I just received the best book in the mail! “The Adventurer’s Handbook” states “Small Minds have only room for Bread and Butter” (quote by Roald Amundsen, on being asked why he went to the South Pole). This book is an entire gourmet meal of famous explorers, their stories and experiences, explorer’s lore and fascinating anecdotes and informational tidbits, and it reads like The Guinness Book of World Records. If you are looking for that special Christmas book for the man in your life who loves adventure, this one is a splendid pick.
Some fabulous insights: “Francis Galton advised in his Victorian handbook The Art of Travel that sucking a lump of quartz or a bullet can allay thirst. He added that travelers had been known to add a little gunpowder to their food to satisfy their craving for salt.”
How To Find Water in a Desert: “Follow the birds and bees…The presence of bees is a sure sign that there’s fresh water within a few miles.”
…But Don’t Trust Dogs
“According to nineteenth century expedition lore, any water that a dog or a horse can drink is also fit for human consumption. This is not true; dogs have a much more robust digestive system than humans.”
The Coldest Temperature Recorded in Degrees F
Antarctica (Vostok Research Station, 1983) -129
Alaskan Sled Dog Commands
- Hike Up! Start
- Whoa! Stop
- Gee! Move Right
- Haw! Move Left
- Easy! Slow Down
On Eating Dogs
The first time I killed one, I felt like a murderer; the second time a little less bad and after that I just thought what a fine meal they would make, and what a glorious feed the first had been. Frank Worsley, Captain of the Endurance, Shackleton’s Lost Ship
And I adored the last paragraph: “If there is one lesson to take away from this book, apart from how to make your underwear last and how to escape from an anaconda, it is that success and happiness are dependent on finding what you are good at and then doing it. So go get lost, and then find yourself”.
This book is the most interesting compendium of epic exploring lore and stories of actual explorers, their trials, tribulations and their famous climbs and voyages, that I totally lost myself in it! An absolutely spellbinding little volume (234 pages) and I felt that I was reading “The Perfect Storm” of explorers! Perfect for anyone with an adventurer’s soul or just someone who loves to read a fascinating book that is well written and well defined!
The Adventurer’s Handbook: From Surviving an Anaconda Attack to Finding Your Way Out of a Desert
Ratings are based on a 5-star scale
Overall: 4
Review by Broad “A” – Ava
We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are our own.
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