The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen

Spellbinding. Occasionally bordering on hagiographic, but only briefly and even then (IMO) forgivably: some people truly are larger than life. It would be dishonest to pretend otherwise.

Amundsen was a fascinating man, living during the end of one age and the beginning of a new one. Most remarkable not for his strength of character but for his ability to observe and adapt and learn: Arctic survival from the Inuit; the importance of personality in small teams; the unfortunate realities of dealing with media in a shrinking world.

Well written, organized, researched. Gripping: I had a hard time putting it down. Insightful and rewarding. Much, much more than a story about a man: it's a rich look at a different time (and world), when there were still places left unexplored, still Adventures to be had.