Book excerpt: As the culminating volume of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Jr.’s renowned expeditions, this is the comprehensive autobiography of a man who knew no limits. From his earliest days as a Navy pilot in training, to his controversial flights to the North and South Poles, his lifelong passion for exploration, and his trailblazing quests across the Antarctic continent, Admiral Byrd was a man who stared down long odds, harsh climates, and harrowing landscapes, conquering them all with bravery now immortalized in American lore and legend. Reissued for today’s readers, Admiral Byrd’s classic explorations by land, air, and sea transport us to the farthest reaches of the globe. As companions on Byrd’s journeys, modern audiences experience the polar landscape through Byrd’s own struggles, doubts, revelations, and triumphs and share the excitement of these timeless adventures.