We all know that you can’t change your genes, but the latest science is increasingly revealing that you can affect the way they express. For adventurer Peter van Kets, this understanding reveals a profound truth: that you can actively cultivate resilience, perhaps the most important character trait for success in today’s world. The proof is literally in his DNA. As an endurance athlete, Peter has repeatedly proven that he has what it takes to endure the toughest adventure challenges. Perhaps surprisingly, he has always claimed that this resilience is not innate; that he has learnt how to develop it over time.

In his second book, Grin & Bear It!, Peter reveals how a genetics analysis showed this to be true; he has, in fact, had to defy his genetic predispositions to complete the incredible physical and mental feats on his resume. So, how has he conquered some of the most extreme conditions on earth, whether rowing across the Atlantic on his own, battling to the South Pole, or adventuring through Africa?

In this book, he lays out his formula: success in today’s world is based on resilience (a.k.a. grit, endurance or resolve ), which is fuelled primarily by passion. Since the arrival of Covid-19, people everywhere have had to dig deep in order to survive the uncertainly in their personal and business lives. Never before has the power of resilience been so vital. Grin & Bear It! shows that you don’t have to be born with it: you too can stimulate the passion needed not just to endure, but to conquer today’s significant challenges.