Peter Freuchen first rose to prominence as an Arctic explorer in the early twentieth century, but during his long adventurous life he wore many other hats, becoming a best-selling author, working in Hollywood, and being imprisoned in a Nazi prison camp for being a member of the resistance.

I like exploration stories. They introduce you to an old world that no longer exists, they have the kinds of details that boggle the mind, and are usually populated with exactly the eccentric kinds of people you'd imagine enjoy traveling to the most challenging and remote places on the planet. As such, I was perfectly happy to settle down with this comprehensive biography of Peter Freuchen.

I'd never heard of Freuchen before, and as I began to read it became perfectly clear why - though he led a long and adventurous life, he often played second-fiddle on expeditions and things to better publicized explorers. Still, I became fond of his larger-than-life personality and commitment to his personal values. The author goes into depth about his personal life and relationships, showing how deeply he became entrenched in Greenland.

However, I did wish the author had grappled more with the negative aspects of Freuchen's life. While we spend plenty of time discussing his forward-thinking nature and positive points (of which there are plenty), any grey-shaded or negative aspects (how he did not raise his own children for long periods of time, his expectation that Inuit women during the filming of Eskimo should have been sexually receptive to him, etc.) were not really dug into or discussed, making me feel a bit robbed of a more well-rounded and therefore more interesting portrait of the man.

I had never heard of Freuchen—another larger than life character/explorer/adventurer/author lost to history. Thanks to Mitenbutler for bringing him to the modern world’s attention in this well written and fascinating biography. They say they don’t make ‘em anymore like they used to and this really applies to Freuchen- a giant of a man whose exploits would make a great novel or adventure movie. Highly recommended for those looking for a biography of a fascinating, lost to history explorer.

Interesting, unique person.
But the book needs some serious editing.
The whole thing seems disconnected. It doesn't flow into a unified whole.

I had never heard of this amazing character and feel that I'm now an expert! I loved the first half, but then had to take a long break and had trouble getting back into it.

Reid Mitenbuler introduces us to Peter Freuchen, one of the last great Arctic explorers. Though this is not a name well known in the western hemisphere, Mitenbuler successfully paints the picture of a very much larger than life adventurer, a man who's life spanned the golden age of exploration through the early days of Hollywood-- and managed to somehow be a part of it all. He was in turns a technician/stoker on a ship heading to the Arctic, a founder of a Greenland trading station, an anthropologist, journalist, actor, writer, public speaker, a member of the Danish resistance, and early environmentalist.

Truly well researched, documented, and very entertaining, Peter Freuchen comes to life in the appropriately titled "Wanderlust".

Updated review now that Harper Collins Union has received a contract.

Fantastic! I’ve seen the picture on the book over so many times and wondered the story behind it and it’s certainly did not disappoint. This is a biography, so of course it’s full of facts and written in a certain way to give those facts. But! Between Reid Mitenbuler’s writing style and the subject himself, this reads as close to an adventure novel as a biography can get. I cannot recommend it enough. Peter Freuchen is a fascinating man who seems (and is) larger than life, completely unreal. I really enjoyed this book, truly an unforgettable reading experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of Arctic/Antarctic literature. Every now and again, I wonder if I will get sick of these adventures. Honestly, sooner or later you can only read the word "pemmican" so many times before you lose your mind.

Then a book like Wanderlust by Reid Mitenbuler arrives and makes you feel like a fool for every doubting how exciting travel in extreme environments can be. Now, before you write this book off by saying this isn't your thing, I would like to point out a few things. Namely, the subject of the book, Peter Freuchen was the following things: Arctic explorer, writer, reporter, game show contestant, Danish resistance fighter, actor, and MacGyver in one of the grossest stories I have ever read in my life. Everyone likes at least one of those things.

Mitenbuler writes a book which feels effortlessly short while containing an increasingly insane amount of varied stories. And yet, I also felt like Mitenbuler could have easily written 1,000 pages on Freuchen and not gotten all of it in. The book is very well written, but even Mitenbuler would probably admit, once he chose Freuchen, the hard part was already over. It's great and you should read it, no matter who you are.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Mariner Books. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 3/2/2023.)

Dane Peter Freuchen lived quite the enchanted life. At a young age he decided to join the list of arctic explorers forging new paths and discovery at the North Pole. After suffering from frostbite and loosing part of his leg, he continued to speak write books and tell his exotic stories. During WWII, he defied Hitler by hiding Jews and providing them with money to escape. Afterwards, he caught the attention of Hollywood, and wrote screenplays and advised on adventure movies.

This book was absolutely fascinating. I can't believe I've never heard of Freuchen before. His life, filled with many twists and turns, is one of legends. I also enjoyed reading about the Inuit lifestyle, one I've heard of, but knew almost nothing about. The book itself was well paced and well written. I found myself reading long into the night. I can't wait to read more from this author! Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this biography on an extraordinary man, his times adventures, loves, losses and lust for live and living.

As the world gets smaller so do the adventures. There aren't many places on Earth that remain unexplored, and if they are it is probably because of war, or just sheer difficulty of making a profit. Life changes quite quickly, which was noticed by the subject of this book. From being out in the wilderness of Greenland alone, with sketchy mail service that might be months late, to radios reaching the shore, to seeing the climate, cultural and physical landscape be altered in ways that he thought would take hundreds of years, but changed in his life time. Peter Freuchen saw quite a lot of the world, from trading furs to writing screenplays, and winning game shows. Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age by Reid Mitenbuler is a biography of a man who never settled for ordinary in life, his loves, his mistakes and in his many explorations.

Peter Freuchen was born in Denmark of parents who took a hands-off approach to parenting, teaching young Peter to think and do things independently, and to learn from his own mistakes. Tall, strong, good looking with a weird sense of humor, and a sense that life was more than he was seeing, he charmed his way into an early expedition of the far North, and never looked back. Freuchen fell in love with the people, literally, the land the climate, and the feeling that he was doing something important, even if he was alone on the ice for months at a time, slowly going a little batty. Working as a fur trader and explorer, Freuchen married, had children and was soon widowed. An long night on the ice cost him first toes, than a foot, but did nothing to stop him. Soon he was remarried, exploring the wilds of Canada, working in Hollywood and protecting refugees from the Nazis. And winning prizes on television game shows.

This is one of the biggest most interesting biographies about a man I had never heard of but know can't wait to tell others about. What a person, and what a life that was lived. Explorer, writer, screenwriter, actor, enemy to the Nazis, even interested in climate change. Freuchen had almost a Zelig-like life, knowing not only explorers, but Prime Ministers, directors, actors, other writers, and again being on the Nazi enemy list. Mitenbuler does an amazing job of telling and keeping the story on tract, really getting into the head of Freuchen and making readers care not only about him, but the people he cares about. The writing is very good, Mitenbuler never loses the narrative, nor does anything ever drag. Each page has fascinating facts and figures and really brings the world the Freuchen lived in to life. A very fascinating book.

This is the second book that I have read by Reid Mitenbuler and I really enjoyed it. A life in full captured well on paper, with a pace that makes it very hard to put the book down. Freuchen lived such a diverse life, that Mitenbuler had to know a little bit about a lot of things, and conveys that to the reader quite well. Recommended for people who like biographies on people who did great things, for fans of Arctic exploration, even fans of Hollywood and the making of films. This is the book you buy for someone that has a lot of interests and loves to learn more. A great Father's Day kind of book.

Like Mitenbuler, I first saw this picture and thought, "Who is THAT?"

It's a behemoth of a tale (and life): One of the last of his kind, Freuchen might be one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century. Eccentric certainly describes him, but he also represents that storybook-level heroism that you have a hard time ever believing was completely real. Sure, there's bound to be embellishments, but Mitenbuler finds a way to keep those sorts of details taut and indicates them as they come at you.

The book never drags, it combs through history while giving great context, and it's a legitimate page-turner. It's bound to be one of the great books of its category in 2023, and I'm supremely happy to know the story behind the famous photo.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance read.

Fabulous. A romp through early explorer days in the turn of the 20th century, equal mix Arctic explorer Adventure Club and eccentric with too much gusto to stay out in any one place for long. I found this to be a fascinating, compelling read from start to finish.

Wanderlust is the biography of Peter Freuchen, a Danish medical student turned arctic explorer . Later in life he became a prolific author and lecturer.. The story begins in the early 1900’s and continues until Freuchen’s death in 1956. Many biographies tend to be dry and lose the reader’s interest, but Wanderlust reads like a novel.