Hi everyone. We have some exciting news. The Noiser Network is launching a book series with Penguin Random House.

And guess what? The first one is available to pre-order today. It's called A Short History of Ancient Rome.

It's everything you love about the short history of podcast, but a deeper dive. 18 chapters on 18

colorful characters. Written by Noisy of founder,

Pascal Hughes, the book transforms 1,000 years of history into a riveting and action-packed

account of the birth, rise, and ultimate fall of Rome. You'll follow Hannibal as he crosses

the snow-capped Alps with elephants in tow. Shadow Julius Caesar, as he ponder's weather to cross the Rubicon River,

watch on as Cicero delivers an impassioned speech to the Senate, and meet Queen Zenobia,

who decided she was no longer going to obey Roman rule. A short history of ancient Rome brings the

ancient world to life, the perfect treat for yourself, or a great gift to have up your sleeve for friends and

family. Visit noiser.com forward slash book to find out more. That's noiser.com forward slash book.

It's March the 5th, 2017. Late morning, 14,000 feet up on Pyramid Peak in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

A strong wind swirls around the west face, scattering snow across the rocks.

Distant, dark clouds inch ever closer. A storm is on its way.

Mountain goats are often seen traversing this pristine wilderness. Bald eagles glide overhead, but little else can exist up here.

And yet, this morning, there is another sign of life.

An intrepid soul is negotiating the steep slopes of Pyramid Peak. But this morning there is another sign of life.

An intrepid soul is negotiating the steep slopes of Pyramid Peak.

This is Ryan Montoya, an avid climber all alone grappling with the rocks, hauling himself

upwards.

Snow crumbles and crunches under the 23-year-old's feet as he picks his way across the northwest ridge.

He looks up. There it is, the summit.

...