In 2001, while climbing the treacherous K2 in the Himalayas, outdoorsman and online entrepreneur Jackson rescued his injured guide by carrying him to safety for five days under exceptionally dangerous conditions. This life-changing incident motivated Jackson, founder of Europe's largest online retailer of outdoor products, to write a guide to achieving personal success. He looks back at some of those he considers "history's heroes" to discover what characteristics enabled them to transform the world, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Hannibal, William the Conqueror, and Queen Elizabeth the first.