David McGonigal and Lynn Woodworth: Antarctica: The Complete Story

By MARGIE THOMSON

Antarctica has fascinated the world for more than 2000 years, observes Sir Edmund Hillary in his foreword to this stunning book, but now those frozen expanses are more accessible than ever to those unable to resist the pull of the "barren wasteland of the Antarctic ice sheet".

If you are not already under this area's spell, you will be after looking through this book. The photos capture their breathtaking subject, but this is a feast for the mind as well as the eyes.

Chapters range over topics as diverse as the physical forces that have shaped this bizarre landscape, through the wildlife of the polar region, human attempts to explore there, and an exploration of the way that humans now manage to live in the Antarctica and the issues facing us now and in the future.

Contributors to this book include scientists from many disciplines, and it comes with a CD-Rom. It might seem pricey, but it is actually excellent value for money.

Random House

$99.95