The author tells how he set out with the intention of becoming the first person to climb the highest peak in each of the world's seven continents, unaccompanied. Late in 1995 he hoped to complete the feat by reaching the summit of Everest without oxygen (only two people had ever achieved this), but after several attempts he was foiled by atrocious weather. This is not just an account of the climbs, but an often humorous travel book, ranging from the plains of Africa to the snows of Antarctica.