Lo sguardo del capitano. Colombo, von Humboldt e Shackleton, tre grandi esploratori capaci di vedere oltre

[Autom. eng. transl.] Our world is hungrier for heroes than it seems. And if - as some have rightly said - "blessed are the people who do not need heroes", perhaps the people who know how to choose them, their heroes, are also lucky. With a compelling narrative style, the author thus gives us an unusual Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), whose dazzling fame almost always ends up obscuring the in some ways most dramatic part of his existence, the one following the first landing on the American continent. . He then tells us about the undeservedly little known figure of Alexander von Humboldt (1769- 1859), naturalist, explorer, geographer, botanist and adviser to the Prussian ruler, who two centuries in advance denounced the dangers and consequences of irresponsible human exploitation. of nature and the environment, even sensing the delicate and complex issues underlying climate change. Finally, the story of Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), in terms of heroism, has nothing to envy to the Odyssey: he left for an expedition that aims to cross Antarctica on foot, he remains stuck on the ice together with his crew, but , after overcoming countless obstacles and hardships, brings everyone home safe and sound.