Penguins are one of the few species of birds that virtually anyone can identify; they are extremely popular animals and Ron Naveen’s book about studying penguins in Antarctica should find a wide audience. Naveen has worked with penguins for nearly two decades, monitoring populations, observing the entire breeding cycle, and leading tourist groups to see the world's seventh continent; and he writes with both affection for and scientific detachment from his subjects.

Covering mainly the three brush-tailed penguins (Adelies, gentoos, and chinstraps), the author also interlaces quite a bit of the ecology of the Antarctic ecosystem into his narrative. His stories of guiding ecotourists reveal both his humor at the foibles of tourists and his earnest desire to teach them the importance of preserving the Antarctic. The history of the exploration of the region, as well as the findings of previous penguin researchers, is skillfully woven throughout his narrative, and the timeless quality of the penguins' lives and the author's genuine fondness for them permeates his lectures.