Not Sure I'd Call it Great . . .

This exhaustively researched book tells you all (and I mean all) about the British Arctic Air Route Expedition (B.A.A.R.E.), with a goal to explore, of course, but also to make air travel possible over the Arctic between the United States and England/European the 1930s. The spearheading wunderkind of this endeavor was Henry George Watkins ("Gino"), the rakish, devil-may-care phenom who seemed to be oblivious to fear or limitations. He (and his crew) were truly amazing, brave (or foolish, depending on one's mindset) and creative. I enjoyed learning about their incredible resourcefulness, and some of the truly amazing miracles that took place during their treks, but there was a lot of detail. A lot. I guess maybe that's important for feeling the feeling of being trapped in a tent in the Arctic for months, waiting for salvation . I surely felt the loneliness and dull panic. But I also looked longingly at my other books, hoping one of them would rescue me too. A great book for natural history and exploration buffs. For the rest of us, good information, but maybe take a speed reading class first.