Open a world of adventure, discovery, and inspiration with Voices of the Earth…

In this captivating new book published by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS), Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf draws on material from RSGS archives as well as personal interviews, to tell fascinating stories of enterprise, innovation and adventure. She shines a light on the people who have travelled to the Earth’s wildest and most inhospitable regions and explores the work of innovators embracing a positive future for the Earth and its inhabitants.

Jo Woolf

Alongside some of the famous names like Sir Ernest Shackleton, John Rae, Gordon Buchanan, Rory Stewart, Chris Packham and Lewis Pugh, Voices of the Earth also features remarkable, but less well known historical and contemporary characters such as Gertrude Bell, Alexander Kellas, Myrtle Simpson, Doug Allan, Alice Morrison, Sal Montgomery, and many more.

Mountaineer Polly Murray

Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan

Desert explorer Alice Morrison

Expedition leader of Endurance22 John Shears

RSGS Explorers-in-Residence Luke and Hazel Robertson 

Co-founder of Stop Ecocide Jojo Mehta

Desert explorer Mark Evans

Explorer Col John Blashford-Snell

Adventure kayaker Sal Montgomery

RSGS Chief Executive Mike Robinson

Talking about her latest book, Jo commented: “The idea for Voices of the Earth evolved quite naturally, as a result of listening to what people have to say about their experiences of the Earth’s diverse natural environments. Having spent the last ten years or so researching these fascinating stories, I’ve learned that every one of them is uniquely different: no two people, for example, travelling separately through the desert or the rainforest, will have the same encounters or face the same set of problems. The story they tell will be theirs alone. 

“The timeframe of Voices of the Earth matches that of RSGS itself, beginning in the late 1800s with explorers who ventured across little-known deserts, plumbed the world’s oceans, and struggled against the raw elements of ice and rock on summits that some people feared were too high for human survival. Taking as my starting point the RSGS Visitors’ Book, I looked for the less familiar names, and I was delighted to find that, far from being obscured behind the frosted pane of history, these people were dynamic, colourful and utterly human, with emotions that leap effortlessly over a gap of 50 or 100 years.

“Writing this book has been a challenge, an education, a privilege and a pleasure. I’ve been moved by the stories of people who have overcome adversity to change the course of their own lives and thereby change the lives of others for the better. I’ve felt the commitment and passion of quiet defenders of forests and the ancient bonds that connect us to them.

“It has also confirmed to me, beyond anything else, the importance of preserving our inherent connection to the Earth — to nature, to wildlife, to the outdoors — even if we’re not crossing continents or navigating oceans.

“I’m proud to see this book finally in print, not just because it’s the culmination of a two-year project, but because it includes many contemporary explorers, campaigners and conservationists, all of whom have been very generous with their support and input.  I’m excited that the time has come to release it ‘into the wild’!”

RSGS Chief Executive Mike Robinson added: “We are delighted to finally release the latest book by our Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf, following her previous book for RSGS, The Great Horizon, which explored 50 tales of exploration. Voices of the Earth feels like a natural successor, taking a more current and future-focussed approach to tell the stories of pioneers and geographers in all walks of life. Once again, Jo has managed to expertly weave together personal stories with global themes, shining a light not only on the landscapes explored, but also on the minds and motivations of those who dared to venture there.”