Monday, December 17, 2012


TED-Talk: Ben Saunders: Why bother leaving the house?


Rating: *****
Why bother leaving the house? Is Ben Saunders’s personal account of his nearly 3 month journey across the arctic ice sheet. Ben Saunders grabs the attention of the listener in this TED-Talk by introducing his job title to the audience: an arctic explorer.
       He tells the story of his long and lonely journey across the Arctic Ocean by foot. The ice was constantly moving around him- and he carried a shotgun for protection against polar bears. He then gives a reason for doing things that may not seem important or like they will cause gain. Then he says that the self satisfaction you get from challenging yourself is the reason for adventure: “because it’s there”. Determined to find more adventure, Saunders finishes with telling the audience he is planning an expedition to Antarctica the next year that will last four months. He challenges the audience to get out of the house more.
      I enjoyed hearing the stories of adventure that Saunders had experienced in the past and the plans for new ones in the future. Many other explorers died lonely and cold deaths going places no- one had gone before, yet Ben Saunders lives for adventure and has found that overcoming challenges is a source of joy for him. I think we should all get out of the house more, because it would benefit us mentally and physically. 
I recommend anyone who likes adventure or expeditions watch this TED-Talk. This video is sure to inspire anyone who wants to challenge themselves.


From: Saunders, Ben. "Why Bother Leaving the House." YouTube. TED-Talks, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.

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