There are countless books on Christopher Columbus, and it comes with good reason, he was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

“By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination,” he remarked. In order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of history’s most consequential figures to explore the treacherous unknown, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best books on Christopher Columbus.