Not surprisingly, most of the stories focus on personal adventure and exploration, but there are also several that deal with war or science. Among the most notable articles are the tale of a medical team fighting a deadly Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda and an up-close narrative of Afghan warlords fighting the Taliban. There are also harrowing accounts of sea canoeing among the Aleutian Islands, rowing up India's mighty Ganges and trekking across the great void of the Sahara.

This is a fine anthology that brings to life experiences that most of us, comfortably ensconced among modern-day amenities like air travel, hotels and Wi-Fi, will likely never have.