Expeditions: popular accounts Books

Book SynopsisAn intrepid journalist’s quest to trace the origins of the Asian arowana or “dragon fish”—the world’s most sought-after aquarium fish.Trade ReviewPraise for The Dragon Behind the Glass:"The Asian arowana, also known as the dragon fish, ranks among the world’s most expensive aquarium fish, and in this engaging tale of obsession and perseverance, journalist Voigt chronicles her effort to study and understand its appeal. . . . Voigt’s passion in pursuing her subject is infectious, as is the self-deprecating humor she injects into her enthralling look at the intersection of science, commercialism, and conservationism." —Publishers Weekly *Starred review*"Voigt's passionate narrative perfectly conveys the obsessive world in which [the arowana] swims."—Publishers Weekly Best Summer Books of 2016“Not since Candace Millardpublished The River of Doubt has the world of the Amazon, Borneo,Myanmar and other exotic locations been so colorfully portrayed as it is now inEmily Voigt’s The Dragon Behind the Glass…. Fascinating and must-read.”—Library Journal *Starred review*"A spirited debut . . .A fresh, lively look at an obsessive desire to own a piece of the wild." —Kirkus Reviews"With the taut suspense of a spy novel, Voigt paints a vivid world of murder, black market deals and habitat destruction surrounding a fish that's considered, ironically, to be a good-luck charm."—Discover "Voigt relates her continent-hopping adventures as she struggles to make sense of 'a modern paradox: the mass-produced endangered species' . . . . What follows is an immensely satisfying story, full of surprises and suspense.” —The Wall Street Journal"Who would’ve thought the history of a rare fish could be so enthralling? Voigt traces the bizarre story of the world’s most expensive aquarium fish, the Asian “dragon fish,” in a story that reads more like fiction, what with all the murder, smuggling and general intrigue." —PureWow, "The Ultimate 2016 Summer Book Guide"“This book starts with a ‘bang’ – a murder to be exact – and the momentum just keeps going from there. The Dragon Behind the Glass is a gripping blend of investigative journalism, science, international crime, travelogue and history….You don't need to know anything about tropical fishes or fishkeeping to be totally riveted by this informative page-turner.” —Forbes, The 10 Best Conservation And Environment Books Of 2016"Many a true-crime study could be attributed to an author's honest enthusiasm for weirdness. (I'm thinking of "The Orchid Thief," Susan Orlean's wondrous strange book about an orchid poacher's bizarre search for the rare ghost orchid that grows in the swamplands of Florida's Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve.) The Dragon Behind the Glass is the same kind of curiously edifying book." —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review“A masterpiece! Emily Voigt has raised the bar for anyone who thinks they can tell a good fish story. What an extraordinary and extraordinarily well-told tale. Voigt brings such wonderful humor, adventure, and hard science to this subject, I found myself unable to put the book down. Never has science been so much criminally good fun. I will never look upon a goldfish the same way again.” —Bryan Christy, author of The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World’s Greatest Reptile Smugglers"Few writers can match the intelligence, charm, wit, and sheer audacity that Emily Voigt brings to bear in this highly readable and important book. From the bleak housing projects of the South Bronx to the steamy jungles of southern Myanmar, Voigt takes us along on a journey of adventure and discovery in her quest to find an increasingly rare fish in the wild. With a page-turning plot and a cast of vivid characters, The Dragon Behind the Glass shines a powerful light on the international trade in endangered species." —Scott Wallace, author of The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes

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Book SynopsisIf there's an adventure to be had, it's likely that David Hempleman-Adams has been there first. Ranking alongside Ranulph Fiennes and Chris Bonnington in the pantheon of British explorers, he is the first person in history to achieve what is termed the Adventurers' Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. The question Hempleman-Adams is most often asked is, simply: what drives him on? Why risk frostbite pulling a sledge to the North Pole? Why experience the Death Zone on Everest? Why fly in the tiny basket of a precarious balloon across the Atlantic? Is it simply the case that he likes to push himself to the limits, or is there something more to it? No Such Thing as Failure answers these questions and more, uncovering what drives arguably the world''s greatest adventurer.Trade ReviewI admire David hugely. He is a true adventurer and this book shows the breadth and depth of his achievements. NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE is an astonishing book, depicting an awe-inspiring life.

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Book SynopsisStorms, fatigue, equipment failure, intense hunger, and lack of water are just a few of the challenges that ocean rower Mick Dawson endured whilst attempting to complete one of the World''s ''Last Great Firsts''.In this nail-biting true story of man versus nature, former Royal Marine commando Dawson, a Guinness World Record-holder for ocean-rowing and high-seas adventurer takes on the Atlantic and ultimately the North Pacific.It took Dawson three attempts and a back-breaking voyage of over six months to finally cross the mighty North Pacific for the first time. Dawson and his rowing partner Chris Martin spent 189 days, 10 hours and 55 minutes rowing around the clock, facing the destruction of their small boat and near-certain death every mile of the way, before finally reaching the iconic span of San Francisco''s Golden Gate Bridge. Dawson''s thrilling account of his epic adventure details how he and Chris propelled their fragile craft, stroke by stroke for tTrade ReviewMick's account of the gruelling journey is compelling. You'll feel that you're there with them, through the near-death experiences and the equipment failures, battling extreme fatigue, frightening storms and an ocean the consistency of liquid cement * Lifeboat Magazine *A nail-biting story of man versus nature * Globe & Laurel *

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Book SynopsisOver a century after she sank, the Endurance has been found, and here, in his own words, Sir Ernest Shackleton tells the extraordinary story of his extraordinary adventure.In 1911 Roald Amundsen beat Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole, and Scott and his colleagues all died on the return journey. Ernest Shackleton, who had served with Scott on a previous expedition, decided that crossing Antarctica from sea to sea was the last great unattempted journey on the continent. His Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 191417 was a failure. But perhaps because it failed, with Shackleton not only surviving but bringing his crew back alive, the expedition became more famous than many of those adventurous voyages that succeeded.After reaching the Weddell Sea off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, Shackleton's ship the Endurance became trapped in pack ice and spent 1915 drifting northwards. The Endurance was eventually crushed by the ice and sank, leaving 28 men sTrade ReviewStylish, high quality collector's edition * Hardy Boat Owner *Indisputably, Shackleton's compelling account of his epic adventure is a classic. * Sailing Today *Timeless masterpiece... updated with pictures and maps. * Yachting World *

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Book SynopsisJoshua Slocum''s epic solo voyage around the world in 1895 in the thirty-seven-foot sloop Spray stands as one of the greatest sea adventures of all time. It remains one of the major feats of single-handed voyaging and has since been the inspiration for the many who have gone to sea in small boats. Starting from Boston in 1895 and dropping anchor in Newport, Rhode Island, over three years after his journey began, Slocum cruised some forty-six thousand miles entirely by sail and entirely alone. Slocum''s account of his voyage is a classic of sailing literature, acclaimed as an unequaled masterpiece of vital yet disciplined prose--here in a new edition for all admirers of his legendary achievement.Trade ReviewYes, Slocum's journey was 'epic' but it was also eccentric, unlikely and his unsurpassable action elegiac...The unaffected and quirky intimacy with which he writes will never be matched. You cannot do what he did any more. * Matthew Parris *Boys who do not like this book ought to be drowned at once. * Arthur Ransome *One of the best sea-themed reads. * Daily Telegraph *It is riveting stuff... A great read. * The Nautical Magazine *One of the all-time classic sailing narratives. * Classic Boat *

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Book SynopsisÊA Stowaway Ukulele Revealed: Richard Konter & the Byrd Polar ExpeditionsÊ is the unlikely and compelling story of a globe-trotting ukulele-strumming Brooklyn sailor named Richard Konter and his famous autographed instrument. At the height of the ukulele craze Konter was a go-to arranger for Tin Pan Alley composers and publishers.ÞIn 1926 Konter shipped out as a member of the crew of the Byrd Arctic Expedition. As a riveted world followed their progress (and that of their arch-rival Roald Amundsen the world''s greatest polar explorer) Konter managed to get his ukulele aboard Byrd''s plane for the first successful polar flight.ÞA keen contributor to history in the making Konter managed to obtain the autographs of more than 150 individuals both famous and unknown all of whom respected the importance of Konter''s North Pole ukulele. Later Konter accompanied Byrd to Antarctica and later married for the first time at age 80 the love of his life.ÞFor the first time ÊA Stowaway U

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Book SynopsisIn May 1804, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their Corps of Discovery set out on a journey of a lifetime to explore and interpret the American West. The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day follows this exploration with a daily narrative of their journey, from its starting point in Illinois in 1804 to its successful return to St. Louis in September 1806.Trade Review"Moulton has produced a day by day narrative of the expedition, based on the journals and notes made by the captains, their men, and assistants who helped them catalog their work upon their return. The result is a fantastic resource for anyone—scholar or casual reader—who is interested in the expedition."—Mark A. Eifler, Western Historical Quarterly"This is the type of tome that the reader returns to, again and again, and with each reading absorbs some new perception of what has become an American legend along with the adventurers who lived it."—Kira E. Kaufmann, Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society"This book takes readers on a journey most travelers wish they had joined back when it happened in 1804. . . . This book took the author nearly forty years, and it was time well spent among one of the most intense and suspense-laden adventures of America's history."—Anna Faktorovich, Pennsylvania Literary Journal"[Moulton] incorporates the scientific work carried out by the expedition and provides a series of maps to indicate its route across the American West. Many of the entries provide a visceral sense of what members of the expedition saw on their travels. . . . These details make the Lewis and Clark expedition once again seem new and exciting."—Missouri Historical Review"While it has obvious appeal for those fascinated by the Lewis and Clark expedition, it also offers insight into Native American life and European-indigenous relations in the early nineteenth century. The complex life of the continent before the spread of European settlement beyond the Missouri is brought poignantly into focus. In our age of global environmental threat, the great biodiversity that is described by the members of the Corps of Discovery is also a stark reminder of all that has been lost. In short, Moulton’s book is highly recommended."—Amanda Laugesen, Kansas History"The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day has several key strengths making it an admirable contribution to both historical geography and Lewis and Clark scholarship."—Robert M. Briwa, Historical Geography"Reading Moulton's narrative of the journey reminds readers of journals, diaries, and reminiscences written by overland trailer travelers in the 1840s to 1860s, but knowing that the Corps of Discovery first noted these things makes the journey of Lewis and Clark all the more spectacular. . . . Moulton provided a volume accessible to all."—Diana L. Ahmad, Great Plains Quarterly"Moulton's The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day is his latest telling of the Corps of Discovery's journey to explore the American West. . . . The results are daily dispatches of the personal stories, scientific pursuits and geographic challenges. There are descriptions of encounters with American Indians and unknown lands, and observations of new species of flora and fauna."—David Hendee, Omaha World-Herald“Drawing on his comprehensive knowledge of the expedition, Gary Moulton has put into a lively prose narrative what is the nation’s first road story. . . . The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day gives readers an unparalleled opportunity to see that journey as it unfolded in real time. . . . [This book] belongs on the short shelf of important books about the life and times of the Corps of Discovery. It will surely have a wide and appreciative audience.”—James P. Ronda, Barnard Professor of Western American History, emeritus, at the University of Tulsa and author of Lewis and Clark among the IndiansTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Introduction Expedition Personnel Chapter 1. Expedition Underway, May 14–August 24, 1804 Chapter 2. The Middle Missouri, August 25–October 26, 1804 Chapter 3. Knife River Winter, October 27, 1804–April 6, 1805 Chapter 4. Into the Unknown, April 7–June 2, 1805 Chapter 5. Portaging the Falls, June 3–July 14, 1805 Chapter 6. Shadows of the Rockies, July 15–August 9, 1805 Chapter 7. Those Tremendous Mountains, August 10–October 10, 1805 Chapter 8. Roll On Columbia, October 11–November 14, 1805 Chapter 9. Pacific Coast Winter, November 15, 1805–March 22, 1806 Chapter 10. Homeward Bound, March 23–July 2, 1806 Chapter 11. Separation and Reunion, July 3–August 12, 1806 Chapter 12. Hurrying Home, August 13–September 23, 1806 Afterword Index

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Book SynopsisIn May 1804, Meriwether Lewis,William Clark, and their Corps of Discoveryset out on a journey of a lifetime to explore and interpret theAmerican West. The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day follows this exploration with a daily narrative of their journey, from its starting point in Illinois in 1804 to its successful return to St. Louis in September 1806. This accessible chronicle, presented by Lewis and Clark historianGary E. Moulton, depicts each riveting day of the Corps of Discovery’s journey. Drawn from the journals of the two captains and four enlisted men, this volume recounts personal stories, scientific pursuits, and geographic challenges, along with vivid descriptions of encounters with Native peoples and unknown lands and discoveries of new species of flora and fauna. This modern reference brings the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition to life in a new way, from the first hoisting of the sail to the final celebratory dinner. Trade Review"Moulton has produced a day by day narrative of the expedition, based on the journals and notes made by the captains, their men, and assistants who helped them catalog their work upon their return. The result is a fantastic resource for anyone—scholar or casual reader—who is interested in the expedition."—Mark A. Eifler, Western Historical Quarterly"This is the type of tome that the reader returns to, again and again, and with each reading absorbs some new perception of what has become an American legend along with the adventurers who lived it."—Kira E. Kaufmann, Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society"This book takes readers on a journey most travelers wish they had joined back when it happened in 1804. . . . This book took the author nearly forty years, and it was time well spent among one of the most intense and suspense-laden adventures of America's history."—Anna Faktorovich, Pennsylvania Literary Journal"[Moulton] incorporates the scientific work carried out by the expedition and provides a series of maps to indicate its route across the American West. Many of the entries provide a visceral sense of what members of the expedition saw on their travels. . . . These details make the Lewis and Clark expedition once again seem new and exciting."—Missouri Historical Review"While it has obvious appeal for those fascinated by the Lewis and Clark expedition, it also offers insight into Native American life and European-indigenous relations in the early nineteenth century. The complex life of the continent before the spread of European settlement beyond the Missouri is brought poignantly into focus. In our age of global environmental threat, the great biodiversity that is described by the members of the Corps of Discovery is also a stark reminder of all that has been lost. In short, Moulton’s book is highly recommended."—Amanda Laugesen, Kansas History"The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day has several key strengths making it an admirable contribution to both historical geography and Lewis and Clark scholarship."—Robert M. Briwa, Historical Geography"Reading Moulton's narrative of the journey reminds readers of journals, diaries, and reminiscences written by overland trailer travelers in the 1840s to 1860s, but knowing that the Corps of Discovery first noted these things makes the journey of Lewis and Clark all the more spectacular. . . . Moulton provided a volume accessible to all."—Diana L. Ahmad, Great Plains Quarterly"Moulton's The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day is his latest telling of the Corps of Discovery's journey to explore the American West. . . . The results are daily dispatches of the personal stories, scientific pursuits and geographic challenges. There are descriptions of encounters with American Indians and unknown lands, and observations of new species of flora and fauna."—David Hendee, Omaha World-Herald“Drawing on his comprehensive knowledge of the expedition, Gary Moulton has put into a lively prose narrative what is the nation’s first road story. . . . The Lewis and Clark Expedition Day by Day gives readers an unparalleled opportunity to see that journey as it unfolded in real time. . . . [This book] belongs on the short shelf of important books about the life and times of the Corps of Discovery. It will surely have a wide and appreciative audience.”—James P. Ronda, Barnard Professor of Western American History, emeritus, at the University of Tulsa and author of Lewis and Clark among the IndiansTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Introduction Expedition Personnel Chapter 1. Expedition Underway, May 14–August 24, 1804 Chapter 2. The Middle Missouri, August 25–October 26, 1804 Chapter 3. Knife River Winter, October 27, 1804–April 6, 1805 Chapter 4. Into the Unknown, April 7–June 2, 1805 Chapter 5. Portaging the Falls, June 3–July 14, 1805 Chapter 6. Shadows of the Rockies, July 15–August 9, 1805 Chapter 7. Those Tremendous Mountains, August 10–October 10, 1805 Chapter 8. Roll On Columbia, October 11–November 14, 1805 Chapter 9. Pacific Coast Winter, November 15, 1805–March 22, 1806 Chapter 10. Homeward Bound, March 23–July 2, 1806 Chapter 11. Separation and Reunion, July 3–August 12, 1806 Chapter 12. Hurrying Home, August 13–September 23, 1806 Afterword Index

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Book SynopsisThe East Country is a work of creative nonfiction in which the acclaimed nature writer Jules Pretty integrates memoir, natural history, cultural critique, and spiritual reflection into a single compelling narrative. Pretty frames his book around Aldo Leopold and his classic A Sand County Almanac, bringing Leopold's ethicthat some could live without nature but most should notinto the twenty-first century. In The East Country, Pretty follows the seasons through seventy-four tales set in a variety of landscapes from valley to salty shore. Pretty convinces us that we should all develop long attachments to the local, observing that the land can change us for the better.Trade ReviewI'm in step with Prof Jules Pretty. Who wouldn't be, when he rightly recognises the link between a healthy natural world and good mental health in humans – and trumpets the message? Like him, I love getting outdoors to feel the sun (and rain) on my skin and notice the different rhythm. You could say I've bought the T-shirt along with the waterproof walking boots and warm coat. * The East Anglian Daily Times *His celebration of the landscape incorporates memoir and poetry, natural history and spiritual reflection, but also a critique of where current policies are leading us. ‘Nature will carry on regardless,’ he suggest. ‘It is just that we might not.’ -- Matthew Reisz * Times Higher Education *Table of ContentsPreface A Geographic Locator January 1. The Winter Hesitation 2. One Glossy Ibis and Many Ticks 3. Winter Gales and Beliefs 4. Walk the Line 5. The Weight of a Snipe 6. The Old Battlefield February 7. Paths and Prints in Snow 8. Closing Time 9. To Iken 10. Saturation 11. The Box Valley March 12. Disturbing Hints of Spring 13. The Beach Crows 14. Some Spring for Celandine 15. Blackthorn Days 16. The Blue Light of Spring April 17. Two Buzzards 18. The Long Night of Hope 19. Mystery Solved 20. Nightingales and Green Men 21. Sailors' Reading Room 22. The Assington Elms May 23. The Owl and the Sun 24. The Bat and the Wild 25. Time Travel 26. Since Records Began 27. Bells in the Cow Parsley Section 28. Encounters 29. The Northern Sky 30. All Four Margins June 31. Magic in the Thicks 32. The Lost Shore 33. Hollyhock Summer 34. A Submission 35. Lay-Bys of the A12 36. The Cottage Hospital 37. Come Back the Wild 38. Anniversary July 39. Village Edgelands 40. Nature at a Nuclear Power Station 41. Digging for Victory 42. Under Another Atomic Sky 43. Heat Wave August 44. Pause for Ragwort 45. The End of the Road 46. Nightwalk 47. Soon, the Departure 48. The Tinker's Cottage 49. The Turn September 50. The Path 51. Mud Birds 52. Angels in the Back Lanes 53. Season of Mist and Fire 54. In Memoriam 55. The Rhythym of Farm Names October 56. Insect Life 57. A New Anniversary 58. Things and Doubt 59. Alarm Call 60. The Sands of Another Summer 61. Wait for the End November 62. Bonfire Night 63. At First, Silence 64. The Night Hours 65. Leaf Fall and Mists 66. Beach Fishermen and Water Sprites 67. Much Can Change in a Short Time 68. Passing Years December 69. A Marsh Murmuration 70. Poor Man's Heaven 71. Dark and Wet at Solstice 72. Pruning and Planning 73. Dark and Wet, Again 74. An East Wind Crossing the New Year Acknowledgments Notes by Tale Bibliography List of Photographs

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Book SynopsisThe rollicking tale of a first-of-its-kind adventure—driving a Tesla through Central America.Only a week after the nation’s newspapers were filled with headlines of the first cross-country trip in an electric car, two Louisianans slip quietly across the Rio Grande in south Texas in an attempt to do the unthinkable—drive a factory electric car across seven Third World countries to the “end of the road,” Panama City, Panama.Without support and armed only with a toolbox, a bag of electrical adapters, and their wits, author Randy Denmon and his friend Dean trudge on through jungles, deserts, volcanoes, rivers, and crater-sized potholes, all the while trying to avoid the drug cartels and corrupt border guards that could mean a quick end to their adventure . . . and their lives. Through it all, the same enormous problem loomed daily: how to charge the car in such a primitive and desolate setting?Despite the numerous setbacks, Randy never lost his sense of humor. Off the Grid is as much a spiritual journey as a physical one about two guys who dropped everything for one grand twenty-first-century adventure—traveling back in time in a car that seemed to come from the future.Trade Review“This good old-fashioned story of a road trip through stunning landscapes reminded me not only of Mark Twain, but also of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods and Neither Here Nor There. This was a most enjoyable book; one I’ll remember a very long time.” —Bret Lott, author of Jewel (an Oprah Book Club selection)“Randy Denmon isn’t your average Tesla Model S owner. While many Model S owners spend their time zipping around town, or cruising from supercharger to supercharger, Denmon had grander plans for his Tesla. Wanting to prove that electricity is a viable alternative to gas-powered transit, Denmon and his buddy Dean Lewis pointed their Model S south and kept going until they had almost hit the Panama Canal.” —MotorTrend“Off the Grid is the needed road trip story of the future! It’s a great read and an on-the-edge of-your-seat ride to remember! Entertaining, funny, and a definite page turner!” —Tom Berenger, Academy Award-nominated actor and Emmy and Golden Globe winner“Produce an electric car with enough range, and the journeys it can realistically achieve become almost limitless. The most impressive trip undertaken might be that of Randy Denmon and Dean Lewis, who have driven a Model S from Texas to the Panama Canal.” —Christian Science Monitor“This tale of two guys in a futuristic car traveling across a low-tech landscape will appeal to fans of humorous travel ¬writers, such as Bill Bryson and Tim Cahill.” —Library Journal“Here is a roadtrip adventure of the best kind, full of crazy escapades with improbable outcomes. It’s a story told with wit and warmth, honesty and heart. Denmon bet big and he won.” —Dina Bennett, author of Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World“Off the Grid grips the road and reader with fears of dusk-time searches for elusive electricity in inhospitable, socket-less towns. Author Randy Denmon is refreshingly unassuming and abundantly informed, and his writing has more energy than a rechargeable battery.” —Rick Antonson, author of Route 66 Still Kicks: Driving America’s Main Street“[Denmon] strikes a nice balance here between adventure and misadventure (the road to Panama was not always a smooth one), with some moments of comedy and danger thrown into the mix. It’s an entertaining tour of Latin America.” —Booklist“Randy Denmon and his friend, Dean Lewis, take us on a raucous road trip from Texas to Panama in an all-electric Tesla sedan. Their adventures include hand-sweating drives through drug cartel territory, slow going on bad roads infamous as sites of kidnapping, white-knuckle navigation on perilous mountain roads, frustrating face-offs with sullen bureaucrats and the never-ending, nail-biting search for 240-volt outlets to charge the car. This is a lively read complete with clear exposition of the technical details, well-informed commentary on each country’s political history, and moving descriptions of the almost supernatural beauty of the volcanic terrain.” —Dennis James, author of Songs of the Baka and Other Discoveries: Travels after Sixty-Five“In the spirit of the great adventurers of the past, this is a travel quest for the modern age, where the constant search for a reliable 240-volt power supply takes over from exploring undiscovered corners of the planet! This book shows that the human spirit will always seek harder, more difficult ways of doing things simply for the challenge and for the satisfaction of being ‘the first’!” —Steve Davey, author of Around the World in 500 Festivals“What possesses a couple of single guys to decide to set out, on their own, without any support, especially from Tesla, to drive in an electric car over some of the worst roads in the Western Hemisphere?” —EVWorld“[Randy Denmon and Dean Lewis] packed up in McAllen, Texas, and headed south towards Panama City, Panama, with nothing but each other and a handful of charging adapters…. Hazards included jungles, waterways and volcanoes, as well as finding places to charge in the Mexican back country.” —Autoweek“Any normal adventure seeker would have chosen a high-riding, four-wheel-drive vehicle, and this all-electric safari was about as sketchy as long solo journeys of early 20th century drivers who’d set out in primitive gas cars without certainty or support.” –HybridCars “This book is wonderful book and the author describes in detail the history of the regions he is traveling through with the beauty of the people that helped him with the issues of charging an electric car. Also, descriptive with the problems. I just wanted to keep on reading and not put the book down until fully read.” —Deborah Hughes, NetGalley Reviewer “An entertaining book about the travels of two friends in their new Tesla car and how they drove it from Texas to Panama. There was interesting history about south America and humor.” —Cathie Salvo, NetGalley Reviewer“This good old-fashioned story of a road trip through stunning landscapes reminded me not only of Mark Twain, but also of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods and Neither Here Nor There. This was a most enjoyable book; one I’ll remember a very long time.” —Bret Lott, author of Jewel (an Oprah Book Club selection)“Randy Denmon isn’t your average Tesla Model S owner. While many Model S owners spend their time zipping around town, or cruising from supercharger to supercharger, Denmon had grander plans for his Tesla. Wanting to prove that electricity is a viable alternative to gas-powered transit, Denmon and his buddy Dean Lewis pointed their Model S south and kept going until they had almost hit the Panama Canal.” —MotorTrend“Off the Grid is the needed road trip story of the future! It’s a great read and an on-the-edge of-your-seat ride to remember! Entertaining, funny, and a definite page turner!” —Tom Berenger, Academy Award-nominated actor and Emmy and Golden Globe winner“Produce an electric car with enough range, and the journeys it can realistically achieve become almost limitless. The most impressive trip undertaken might be that of Randy Denmon and Dean Lewis, who have driven a Model S from Texas to the Panama Canal.” —Christian Science Monitor“This tale of two guys in a futuristic car traveling across a low-tech landscape will appeal to fans of humorous travel ¬writers, such as Bill Bryson and Tim Cahill.” —Library Journal“Here is a roadtrip adventure of the best kind, full of crazy escapades with improbable outcomes. It’s a story told with wit and warmth, honesty and heart. Denmon bet big and he won.” —Dina Bennett, author of Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World“Off the Grid grips the road and reader with fears of dusk-time searches for elusive electricity in inhospitable, socket-less towns. Author Randy Denmon is refreshingly unassuming and abundantly informed, and his writing has more energy than a rechargeable battery.” —Rick Antonson, author of Route 66 Still Kicks: Driving America’s Main Street“[Denmon] strikes a nice balance here between adventure and misadventure (the road to Panama was not always a smooth one), with some moments of comedy and danger thrown into the mix. It’s an entertaining tour of Latin America.” —Booklist“Randy Denmon and his friend, Dean Lewis, take us on a raucous road trip from Texas to Panama in an all-electric Tesla sedan. Their adventures include hand-sweating drives through drug cartel territory, slow going on bad roads infamous as sites of kidnapping, white-knuckle navigation on perilous mountain roads, frustrating face-offs with sullen bureaucrats and the never-ending, nail-biting search for 240-volt outlets to charge the car. This is a lively read complete with clear exposition of the technical details, well-informed commentary on each country’s political history, and moving descriptions of the almost supernatural beauty of the volcanic terrain.” —Dennis James, author of Songs of the Baka and Other Discoveries: Travels after Sixty-Five“In the spirit of the great adventurers of the past, this is a travel quest for the modern age, where the constant search for a reliable 240-volt power supply takes over from exploring undiscovered corners of the planet! This book shows that the human spirit will always seek harder, more difficult ways of doing things simply for the challenge and for the satisfaction of being ‘the first’!” —Steve Davey, author of Around the World in 500 Festivals“What possesses a couple of single guys to decide to set out, on their own, without any support, especially from Tesla, to drive in an electric car over some of the worst roads in the Western Hemisphere?” —EVWorld“[Randy Denmon and Dean Lewis] packed up in McAllen, Texas, and headed south towards Panama City, Panama, with nothing but each other and a handful of charging adapters…. Hazards included jungles, waterways and volcanoes, as well as finding places to charge in the Mexican back country.” —Autoweek“Any normal adventure seeker would have chosen a high-riding, four-wheel-drive vehicle, and this all-electric safari was about as sketchy as long solo journeys of early 20th century drivers who’d set out in primitive gas cars without certainty or support.” –HybridCars “This book is wonderful book and the author describes in detail the history of the regions he is traveling through with the beauty of the people that helped him with the issues of charging an electric car. Also, descriptive with the problems. I just wanted to keep on reading and not put the book down until fully read.” —Deborah Hughes, NetGalley Reviewer “An entertaining book about the travels of two friends in their new Tesla car and how they drove it from Texas to Panama. There was interesting history about south America and humor.” —Cathie Salvo, NetGalley Reviewer

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Book SynopsisTwo hundred and fifty years ago Captain James Cook, during his extraordinary voyages of navigation and maritime exploration, searched for Antarctica - the Unknown Southern Continent. During parts of his three voyages in the southern Pacific and Southern Oceans, Cook narrowed the options' for the location of Antarctica. Over three summers, he completed a circumnavigation of portions of the Southern Continent, encountering impenetrable barriers of ice, and he suggested the continent existed, a frozen land not populated by a living soul. Yet his Antarctic voyages are perhaps the least studied of all his remarkable travels. That is why James Hamilton's gripping and scholarly study, which brings together the stories of Cook's Antarctic journeys into a single volume, is such an original and timely addition to the literature on Cook and eighteenth-century exploration. Using Cook's journals and the log books of officers who sailed with him, the book sets his Antarctic explorations within the context of his historic voyages. The main focus is on the Second Voyage (1772-1775), but brief episodes in the First Voyage (during 1769) and the Third Voyage (1776) are part of the story. Throughout the narrative Cook's exceptional seamanship and navigational skills, and that of his crew, are displayed during often-difficult passages in foul weather across uncharted and inhospitable seas. Captain James Cook and the Search for Antarctica offers the reader a fascinating insight into Cook the seaman and explorer, and it will be essential reading for anyone who has a particular interest the history of the Southern Continent.

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Book SynopsisIntrepid journalist Nellie Bly raced through a 'man's world' - alone and literally with just the clothes on her back - to beat the fictional record set by Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days. She won the race on 25 January 1890, covering 21,740 miles by ocean liner and train in 72 days, and became a global celebrity. Although best known for her record-breaking journey, even more importantly Nellie Bly pioneered investigative journalism and paved the way for women in the newsroom. Her undercover reporting, advocacy for women's rights, crusades for vulnerable children, campaigns against oppression and steadfast conviction that 'nothing is impossible' makes the world that she circled a better place. Adventurer, journalist and author, Rosemary J Brown, set off 125 years later to retrace Nellie Bly's footsteps in an expedition registered with the Royal Geographical Society. Through her recreation of that epic global journey, she brings to life Nellie Bly's remarkable achievements and shines a light on one of the world's greatest female adventurers and a forgotten heroine of history.

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Book SynopsisIn 1976, areas of the great mountain regions remained unknown and acute mountain sickness was a medical mystery waiting to be explored. Into this arena stepped the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society. It was formed by a group of young doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and its members were looking for excitement. They were inquisitive, energetic and fearless. Having gathered ideas and borrowed some medical equipment, they took a plane to Kathmandu. From there they trekked to the north side of Annapurna, exploring and testing the effects of low oxygen levels on their bodies and minds. there has been a further twelve expeditions since, all investigating the effects of low oxygen on the human body. This book is a recollection of those expeditions.Table of Contents1. Thorong La, Nepal - September 1977. Sickness at 5,000m 2. Chimborazo, Ecuador - September 1979. A new pill to make you feel lower 3. Mount Kenya - January 1982. No picnic on Mt Kenya 4. Rupina La, Nepal - September-October 1984. Monsoon Blues 5. Gondogoro, Karakoram - June 1987. Down a crevasse. 6. Aconcagua, Argentina - January 1990. Science or the summit 7. Everest - April 1993. Female Hormones 8. El Paso de Agua Negro, Chile - January 1997. Black Water Pass 9. Kangchenjunga, Nepal - October 1999. Killer Storm 10. Chacaltaya, Bolivia - June 2002. The Sofa of Death 11. Ladakh, Land of High Passes - June 2005. Stok Kangri or bust 12. Parinacota, Chile - November 2008. Evil penitentes 13. Jomolhari, Bhutan - April-May 2012. Five high passes 14. Chimborazo revisited - January 2016. Exercising to exhaustion 15. Remote Sikkim - October 2019. A surfeit of beer 16. Alpine adventures 17. Big walks

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Book SynopsisThe first earnest attempt to explore the valley of the upper Yellowstone was made in 1859, by Colonel Raynolds, of the Corps of Engineers. His expedition passed entirely around the Yellowstone basin, but could not penetrate it. Ten years after Colonel Raynoldss unsuccessful attempt to solve the problem of the Yellowstone, a small party under Messrs. Cook and Folsom ascended the river to the lake, and crossed over the divide into the Geyser Basin of the Madison. The general public were indebted for their first knowledge of the marvels of this region to an expedition organized in the summer of 1870 by some of the officials and leading citizens of Montana. In the meantime, a large and thoroughly-organized scientific party, under Dr. F. V. Hayden, U. S. geologist, were making a systematic survey of the region traversed by Colonel Barlow. It is safe to say that no exploring expedition ever had a more interesting field of investigation, or ever studied so many grand, curious and wonderful aspects of nature in so short a time.

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Book SynopsisIn the feverish, money-making age of railroad barons, political machines, and gold rushes, corruption was the rule, not the exception. Yet the Republican mogul 'Big Alex' McKenzie's audacity was remarkable. Charismatic and shameless, he arrived in the recently purchased Alaskan territory with a federal district judge in his pocket, intent on claiming stewardship over any ambiguously claimed gold mines and promptly draining them of all of their ore. Working-class miners who had rushed to the frozen tundra to strike gold were appalled at his open greed and disregard for maintaining even the pretense of good faith. A Most Wicked Conspiracy tells the story of McKenzie's misdeeds, the resistance of the wronged miners, and the way the scandal captured the national spotlight -- with the press eager to show how America's political and economic life was in the grip of domineering, self-dealing, seemingly-untouchable party bosses in cahoots with robber barons, Senators and even Presidents. These events resonate well into the 21st century. At the core is an eternal question: should the law be a tool of the rich and the powerful for the accomplishment of their nefarious schemes, or an impartial force for justice from which no person can escape?

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Book SynopsisThe first time journalist Jon Lurie meets Jose Perez, the smart, angry, fifteen-year-old Lakota-Puerto Rican draws blood. Five years later, both men are floundering. Lurie, now in his thirties, is newly divorced, depressed, and self-medicating. Jose is embedded in a haze of women and street feuds. Both lack a meaningful connection to their cultural roots: Lurie feels an absence of identity as the son of a Holocaust survivor who is reluctant to talk about her experience, and for Jose, communal history has been obliterated by centuries of oppression. Then Lurie hits upon a plan to save them. After years of admiring the journey described in Eric Arnold Sevareid's 1935 classic account, Canoeing with the Cree, Lurie invites Jose to join him in retracing Sevareid's route and embarking on a mythic two thousand-mile paddle from Breckenridge, Minnesota, to the Hudson Bay. Faced with plagues of mosquitoes, extreme weather, suspicious law enforcement officers, tricky border crossings, and Jose's preference for Kanye West over the great outdoors, the journey becomes an odyssey of self-discovery. Acknowledging the erased native histories that Sevareid's prejudicial account could not perceive, and written in gritty, honest prose, Canoeing with Jose is a remarkable journey.

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Book SynopsisWe’ve all ordered from a restaurant menu. But have you ever wondered to what extent the menu is ordering you? In this fascinating new book, art historian and food lover Alison Pearlman takes an inquiring look at the design of physical restaurant menus—their content, size, scope, material, and more—to explore how they influence our dining experiences and choices (if they do at all). After years of collecting menus and studying their cultural significance through the lens of art history, Pearlman realized they were also profoundly important sales tools, affecting everything from a restaurant’s operations and profits to a diner’s expectations and behavior. There was just one problem: she wasn’t exactly convinced that any menu had ever swayed her own choices. So she set off on a mission to understand if, how, and when menus work in appealing to us diners, visiting and meticulously documenting more than 60 restaurants of all stripes in the greater Los Angeles area. In May We Suggest, Pearlman combines her own dining experiences with research from a broad range of disciplines, from experience design to behavioral economics. What emerges is a captivating, thought-provoking study of one of the most often read but rarely analyzed narrative works around: the humble menu.Trade ReviewAdvance praise for Alison Pearlman’s May We Suggest:“This is a dangerous book—for your waistline, your wallet, and your sense of reason. . . . Call this a tasting menu of foodie heavenly history.” —Paco Underhill, author, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping“An effective and engaging discovery of the mechanisms that, in more or less subtle ways, orchestrate our experiences when we eat out. A great tool to understand how restaurants work.” —Fabio Parasecoli, professor of food studies, New York University

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Book SynopsisOn an epic 3,000-mile journey through the most pristine backcountry of the American West, four friends rode horseback across an almost contiguous stretch of unspoiled public lands, border to border, from Mexico to Canada.For their trail horses, they adopted wild mustangs from the US Bureau of Land Management that were perfectly adapted to the rocky terrain and harsh conditions of desert and mountain travel.A meticulously planned but sometimes unpredictable route brought them face to face with snowpack, downpours, and wildfire; unrelenting heat, raging rivers, and sheer cliffs; jumping cactus, rattlesnakes, and charging bull moose; sickness, injury, and death. But they also experienced a special camaraderie with each other and with the mustangs. Through it all, they had a constant traveling companion - a cameraman, shooting for the documentary film Unbranded.The trip's inspiration and architect, Ben Masters, is joined here by the three other riders, Ben Thamer, Thomas Glover, and Jonny Fitzsimons; two memorable teachers and horse trainers; and the film's producers and intrepid cameramen in the telling of this improbable story of adventure and self-discovery.

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Book SynopsisA perfect holiday gift for adventurers and arm-chair travelers alike, this inspiring account of a diverse all-women?s expedition to the North Pole reveals the highs and lows of record-breaking, modern-day exploration.?A wonderful collaboration both on the Arctic ice and onto the page. Each team members voice arises to offer a view beyond the physical giving us the essence of a unique adventure.? Ann Bancroft, first woman to reach the North Pole and coauthor of No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their Historic Journey across AntarcticaWhen British Explorer Felicity Aston put out an open call for women with little to no experience willing to brave the elements on an expedition to the North Pole, she was stunned to have over 1000 applicants. After narrowing it down to ten women from ten different countries?some of whom had never seen snow before?the team spent the next two years training for this unique opportunity.Each member of the team tells part of the story in her own words, chronicling their grueling preparation in Iceland and Oman, the anticipation for the journey, and the terrifying conditions of the Arctic. Set against a backdrop of Arctic pack ice that is thinner, newer, and less stable than ever before due to climate change?the team face the realities of hungry polar bears, extreme temperatures, and the possibility that anything and everything could go wrong at any moment.Aston beautifully weaves each woman?s account into the greater expedition narrative, reminding readers of the teamwork needed to complete such a feat. Over 60 stunning photographs illustrate the journey, illuminating the breathtaking landscape along with the joy, pain, and determination of these ten women.Polar Exposure is a powerful celebration of the perseverance of women in science, sports, and exploration that sheds light on all that it takes to reach the top of the world.

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Book SynopsisFind strength and motivation for your next outdoor journey with this beautiful book of inspiring quotes and empowering stories of women who indulged in the freedom of being adventurous.Adventurous Soul is for all outdoor enthusiasts, empowering you to get out and explore the world you haven’t yet. In this book, the inspiring team at Happy Earth tell their stories about the wisdom of making room for nature, of people who long to forge a more vital, meaningful connection to the natural world to live a better, more fulfilling life. Happy Earth was founded on the idea of sustainable clothing and making a positive impact on the Earth. It is their goal to protect the planet and put the Earth first. Full of beautiful photography, uplifting quotes, and stories of people who go on incredible and unique adventures, the chapters are organized by empowering themes, including: Walk Your Own Path Balance Brings Beauty Change is the Only Constant Results without the Rush Live and Let Live Adventurous Soul is the perfect gift for anyone looking to unplug, spend more time outdoors, and find wisdom in nature.Table of ContentsIntroduction CHAPTER 1: Walk Your Own Path CHAPTER 2: Balance Brings Beauty CHAPTER 3: Change Is the Only Constant CHAPTER 4: Results without the Rush CHAPTER 5: Brave the Great Unknown CHAPTER 6: In Nature We Trust CHAPTER 7: Breathe the Wild Air CHAPTER 8: Live and Let Live CHAPTER 9: Sleep Under the Stars CHAPTER 10: Craving Wilderness CHAPTER 11: No Bigger Than a Grain of Sand CHAPTER 12: Keep Planting Seeds CHAPTER 13: Wander CHAPTER 14: Get Inspired CHAPTER 15: Say Yes to Adventure CHAPTER 16: Make Waves CHAPTER 17: Find the Calm Within CHAPTER 18: Connect with the Trees CHAPTER 19: Bloom Like a Flower CHAPTER 20: Thank Mother Earth Make a Positive Environmental Impact List of Featured Contributors

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Book SynopsisA survivor’s true account of death, despair, and heroism in Death Valley in the heat of the California Gold Rush.At the height of the California gold rush in 1849, a wagon train of men, women, children, and their animals stumbled into a 130-mile-long valley in the Mojave Desert while they were looking for a shortcut to the California coast. What ensued was an ordeal that divided the camp into remnants and struck them with hunger, thirst, and a terrible sense of being lost beyond hope—until a twenty-nine-year-old hero volunteered to cross the desert to get help.This young hero, William Lewis Manly, was one of the survivors of the tragedy, and he lived to tell the tale forty-five years later in this gripping autobiography, first published in 1894. In a time of unmarked frontiers and wilderness, Manly lived the true life of a pioneer. After being hit by gold rush fever Manly joined the fateful wagon train that would get swallowed up by the barren, arid, hostile valley with its dry and waterless terrain, unearthly surface of white salts, and overwhelming heat. Assaulted and devastated by the elements, members of the camp killed their emaciated oxen for food, ran out of water, split up, and lost and buried their own kind who perished. When Manly’s remaining band of ten came across a rare water hole, he and a companion, John Rogers, left the rest by the water and crossed the treacherous Panamint Mountains and Mojave Desert by themselves in search for rescue. In a true act of heroism against all odds, the two finally returned twenty-five days later with help, rescuing their compatriots, including four children, even when it seemed all hope was lost.Told at the end of the nineteenth century, Manly’s compelling and stirring account brings alive to modern-day readers the unimaginable hardships of America’s brave pioneers, and a chapter in Californian history that should not be forgotten.Trade Review"A chronicle of death and disaster, survival and heroism, distinguished by narrative power, specific event, and precise observation." —Lawrence Clark Powell"Recounts this wonderful true story of one of the saddest romances in Saxon American history." —Charles F. Lummis'This inspiring, true account of a struggle to achieve greater opportunity will appeal to historians and general readers alike. It will both enlighten and renew your faith in humanity.' —Tulsa World "A chronicle of death and disaster, survival and heroism, distinguished by narrative power, specific event, and precise observation." —Lawrence Clark Powell"Recounts this wonderful true story of one of the saddest romances in Saxon American history." —Charles F. Lummis'This inspiring, true account of a struggle to achieve greater opportunity will appeal to historians and general readers alike. It will both enlighten and renew your faith in humanity.' —Tulsa World

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Book SynopsisIn 1869, Civil War veteran and amputee Major John Wesley Powell led an expedition down the uncharted Colorado River through the then-nameless Grand Canyon. This is the story of what started as a geological survey, but ended in danger, chaos, and blood. The men were inexperienced and ill-equipped, and they faced unimaginable peril. Along the way there was death, mutiny, and abject terror, but Powell persevered and produced a masterwork of adventure writing still held in the highest regard by the boatmen who follow his course today. With never-before-used primary sources and firsthand experience navigating Powell’s legendary route, Cecil Kuhne brings this remarkable chapter of frontier history to life. The American Grit series brings you true tales of endurance, survival, and ingenuity from the annals of American history. These books focus on the trials of remarkable individuals with an emphasis on rich primary source material and artwork.

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Book SynopsisWhether you're a seasoned explorer or keen to discover the great outdoorsfor the first time, this book is designed to expand your horizons, inspire newadventures, and help protect our beautiful planet. Explore The Elements is acool collection of 48 eco-missions that will take you out of your front doorand into the wonderful wild world. You'll have fun and learn new skills alongthe way, and connect with nature everywhere: in your own back yard, aroundyour neighbourhood, and further afield in the UK's fabulous National Parks.

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Book SynopsisPatrick, Meg and their family had built a happy, sustainable life in regional Victoria. But in late 2013 they found themselves craving an adventure: a road trip.But theirs was a road trip with a difference. With Zephyr (10), Woody (1) and Zero their Jack Russell, they set off on an epic 6,000km year-long cycling journey along Australia’s east coast, from Daylesford to Cape York and back.Their aim was to live as cheaply as possible – guerrilla camping, hunting, foraging and bartering their permaculture skills, and living on a diet of free food, bush tucker, and the occasional fresh roadkill. They spent time in Aboriginal communities, joined an anti-fracking blockade, documented edible plants, and dodged speeding cars and trucks on the country’s most dangerous highways. The Art of Free Travel is the remarkable story of a rule-breaking year of ethical living.

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Book SynopsisBill Arnott guides readers on an epic literary odyssey following history's most feared and misunderstood voyageurs: the Vikings!To go Viking is to embark on an epic journey. For more than eight years, Bill Arnott journeyed throughout the northern hemisphere, discovering sites Scandinavian explorers raided, traded, and settled finding Viking history in a wider swath of the planet than most anthropologists and historians ever imagined.With a small pack and weatherproof journal, Bill explores and writes with a journalist's eye, songwriter's prose, poet's perspective, and a comedian's take on everything else. Prepare yourself for an armchair adventure like no other!From Europe to Asia, the Mediterranean to the British Isles, through Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland, and the New World, with further excursions around Thor Heyerdahl's Pacific, Roald Amundsen's Arctic, and Olaf Crowbone's stormy North Atlantic, Bill takes readers on a mythic personal adventure in real time a present-day Viking quest.

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Book SynopsisA global quest to comprehend the meaning of Happy Valley on three continents and how these mountain communities continue to survive in a world that constantly challenges the very notion of happiness.Over her 17-year career as a travel writer, Jane Marshall has wandered the planet, always in search of wild, high-altitude, off-the-beaten-track places. During her travels she discovered something profound. On three continents, separated by vast oceans, she found hidden valleys known locally as Happy Valley. Her quest: to discover what makes them happy and learn from their Indigenous keepers.The happy valleys share common characteristics. They are geographically isolated and protected by walls of mountains; they are home to rare and endangered plants and animals; they exist outside of protections zones which gives them autonomy but also makes them vulnerable; their Indigenous populations name the land after human and divine body parts; and women are seen as powerful. Inside these Happy Valleys a balance between humans and nature has been struck. Sleeping on ridges, in caves, and in the traditional homes of local people, Marshall makes gruelling journeys to the heart of the happy valleys as she strives to comprehend the deep peace she feels within them.In a world facing environmental devastation, illness, and unprecedented mental anxieties, Marshall's book offers an alternative. She immerses herself in the land and forms deep connections with its people so she can learn sustainable ways of living their Indigenous populations have honed over millennia. From a goat herder's hut in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, to a Sundance ceremony with the Blackfoot/Soki-tapi people of Alberta, and ultimately to her dangerous pilgrimage in Nepal where she reaches the heart of a sacred land studded with treasures hidden by a famous yogi, Jane Marshall takes readers on the greatest adventure of all: The search for Shangri-La and the wisdom that can save the planet and our own hearts.

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Book SynopsisAn adventurous and thoughtful photographic exploration of Canada and Canadian identity.This collection of images, taken over a decade and in every corner of the country, explores and questions what being a Canadian means. The photographs depict Taylor's poignantly observed, first-person experience, visiting both recognizable and remote places that vary drastically in geography, history, socio-economic status, and overarching lifestyle.Roades intrigues the viewer with images of the cultural threads that hold Canada together, and effortlessly weaves local idiosyncrasies together with iconic landscapes from coast to coast. If you have travelled in any part of Canada, you will see something delightfully familiar, and in a country with so much to explore somewhere new to add to your list.

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Book Synopsis“Exciting, funny, and occasionally heart-stopping … readers can stay home and dry, but feel like they are on the high seas.”—BOOKLISTA man and his chicken sail 45,000 nautical miles in this powerful story of following your dreams no matter what stands in your way.When Guirec Soudée was 21 years old, he bought a 30-foot sailboat and set out across the Atlantic, despite having only sailed a dinghy before.His only companion? His plucky pet hen, Monique.Guirec never intended to sail the world with a chicken, but after reaching the Caribbean, he and Monique made for Greenland—and emerged from the pack ice 100 days later.Their next goal? San Francisco. Then, Antarctica. But first, could they navigate the treacherous Northwest Passage? One thing was for sure: Monique would help her trusty skipper by laying an egg! Heart-stopping adventure story: navigating treacherous icebergs with a chicken on the mast is just one of many nail-biting maneuvers from this action-packed book. Perfect for readers of The Art of Racing in the Rain: Guirec and Monique’s bond is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Inspirational: Guirec shows that all you have to do is believe to achieve something big. Photographs and maps: show the epic voyage and provide breaks in the text. Guirec and Monique’s unbelievable journey won the hearts of people all over the world and caused a social media frenzy when it happened. Now, in their long-awaited first book, readers will uncover their gripping voyage from start to finish.Trade Review“Soudée’s deeply adventurous spirit finds a home at sea. From Arctic pack ice to the Roaring Forties, this young man and his chicken show the world what’s possible with a little boat and a big dream.”—Caroline Van Hemert, author of The Sun is a Compass“Guirec Soudée’s page-turning tale of his round-the-world ocean adventure is a delight. Setting off with no solo sailing experience whatsoever, he learns by doing—crossing the Atlantic, overwintering alone in Greenland’s profound pack ice, then sailing the length of the Pacific to survive raging storms and rogue icebergs in Antarctica. Add Monique, his unlikely but charming feathered first mate, and you’re reminded that our dreams are in fact possible if we dare to risk following them.”—Kim Brown Seely, author of Uncharted“If madcap single-handed sailing (with a chicken) is your thing, then you'll love the hair-raising adventures of Guirec Soudée.”—John Krestchmer, author of Sailing to the Edge of Time and Flirting with Mermaids“Don't mistake Guirec Soudee's youthful adventures for just another sailing book—this is a coming-of-age story for our times. Guirec writes with an inspiring mix of humility and wonder as he and Monique complete an epic voyage that takes them to extreme latitudes, propelled by a wellspring of courage—and revealing a humanity that fills you with joy. An incredible book.”—John Krestchmer, author of Sailing to the Edge of Time and Flirting with Mermaids“Guirec’s thirst for adventure is infectious, yet this intrepid Breton remains humble despite his extraordinary achievements, writing with both humor and good grace. A clucking good read!”—Emma Bamford, author of Casting Off and Untie the Lines“Funny, charming and endearing, this gem of a book immerses you into the world of a true adventurer. A classic high-seas yarn that you never want to end..”—Frank Wolf, adventurer and author of Lines on a Map“I greatly enjoyed reading this. It overflows with the author's good humor and his ability to always come up smiling, whatever the oceans of the world throw at him. For a novice to achieve a voyage like this is truly remarkable.”—Paul Heiney, broadcaster and author of One Wild Song: A Voyage in a Lost Son's WakeTable of ContentsWhere It All BeganPART 1Our Atlantic CrossingPART 2Hibernating in the IcePART 3The Northwest PassagePART 4From Alaska to Canada, and BeyondPART 5How Far South Can We Go?PART 6The Long Journey HomeAcknowledgmentsGlossaryPartners

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Book SynopsisIn the winter of 1875, a young British officer set out across central Asia on an unofficial mission to investigate the latest Russian moves in the Great Game. His goal was the mysterious Central Asian city of Khiva, closed to all European travellers by the Russians following their seizure of it two years earlier. His aim was to discover whether this remote and dangerous oasis could be used as a springboard for an invasion of India. An immediate bestseller when first published in 1877, Burnaby s delight in a life of risk and adventure still burns through the pages, as does his spontaneous affection for the Cossack troopers and Tartar, Khirgiz and Turkoman tribesmen that he encounters on his way.

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