picture books, find more adventures on the tundra of Alaska's North Slope. Nutik and Amaroq's story began in JULIE'S WOLF PACK, the third novel in Ms. George's young adult series that follows JULIE and the 1973 Newbery Medal-winning classic JULIE OF THE WOLVES. Last year the first picture book specifically about Amaroq (Julie's little brother, who is named after the heroic wolf who saved Julie's life when she was lost on the tundra) and Nutik (the mischievous pup who is the grandson of Amaroq the wolf) came out, entitled NUTIK, THE WOLF PUP. Its story concerned Amaroq's caring for the pup when he was sick, Amaroq's sadness when he is told that Nutik must go back to his wild kind, and his joy when Nutik returns to the boy. I was not so fond of the story; I was not very happy with the illustrations or the overall content of the story--it lacked the beauty and excitement of the Julie novels. But, like the ice and cold of Arctic winter turning to the brilliance of summer, NUTIK AND AMAROQ PLAY BALL is a welcome relief. In it, the two friends enjoy playing football, when their favorite toy mysteriously disappears. Together, Nutik and Amaroq wander off onto the tundra to search for it. Amaroq, like his big sister did in JULIE OF THE WOLVES, learns to listen carefully to Nutik's behavior for clues to the whereabouts of the football. He listens also to the birds and all the creatures of the tundra when he and Nutik become lost, and eventually, by playing careful attention to each other and to their natural surroundings, they find their way home. I enjoyed this story more than NUTIK, THE WOLF PUP for several reasons. I thought the illustrations by Ted Rand were much improved, more interesting and eye-catching--just lovely. Also the tale was simpler and has a good lesson that is often found in Ms. George's other books about the importance of nature and the value of our cooperation with it. Children should be able to understand and enjoy this book better. It rights the terrible fictional wrongs about wolves that can be found in LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, etc., and can teach young readers about how every living thing should be treated with respect and love. Each one of Jean Craighead George's eighty+ novels teach these valuable lessons. Some recent books of hers include HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG, the teachings of which can be traced back to the communication of wolves that is discussed in the Julie books; new editions of the popular MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TRILOGY; ARCTIC SON, about her grandson who lives in the Arctic; the ECOLOGICAL MYSTERIES series--and many, many more. Great books with great lessons; NUTIK AND AMAROQ PLAY BALL is evidence of these.

Amoraq, the little Eskimo boy and his best friend, Nutik, the wolf pup are outside for a day of play. They decide to look for their lost football and wander out onto the tundra, farther and farther away from their village. With Nutik's keen sense of smell, they find their football and play the morning away. But as morning turns to afternoon, Amoraq becomes afraid that they are lost. He can't see his village, or smell its smells. It is then he remembers what his namesake, the great wolfpack leader, taught his sister, Julie, many years ago...look to nature for help..... Jean Craighead George has written a delightful and engaging sequel to Nutik, The Wolf Pup. Her great love and respect for nature really shines through in this picture book and her gentle text is beautifully depicted in Ted Rand's magical and evocative artwork. Together, they transport readers to the top of the world, Alaska, and invite young imaginations to soar. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Nutik & Amoraq Play Ball is the second book in this wonderful series for younger readers, written with great insight, wisdom and humor.

"To the Top of the World" is essentially a condensed version of Brandenberg's fantastic book, "White Wolf," and is perhaps a better book to acquaint younger readers with wolf-related issues. This brief volume contains information about human-wolf relations, myth-busting, and of course much about wolf behavior and pack relations. It's also a great way for someone of any age to learn about this magnificent, keystone predator.

The wolf has been maligned for centuries, and it's absolutely crucial that we teach our children the importance of the wolf's role in nature; we have only to look to Yellowstone for a direct object lesson in what losing the wolf does to an ecosystem. In 1930, the US Government proudly shot the last wolf in Yellowstone, and that began a 60-year slide into an environmental disaster. Now, with the wolf replaced only seven short years ago, the park is almost completely back in balance again. It's crucial to understand that there are no "extra" animals in nature, and this book is a wonderful way to begin that learning path.

The book is written about Jim Brandonbrug's year spent with the artic wolves. He gets to know the wolves personaly and they begin to trust him completly. A great book for doing reports on artic wolves

Pedestrian prose abounds in this tale of an astonishing adventure that has messages for everyone. How vanity and position will cover the truth. How armchair theoreticians do not imagine their speculative webs will claim human lives. How foolish rivalries within the military will cost lives. How the dead are easily blamed whenever convenient. How reputations can be preserved or enhanced by judicious truth telling and equally judicious truth avoiding. How politics affects everything that happens in Washington, and pious politicians can mouth words that they know are a lie, all the while claiming to be "for the children" or some such [slop.]

No, this isn't today's news, but the unknown story of a very early, very poorly planned, polar expedition. No need for a summary, it is already here. But this book tells a tale of amazing endurance and staggering bravery that shames those of us sitting in warm houses with tennis elbow or a sore throat. What man can accomplish is truly astounding.

I wish the author had included a few maps of the locations; these are not easy places to locate in an atlas. And the spare writing wrings some of the joy from it; I had to remind myself of just what an amazing tale this was. I don't want shrieking, but the laconic style diminishes a tale of heroism rarely seen. A worthy read.

Icebound (The Jeannette Expedition's Quest for the North Pole) is not quite as exciting as the same author's, Leonard F. Guttridge, book The Ghosts of Cape Sabine. But this should still satisfy those seeking another chance to spend some time in an arctic adventure (even on this chilly winter days) and will only dissappoint those who seek a hint of cannibalism with their tale. This book has all the other usual elements of these stores, though, including betrayal, heroism, scientic stupidity, and, most of all, sheer perseverance in the face of insurmountable obstacles. This book also has a little political subterfuge to add to the mix. Another exciting re-addition to the polar canon.

Leonard Guttridge has managed to recreate with astonishing accuracy truly one of the most incredible stories of human endurance that I have ever known. I can only wonder why this story has not found its way onto the silver screen. Presenting real-life facts that need no embellishment, Mr. Guttridge paints an enthralling picture of the enormous hardships endured by thirty-three men trapped in the artic in the late 19th century. These men had set sail from San Francisco in the "Jeanette," a small ship by today's standards, in search of the North Pole, where they hoped to find an warm, ice-free polar sea. However, several set-backs caused them to leave later in the year than intially planned, causing the Jeanette and her crew to become caught in the pack ice of the arctic ocean. After spending two winters trapped aboard their tiny prison, suffering through many shipboard ordeals, the Jeanette sank in the treacherous, frigid waters. The crew then for months made their way over ice and open water in horrendous weather. Some perished in the journey and some made it to land in northern Siberia. More died of exposure and starvation, lost in the maze-like delta of the Lena River, while miraculously some made it to civilation and safety. (This knowledge does not spoil the ending of the book, as these facts are made known to the reader early in the tome). The story of these men would be incredible if it happened today, with all of our modern equipment, but is even more so given the relatively primitive means at hand in the 1880s. Not only is this work a great story about some very courageous and determined men, but it is a reflection of the determination and heroism under extreme circumstances embodied in many persons of that era - characteristics that many feel lacking today. Furthermore, this is a poinant reminder of just how strong is man's will to survive.