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Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World (Resilience) Paperback – July 24, 2021

by Brad Borkan (Author), David Hirzel (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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What do you do when someone tells you, “It can’t be done”?
Here is the extraordinary story of three people — Amundsen, Brunel and Teddy Roosevelt — an explorer, an engineer and a statesman — who repeatedly proved their critics wrong. To them bullets, blizzards, fires, floods, and other setbacks were all part of a day’s work.

Roald Amundsen — the famed Norwegian explorer
Isambard Kingdom Brunel — the greatest engineer the world has ever seen
Teddy Roosevelt — the cowboy turned statesman

Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results reveals the outsized risks and setbacks each faced in their desire to change the world.

Diving into the triumphs that turned these everyday men into legendary champions, this book takes you up close and personal to the challenges they encountered in bringing their greatest endeavors to life, including:

· Brunel’s Great Western Railway,
· Amundsen’s quests for the Northwest Passage and the South Pole, and
· Roosevelt’s creation of US national parks.

This book reveals the compelling nature of the three men and their endeavors, and puts you in the middle of the fray – revealing the flaws in the men and their plans, as they strive against all odds to make the world better.

If you like authors like Malcolm Gladwell or Bill Bryson, you will love Borkan and Hirzel's unforgettable portrayals of the larger-than-life explorer, engineer and statesman highlighted in Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results.

Praise for this book:
"Audacious Goals Remarkable Results is shot through with what is rapidly becoming the authors’ trademark - high octane excitement in learning lessons from great people.” Stephen Scott-Fawcett, historian.

“Deeply fascinating. I found it gripping, exhilarating and inspiring.” Sir Ranulph Fiennes, world’s greatest living Polar explorer.

Awards:
Winner: Wishing Shelf Book Awards for Non-Fiction (Bronze award)
Short-List: Chanticleer International Book Awards for Insightful Non-Fiction
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  1. Part of series
    Resilience
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 24, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1945312149
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1945312144
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brad Borkan has always been fascinated with how people and businesses can make better decisions. With a graduate degree in Decision Sciences, this London-based Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society has presented at business and Antarctic conferences, appeared on US-based cable TV, and on numerous historical and business-focused podcasts. Brad's expertise lies in the themes of leadership, teamwork, and winning against the odds.

David Hirzel is a maritime historian and author. His passion is early Antarctic exploration, expressed in his books such as the Sailor on Ice series about Tom Crean, one of Shackleton's hardiest men. When not writing or sailing in San Francisco Bay, David pursues his career in residential architecture. David is a popular guest lecturer for Viking and other cruise lines.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Terra Nova Press (July 24, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1945312149
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1945312144
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Brad Borkan

Brad Borkan

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Brad Borkan has a lifelong fascination in how people make decisions.

He is co-author of two books:

"When Your Life Depends on It: Extreme Decision Making Lessons from the Antarctic".

"Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results: How an Explorer, an Engineer and a Statesman shaped our Modern World".

The first book, When Your Life Depends on It, focuses on the real life-and-death decisions made by early Antarctic explorers, and reveals what we can learn from their situations to help us make better decisions in our modern lives.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world's greatest living explorer, endorsed the book describing it as "Remarkable". The book won 1st Place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards for insightful Non-fiction. It was also a Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for non-fiction. The audiobook was a finalist in the Voice Arts Awards "Best Audiobook - History category".

The second book, Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results, describes three extraordinary people -- the explorer Roald Amundsen, the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the statesman Theodore Roosevelt -- and their six monumental projects. It shows how the desire to "dare mighty things" can overcome all obstacles. Sir Ranulph Fiennes described it as "Gripping, exhilarating and inspiring."

Brad has a graduate degree in Decision Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He has presented at business and Antarctic conferences, appeared on cable TV, and has been interviewed on a variety of podcasts. He also has given keynote presentations at business conferences and has lectured on an Antarctic cruise ship. His talks focus on leadership, teamwork, decision making and winning against the odds.

Brad's website is www.extreme-decisions.com.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David A. Goldfarb
5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars. – Fascinating, Enjoyable and Thought-provoking
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
Definitely a fascinating, enjoyable and thought-provoking book. It really captured my attention, so much so that I read it in two days. The stories were compelling and well written. The book is well-designed and the photos add a valuable visual touch.

While I was generally familiar with the accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt and Roald Amundsen, I had known absolutely nothing about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the third focus of the book. I was struck by how much of an innovator he was in the construction of railways, tunnels, bridges and ships. He may not be well known in the US, but in his native UK he finished second to Churchill as the greatest Briton of all times in a BBC poll.

Happy to recommend this book highly to anyone with an interest in fascinating, flawed people, and how they strived to make great things happen.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Astoundingly interesting
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
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A very well researched and well written book. Learned a lot of about the 3 men featured , their ideas, their perseverance, their inventiveness. I never really understood why Theodore Roosevelt was on Mount Rushmore, I understand now. I did not know Roosevelt was the first sitting president to leave the country which he did because he wanted to oversee the building of the Panama Canal.

These men were definitely responsible for being leaders in their fields, and built things that have stood the test of time

Definitely the best book I have read this year
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun and intriguing history book that reads almost like a novel
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book is such a fun read for anyone, history buff, business professional, or student. The subjects chosen for this book are fascinating, somewhat flawed human beings who are not afraid to try and try again. Good on the writers and editors for making this so intriguing - a real page turner even if you know much of the stories already.
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Peter Kranzler
5.0 out of 5 stars read this book to learn things you never knew
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021
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The lives and achievements of the remarkable men which are described in this book have been (mostly) lost to history but are astounding nonetheless. The book is well written and a fairly quick read. The applications to everyday decision making are apt and helpful. I got a lot from this book. You will too.
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Eric F.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
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Everything arrived on time and as advertised
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June
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable and entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2021
This book ostensibly is about leadership, risk and decision making but for me the most fascinating aspects are the immensely entertaining stories of three of the most determined, courageous men in history: Isambard Kingdom Brunel ( of whom I knew nothing), Theodore Roosevelt (of whom I thought I knew enough) and Roald Amundsen (of whom I learned from Brad Borkin’s earlier book When Your Life Depends on It). I was particularly absorbed in the story of Brunel the engineer whose work altered the course of history and even influenced standardized time through sheer boldness and indefatigable faith in his vision. There are parallels between the three men and the early life influences leading to their single-minded sense of purpose and destiny. It left me wondering if theirs are qualities that can be cultivated and learned by all who set their mind to it or are bestowed on a rare few as a blessing of birth.
This book has renewed my curiosity in the characteristics of the heroic. There are many women who have been trail blazers and impacted the course of history! I look forward to Borkan’s and Hirzel’s revelations about them.
One person found this helpful
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Rich Blumberg, President, World Sales Solutions, LLC | Drexel University Alumni Board of Governors Emeritus
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Innovators, Entrepreneurs, and Achievers
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2021
Today many of us strive for high levels of achievement whether as students, business owners, or employees of great organizations. The more we learn from history the more we can benefit from it.

In Amundsen, Brunel, and Roosevelt we may or may not know their stories, but their achievements are legendary. Back in the day they were pioneers with amazing accomplishments: digging the Thames Tunnel; building railways; establishing National Parks; deploying the Panama Canal; and exploring the South Pole.

What skills, attributes, and BOLD ideas enabled these pioneers to succeed while others fell short? How can we apply these success stories to TODAY, and allow them to inspire us to think BIG. and make our mark in our daily lives, professions, and volunteer activities?

Having read their first book, "When Your Life Depends on It" and now with the new one, "Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results" just purchased and in my hands, I'm excited to go beyond the cover and first few pages, to dig into these remarkable feats.

Looking forward to learning how these adventures shaped the modern world, and HOW we can do the same.
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E. McNulty
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched, fascinating read
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2021
I was curious about how the authors would weave together the stories of three seemingly disconnected people. They did it beautifully. I only knew a bit about Amundsen (from Borkan and Hirzel's earlier book), nothing of Brunel, and a good bit out Teddy Roosevelt. I learned a lot about all three, and am glad that I did. The book moves at a fast clip as the stories are well-researched and well-told.

There are many lessons in these pages. Perhaps most lasting for me is how much of what one now takes for granted are the legacy of three larger-than-life characters. They each had a vision, immersed themselves in the details, and put themselves at risk to achieve their goals. This is fascinating history that is also relevant today.
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Top reviews from other countries

Cathy Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars Educational, Motivational and thoroughly Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
I have just finished reading this fascinating insight into three men who changed the world through sheer determination, an adventurous spirit and life skills.

Brad and David have produced a simple, no frills, well written book which is an easy and enjoyable read. As a UK resident, I came away feeling proud that my little country produced such an inspiring man as Brunel. We have all heard of him and probably unknowingly rode trains or boats over and under bridges he built and still do. He is a legend but seeing the list of his achievements still made me think how on earth did one man do all this? Likewise with Roosevelt who I knew hardly anything about, except as a US president. He again helped change the world and the way we trade and also the way we think about conservation.
Amundsen, the Norwegian was probably the one I knew more about as I have an interest in all things polar but indeed there was much more to this great adventurer.

This is the second book by Brad and David and a good companion to the first which deals mainly with decisions made by the iconic polar explorers. Again, you read a chapter and then there are questions which almost involve you in the whole process. This is a great book for motivating professionals in business but also can be taken on a more personal level.

When I finished the book, I wanted to know more and at the back there is a whole list of recommended reading or videos to help you continue on your journey of discovery.
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Nasel J
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and inspiring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed the lessons that the authors pull from historical figures and their achievements. There's so much be learnt from their ambition, risk-taking, and decisions. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to develop their decision-making skills and wanting to succeed in life!
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Nasel J
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and inspiring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2023
Really enjoyed the lessons that the authors pull from historical figures and their achievements. There's so much be learnt from their ambition, risk-taking, and decisions. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to develop their decision-making skills and wanting to succeed in life!
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