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The Black Penguin Hardcover – April 25, 2017

by Andrew Evans (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 134
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A devout young boy in rural Ohio, Andrew Evans had his life mapped for him: baptism, mission, Brigham Young University, temple marriage, and children of his own. But as an awkward gay kid, bullied and bored, he escaped into the glossy pages of National Geographic and the wide promise of the world atlas. The Black Penguin is Evans's memoir, travel tale, and love story of his eventual journey to the farthest reaches of the map, a wild yet touching adventure across some of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth.

Ejected from church and shunned by his family as a young man, Evans embarks on an ambitious overland journey halfway across the world. Riding public transportation, he crosses swamps, deserts, mountains, and jungles, slowly approaching his lifelong dream and ultimate goal: Antarctica. With each new mile comes laughter, pain, unexpected friendship, true weirdness, unsettling realities, and some hair-raising moments that eventually lead to a singular discovery on a remote beach at the bottom of the world.

Evans's 12,000-mile voyage becomes a soulful quest to balance faith, family, and self, reminding us that, in the end, our lives are defined by the roads we take, the places we touch, and those we hold nearest.
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiog
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    University of Wisconsin Press
  5. Publication date
    April 25, 2017
  6. Dimensions
    8.6 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780299311407
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0299311407
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Few writers possess a passion for travel and life that is matched by their storytelling talents. I love Evans's winning combination of both." --Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

"In this endearing stunt memoir, travel writer Evans combines an improbable trek to Antarctica with his struggles surrounding religion, family, and sexuality . . . These two distinct halves hold together surprisingly well, thanks to Evans's excellent writing and eye for detail. The work will appeal equally to fans of clever travel writing and those looking for LGBTQ memoirs that don't fixate on the angst of coming out." --Publishers Weekly

"In THE BLACK PENGUIN, Evans interweaves three urgent personal quests: his expedition, his effort to convince his family to accept his homosexuality and his struggle for the right to marry the man he loved . . . "The Black Penguin" relays the ups and downs of that journey, but the terra incognita Evans claims is his own pride." -- New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Andrew Evans has completed more than thirty assignments for National Geographic, reporting from all seven continents. He is the author of the Bradt travel guides Iceland and Ukraine and lives in Washington, DC.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0299311406
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Wisconsin Press; Illustrated edition (April 25, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780299311407
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0299311407
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 134

About the author

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Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans

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Andrew Evans is a travel writer and TV host. He has completed over 40 assignments for National Geographic, reporting live from over one hundred countries and all seven continents. His travel memoir, "The Black Penguin" details his overland journey on public transportation from National Geographic to Antarctica. He is also the author of best-selling guidebooks to Iceland and Ukraine and a two-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers.

Evans has hosted a number of television episodes for the National Geographic Channel, including "The World in Two Cities" and “World’s Smartest Cities”. He attended Oxford University and lives in Washington, DC with his husband and two dogs.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
134 global ratings
... picnic party in Washington DC I met these two adorable dogs and their fathers
5 Stars
... picnic party in Washington DC I met these two adorable dogs and their fathers
A few summers ago at a dog picnic party in Washington DC I met these two adorable dogs and their fathers. Then one day one of the fathers and I happened to be at the gym on side-by-side treadmills talking about travels. I had no idea then that the person I’d met was the famous and much loved world traveler Andrew Evans; such is his modestly. When I think back on it, I wonder how he was able to stay so humble while I no doubt went on and on about what I thought were my own grand adventures . . . and also I wonder how slowly we were both running that we were able to have a conversation on the treadmills. Eventually I learned of Evan’s full awesomeness and ordered his new book, The Black Penguin, which I truly loved and think you should read too. When I got to the part where he goes for his first jog of the trip and stops mid-run to eat arepas the part about the treadmills started to make more sense. If you like reading about the epic journeys of great, kind people; BUY THE BOOK!
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Top reviews from the United States

Claire S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Two for the road
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
A powerful narrative of parallel journeys: Andrew Evans, travel journalist on an epic and sometimes perilous gig for National Geographic; and Andrew Evans, a gay man born into a devout Mormon family. Through skillful writing and a clever metaphor, Evans smoothly interweaves seemingly disparate genres and themes so that the reader is doubly enriched and rewarded. The saga of Bus2Antarctica, documented by National Geographic Traveler in 2010 and by Evans on the road through dozens of Tweets and blogs, is captivating and sometimes hair-raising, the very stuff of NatGeo. But equally compelling is the story of Andrew, a boy who rode city buses daily at the age of five and a voracious young map reader who came in third in the National Geography Bee for the state of Ohio at age 10. At the same time he was bullied mercilessly throughout school and conflicted by the values and practices of his family’s faith. This second storyline gives the book a much greater depth and richness by revealing Andrew’s heart wrenching inner journey.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book was that Evans never forgot his other main character, the bus. From Greyhound transport to chicken buses, Andrew slept, Tweeted, twisted, slumped, leaned, chatted, and kept careful notes in a public conveyance across two continents. I closed the book knowing how he looked, often smelled, and felt from one place to another. Far more than a travelogue, The Black Penguin was a richly rewarding read.
16 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars If Michener wrote haiku..... excellent read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017
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One of the best books I've read in a long time. I first heard Mr. Evans present a lecture on Travel Writing sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution last spring. He was informative and charming, and though he only casually mentioned this recently released book (The Black Penguin), I was so impressed by his take on the topic of travel writing that I bought the book. As other reviewers have noted, the format toggles between the travelogue of the bus trip AND flashbacks in his life, but it does so with amazing fluidity (kudos to him and his editor/s). It's also stunningly descriptive yet spare -- kinda like Michener writing haiku. His turn of a phrase is so evocative; e.g., of the salt flats in Bolivia: "I stepped into the white earth and looked all around me, as if I had been dropped at the page of a blank piece of paper."; on a bus: "The lady in the seat next to me awoke suddenly, uncrumpling herself from the seat and pushing long strands of black hair from her face. She broadcast the natural beauty of a Mexican woman underlined by a double dose of eyeliner." Most highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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S. Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read. An inspiring, heartbreaking, hair raising, and hilarious page-turner.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017
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Andrew weaves the story of his epic, sometimes tortuous, but ultimately triumphant bus ride through the Americas to his epic, often painful but always real and inspiring personal journey as a gay man. The pain of his rejection by his faith community and family contrasts with the love he finds in his husband, and is juxtaposed against the trials and tribulations of a 10,000 mile overland dash by public transportation. It is as funny as it is poignant. A must-read for anyone planning a bus trip from Washington to Ushuaia, but also for any adventurer with a heart.
6 people found this helpful
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Chris Cardon
4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2017
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I loved vicariously reliving Andrew’s adventures. Funny, suspenseful, and moving! The writing is beautiful and authentic. I also loved reading about Andrew’s experiences growing up with the trial of being gay and Mormon. Reading, just like traveling changes & broadens your perspective. I’m glad to have had the pleasure of that with this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheryl
5.0 out of 5 stars I adored this book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2019
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Absolutely fantastic! Andrew Evans is an excellent writer and his book is fascinating. I had to force myself to take my time with it so that I didn’t finish it too quickly. Part memoir, part travel journal, I was amazed by all of it. I think this book could be hugely popular if only it would get more notice. You might have a hard time finding it at your local library since it’s from a university press, but it is well worth the money to buy it. (My library did have a copy but I bought one for myself anyway, I loved it that much!) I do, however, wish he had included a map outlining his journey from DC to Antarctica. An excellent, excellent read.
One person found this helpful
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Leslie Q.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022
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Touching and sweet. So glad he found his Brian. Giving hope to struggling gay people across the world!

Great read!
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Jaidene Anderlini
3.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021
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The parallel between the travel and living gay was good but I felt it could have been better flushed out. The end with the black penguin and being different was beautiful as well as the commitment to his partner.
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Ryan Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, interesting and well written!
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017
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This was a great read: interesting, engaging, and well written. You definitely felt like traveling with Andrew in every chapter (on his way down to Antarctica), and with him during scene changes in his earlier life. You can notice how the author switches scenes carefully and seamlessly, and is able to tie everything together well at the end. Also, a book for not only "the departed" from the LDS Church since Andrew effectively reaches a larger audience, and not just the LGBTQ community, in my opinion. I felt like Andrew's stories of personal struggle, commitment to one's self and identity, and generally being different offer broad and insightful applications to the average reader.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

eltravis@shaw.ca
5.0 out of 5 stars I love to travel from my armchair (where I can learn ...
Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2017
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Very interesting book...........really 2 stories in one. I love to travel from my armchair (where I can learn a lot without all the stress) so this was the book for me. I also follow Andrew on Twitter so I almost feel like I know him.
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Angelica Tarth
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book about travelling
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2017
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I was lucky enough to be tipped off in advance that this guy my cousins had just met was about to get on a bus.. and so I followed Andrew on Twitter as he took his bus (many many buses) to Antarctica, and have been following him ever since.

Having watched the story unfurl in real time, I wondered if I would get much more from retracing the journey in this book.. I needn't have worried. This is a wonderful book about travelling, about the people you meet (once) and how the journey can be an end in itself. Andrew writes with the lightest of touches and paints vivid pictures with only a few words.

But this is much more than a travel book. The interweaving chapters about Andrew's life as a gay man in his community, church and family are told without an ounce of self-pity, and perhaps the more heartbreaking for that. I cried, but I laughed too, and a couple of times I cheered out loud.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. First saw the author in a National Geographic documentary on Turkey. He was so good that I had to see if he had written any books and this popped up. It is a lovely history of his personal life and his travels in South America. His writing is descriptive and full of stories about his fellow passengers. Thank you Andrew!
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R Holland
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2020
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I loved this book. It is a beautifully written piece of literature which tells a unique story written by a kind and sensitive person. It's fundamentally a story of exploration and discovery. Highly recommend it.
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