Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age

4.6 | 144 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 06-11-2024

Top reviews from the United States

Eric

Time for an Artic Adventure

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023

I needed some adventure in my life and was glad to get it in this riveting book. What an incredible life Freuchen had, from Arctic explorer to Hollywood writer to Danish freedom fighter. Freuchen is a very interesting and complicated character, who seemed to love nothing more than going somewhere else. I found the portraits of those Freuchen met to be really well drawn out, and quite realistic -- very much how things tend to happen in real life. It's hard to comprehend what it'd take to survive in the Artic as long as he did, but he clearly handled his interactions with others in an enlightened way in comparison to his time. I have to say, my favorite part was the even-handed debunking of some of the tall-tales in his life, like the "Frozen Poop Chisels" escape from the snow and the not-so-daring release from a Nazi prison, both flagged by the NYTimes. But the real heart of the book is that adventure isn't just what happens on the outside, but what happens on the inside. I don't agree entirely with the WPost review about introspection--there is a lot of show, not tell, here. Whether it's how to survive extreme isolation in the Artic or running refugees out of his Danish Farm, it's clear that Freuchen understood what it meant to be human. He caught on to the failures of the Soviet system much earlier than most, and also treated the Inuit inhabitants of the Arctic as fellow travelers in this world; he certainly embraced their culture. If Freuchen can teach us anything, it's that we don't have all the answers ourselves, but maybe those answers are still out there, and the next person we meet in this big, blue world can help us find them--or at least discuss them together after meeting on an icy ship, a shaky train, or a long walk. They say it's not the destination, but the journey--and what a journey this book was. Well worth the time!

JohnWells

Good Biography

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2024

Def kept my interest 5 stars. Enjoyed the book.

John M.

A Very Good Book On A Very Fascinating Man

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023

Very readable book on a subject I knew nothing about. A truly fascinating man, and as the author notes, '...when you shake that man's hand, you knew that you had really met someone'.
Unfortunately, the author lets his own political views leak out on occasion (e.g. "queer" culture), which jarred this reader away from the narrative. That being said, this really is a good book about a great personality.

Denise Walker

"Wanderlust is an unforgettable tale of daring and discovery"--A book easily to remembered!

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024

Love the level of adventure and history of the geography and people of Greenland. Terrific adventure story--reveals so much of the people who lived in Greenland before any other people.

Troy Keene

Superb story!

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023

A surprising tale that spans the turn of the 20th century, the exploration of Greenland, world wars, the beginning of Hollywood. All this through the eyes of Peter Freuchen! Very well written by Reid Mitenbuler.

DRW

An entertaining and engaging biography of an eccentric and complicated character

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023

This book is fantastic, easily one of my new favorites. I was honestly expecting to not enjoy this book, because I'm not all that excited about either horrid winters or Greenland, but I suspected there had to be more than just a few fascinating things about this Peter Freuchen character. It didn't take long to get hooked on his story and my curiosity kept me engaged, which is exactly what you hope for in a book, complete with with lively details and unexpected turns. A note at the conclusion explains that there was a vast amount of original written material left behind by Freuchen that enabled the author to illustrate scenes with incredible details - including sights, sounds, and sometimes scents. It's this kind of depth that enables the reader to connect with a slice of the past and the central characters in a very nuanced way. Highly recommend!

Helton

The iconic picture on the book's cover sums it up (in the best of ways)

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023

Like Mitenbuler, I first saw this picture and thought, "Who is THAT?"

It's a behemoth of a tale (and life): One of the last of his kind, Freuchen might be one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century. Eccentric certainly describes him, but he also represents that storybook-level heroism that you have a hard time ever believing was completely real. Sure, there's bound to be embellishments, but Mitenbuler finds a way to keep those sorts of details taut and indicates them as they come at you.

The book never drags, it combs through history while giving great context, and it's a legitimate page-turner. It's bound to be one of the great books of its category in 2023, and I'm supremely happy to know the story behind the famous photo.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance read.

Hitderem

The Most interesting person you’ve never heard of

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024

Very enjoyable read. An ethical explorer who went for the adventure, not the glory.

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