Counting Penguins

Reflections on a life-changing three months at the edge of Antarctica

"What a funny, emotional and beautifully written book that transports you into the world of penguins and gives a rare insight into life in Antarctica. I loved this book so much." - Lorraine Kelly

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At 64 South, on a tiny Antarctic island bustling with penguins, even the smallest lives leave a mark.

Welcome to Port Lockroy - the world's southernmost post office, a tiny outpost on a football-pitch-sized island off the Antarctic Peninsula, shared by a handful of humans and a thousand curious gentoo penguins.

When travel writer Peter John Watson boards a ship bound for Antarctica, he has no idea how deeply life at the end of the world will change him. Between long shifts counting penguin chicks, welcoming passing cruise ships and sorting mail, he discovers a whimsical world where climate science, storied heritage and captivating wildlife converge in one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

As the gentoos shed their feathers and Peter prepares to leave before winter closes in, Counting Penguins becomes a tender meditation on isolation and hope - a reminder that even in the coldest corners, small acts of care can ripple far and wide.

For fans of H is for Hawk and Raising Hare