Adventurers, Explorers & Survival

The Durrells are probably the most celebrated literary family of the 20th century. Gerald turned them into celebrities with his tripartite memoir, beginning with My Family and Other Animals (1956) which told of his experiences with his widowed mother Louisa and three siblings during their time in 1930s Corfu. We know of the Durrells from their own writings and from the image of them created by TV, film and biographical accounts of specific figures. What we do not know is the truth.

Captain William Kidd stands as one of the most notorious "pirate" outlaws ever, but his legend is tainted by a bed of lies. Having captivated imaginations for more than three hundred years and inspired many stories about pirates, troubling questions remain. Was he really a criminal or is the truth more inconvenient: that he was a buccaneer's worst nightmare, a revered pirate hunter turned fall guy for scheming politicians?

Discover the remarkable life of Daniel Boone... Daniel Boone is one of those figures in American history whose life often intertwines with myths and legends. While numerous tall tales surround this American adventurer, many of his greatest feats are actually true. They are not merely artifacts of folklore—they genuinely happened. Daniel Boone really did blaze a trail through the Cumberland Gap into the western frontier. He really did become initiated as a member of the Shawnee (who gave him the name “Big Turtle”), and he really did serve under Revolutionary War General George Rogers Clark.

In the heart of the Swiss Alps stand the three majestic peaks of the Bernese Oberland, Europe's most famous mountain range. The highest, at 13,638 feet, is the Jungfrau. Next is the Mönch, at 13,465 feet. But it is the smallest, the Eiger, rising 13,038 feet above sea level, that is by far the deadliest.

In June 2023, writer Dan Rubinstein lashed camping gear to his stand-up paddle board and embarked on an improbable solo voyage from Ottawa to Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and back to Ottawa along the rivers, lakes, and canals of a landlocked region. Over 1,200 miles and ten weeks, he explored the healing potential of "blue space"—the aquatic equivalent of green space—and sought out others drawn to their local waters.

At 83 years old, Valerie Taylor has lived a big, bold, adventurous life. Born in Australia, Valerie spent a great deal of her childhood in New Zealand. A talented artist, she dropped out of school when she contracted polio and was saved by Sister Elizabeth Kenny's treatment plan; it was two years before she could walk unaided. When Valerie was 15, she found work as an animator and moved back to Australia with her family. All the while she thrived on being close to the ocean, and was a keen spearfisher.

Deborah Rudell’s world unravels when the leaders of her spiritual commune are exposed, arrested, and imprisoned for bio-terrorism and attempted murder. Crushed and adrift, she moves her family off the commune to create a sense of normalcy. But when her husband seeks an opportunity to dismantle and rebuild a derelict fifty-foot schooner, Deborah uproots their children once again and joins him in Kauai. For the next five years, she dedicates her life to restoring a boat.

Goodbye Mary Lou is at once a tribute to an extraordinary, vivacious woman, adventure story that ends tragically at seventeen thousand feet on fabled Mount Kilimanjaro, a love story of a "perfect" young marriage which struggles, nearly breaks, and regrows stronger than ever, and a spiritual journey of cremation, grieving, desperate loneliness, and surprising contact with Mary Lou after death.

Una historia real de abandono, adopción, trauma y búsqueda de identidad. Encontrado llorando en una casa abandonada, sin nombre, sin explicación, Ernesto Cuevas fue bautizado como “Niño” por el sistema. Así comienza esta poderosa memoria de adopción real, que recorre con crudeza y humanidad el camino de un niño abandonado en busca de pertenencia. Criado en una familia mexicana adoptiva, Ernesto vive entre el amor aparente y el silencio aplastante de los secretos.

What are you dreaming about? Whatever your dreams may be, take care to water the seeds so that your dreams will blossom – revealing the power of your mind. In "Around the World in 800 Days,” I recount how my dream to circumnavigate the globe began stirring during a dark period of my life and then years later blossomed into a reality that was transformative.

This book is not just a collection of words—it is a map of survival, a testament to resilience, and a deep reflection on the journey from brokenness to becoming whole again. It is a journey marked by trauma, loss, pain, and grief—but also by an unwavering hope, a quiet but powerful strength that rises from the ashes of the most difficult chapters of life. If you are holding these pages, you are likely no stranger to suffering. Perhaps, like me, you have weathered storms of abuse, loss, betrayal, or heartache—that seemed impossible to survive.

Embark on a poignant journey through a life marked by devotion, ambition, and fortitude. She grew up in a home where love flourished and a community where Catholic traditions were not just rituals but the fabric of her existence in the quaint town of Turlock, California. Her educational voyage began at Sacred Heart Catholic School, igniting a thirst for knowledge that would sculpt her worldview. The notion that suffering was not merely to be endured, but was a sacred avenue to heaven took root in her soul.

Fünftausend Meter unter uns die salzige Tiefe, vom Cockpit aus sehen wir nichts als die unendliche Weite des Atlantiks. Nur die Avionik und unser Piloten-Know-how trennen uns von den eiskalten Wogen. Hochkonzentriert überwachen wir die Instrumente, während wir auf unser erstes Ziel zusteuern ...

From a young age, I always had a special place in my heart for children. Growing up in metropolitan Detroit, my childhood was marked by the shadows of abuse and neglect. The love I so desperately needed was often out of touch, but it ignited a deep desire to give it to others. I vowed that one day, I would create a safe and nurturing environment for children, filled with the affection I rarely received. At sixteen, my world was turned upside down when I was forced to drop out of school.

This audiobook explores how unexpected meetings with random people or "Plots" can have a positive influence on your life.