Around the World in 50 Years

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This inspiring story chronicles the journey of an ordinary man who achieved two seemingly impossible goals. He first set a record for the longest automobile journey around the world, navigating through minefields, surviving a serious accident atop the Peak of Death, and narrowly escaping a lynching in Pakistan. Along the way, he lost three of his five companions—two to illness and one to the Vietcong. After an arduous forty-seven years, he accomplished another record by visiting every country on Earth, facing riots, revolutions, civil wars, and dangerous encounters with armed child soldiers and corrupt officials. He braved natural disasters, including earthquakes and cyclones, while sampling an array of unusual foods, from old camel meat to the brain of a live monkey. His adventures included close calls with crocodiles, hippos, and anacondas, as well as challenges posed by several girlfriends who urged him to settle down. This remarkable tale showcases quiet courage, persistence, and a knack for escaping perilous situations, all while delivering some of the most memorable, frightening, and humorous stories imaginable.