TJ Halbertsma is the living equivalent of Superman – one moment Clark Kent; in a suit and tie, commuting to work in an office, in his own words, “just an ordinary guy”. Next, spinning through an imaginary revolving door and you find the same person achieving extraordinary feats. From climbing some of the most notoriously dangerous mountains such as the Eiger and Denali, to crossing the English Channel on a stand-up paddleboard, walking to both Poles and ‘escaping’ from Alcatrez. 

Success hasn’t always come easily and the author extols the virtues of grit, resilience and commitment. In his book,‘Many Worlds to Conquer’, this remarkable dutchman recounts some of these true life adventures and, in his humility as ‘an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things’, makes his stories all the more inspiring, thrilling – and, relatable.