A perfect book for reading while waiting for a bus on a particularly cold winter day. You will suddenly find that the few minutes of cold that you are suffering are not so bad when compared to months or years of being stranded in the Arctic. This is not only the story of Andree's failed balloon expedition to the North Pole, as there are several other accounts of Arctic expeditions involving unexpected mishaps. This also sparked a desire in me to ride on a hot air balloon and eat a polar bear cub.