Books like Labyrinth of Ice by Buddy Levy

A gripping 1922 memoir detailing Apsley Cherry‑Garrard’s firsthand experience of Robert Falcon Scott’s ill‑fated 1910‑1913 Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole.

An early modern compilation recounting the principal voyages, navigations, and discoveries of England, detailing maritime and overland expeditions to distant parts of the world during the first 1600 years.

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s first‑hand diary of the 1914‑17 Imperial Trans‑Antarctic Expedition, detailing the Endurance’s crushing by ice, the crew’s nine‑month ordeal on drifting ice, and their daring survival against the polar wilderness.

The New York Times bestselling author of 1421 offers another stunning reappraisal of history, presenting compelling new evidence that traces the roots of the European Renaissance to Chinese exploration in the fifteenth centuryThe brilliance of the Renaissance laid the foundation of the modern world. Textbooks tell us that it came about as a result of a rediscovery of the ideas and ideals of classical Greece and Rome. But now bestselling historian Gavin Menzies makes the startling argument that in the year 1434, China—then the world's most technologically advanced civilization—provided the spark that set the European Renaissance ablaze. From that date onward, Europeans embraced Chinese intellectual ideas, discoveries, and inventions, all of which form the basis of western civilization today.Florence and Venice of the early fifteenth century were hubs of world trade, attracting traders from across the globe. Based on years of research, this marvelous history argues that a Chinese fleet—official ambassadors of the emperor—arrived in Tuscany in 1434, where they were received by Pope Eugenius IV in Florence. The delegation presented the influential pope with a wealth of Chinese learning from a diverse range of fields: art, geography (including world maps that were passed on to Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan), astronomy, mathematics, printing, architecture, steel manufacturing, military weaponry, and more. This vast treasure trove of knowledge spread across Europe, igniting the legendary inventiveness of the Renaissance, including the work of such geniuses as da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, and more.In 1434, Gavin Menzies combines this long-overdue historical reexamination with the excitement of an investigative adventure. He brings the reader aboard the remarkable Chinese fleet as it sails from China to Cairo and Florence, and then back across the world. Erudite and brilliantly reasoned, 1434 will change the way we see ourselves, our history, and our world.

John Wesley Powell, a one‑armed Civil War veteran, leads nine mountain men on the 1869 expedition that first explored the Grand Canyon, a bold venture into America’s most mysterious wilderness.

Frederick Buechner re‑creates the life of St. Brendan, a 6th‑century Irish monk, weaving history and legend to illuminate his faith, voyages and enduring influence.

Caroline Alexander chronicles Ernest Shackleton’s 1914–1917 Imperial Trans‑Antarctic Expedition, blending new primary documents with Frank Hurley’s unpublished photographs to portray the crew’s 20‑month ordeal and heroic survival.

A biography profiling the life of explorer Zebulon Pike, describing his adventures and treks of the land west of the Mississippi River, known as the American West. Includes source notes and timeline.

Called the "Great Pathfinder", Daniel Boone is most famous for opening up the West to settlers through Kentucky. A symbol of America's pioneering spirit Boone was a skilled outdoorsman and an avid reader although he never attended school. Sydelle Kramer skillfully recounts Boone's many adventures such as the day he rescued his own daughter from kidnappers.

Frank Worsley, captain of Shackleton’s Endurance, narrates the ship’s wrecking in pack ice, the crew’s survival on drifting ice floes, and their daring 800‑mile boat voyage to South Georgia and inland rescue in Antarctica.

From Sea to Shining Sea traces the Clark family of Virginia through the American Revolution and the Lewis & Clark Expedition, depicting their courage, hardships, and influence on America’s western expansion.

A comprehensive reassessment of the Viking age, detailing their overseas voyages, transition from raiders to settled traders, and lasting influence on European civilization.

In graphic novel format, tells the dramatic story of Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the unmapped American West.

A harrowing first‑hand chronicle of 1914 when Russian navigator Valerian Albanov and thirteen crewers abandoned the icebound Saint Anna to trek across the Kara Sea in search of safety, surviving blizzards, starvation and mutiny.

A gripping nonfiction account of Florence Szasz’s daring escape from slavery and her partnership with explorer Sam Baker as they journey into uncharted African landscapes, culminating in their exploration of the Nile River.