South: The Endurance Expedition by Ernest Shakleton (Thumbs up)

Title: South: The Endurance Expedition

Author:  Ernest Shackleton

British Explorer

Book Description:

In 1914, as the shadow of war falls across Europe, a party led by veteran explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton sets out to become the first to traverse the Antarctic continent. Their initial optimism is short-lived, however, as the ice field slowly thickens, encasing the ship Endurance in a death-grip, crushing their craft, and marooning 28 men on a ploar ice floe.
In an epic struggle of man versus the elements, Shackleton leads his team on a harrowing quest for survival over some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world. Icy, tempestuous seas full of gargantuan waves, mountainous glaciers and icebergs, unending brutal cold, and ever-looming starvation are their mortal foes as Shackleton and his men struggle to stay alive.
What happened to those brave men forever stands as a testament to their strength of will and the power of human endurance.
This is their story, as told by the man who led them.

Gort's Review (Thumbs Up):

The amazing true story of survival, courage, stamina, leadership, and devotion to a leader. The fact that the boat was named "Endurance" was amazingly prescient.

One of my favorite quotes comes from this book:
"Loneliness is the penalty of leadership, but the man who has to make the decisions is assisted greatly if he feels that there is no uncertainty in the minds of those who follow him, and that his orders will be carried out confidently and in expectation of success."
-Ernest Shackleton