The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey (2005)

The River of Doubt—it is a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron.

After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever.

Along the way, Roosevelt and his men faced an unbelievable series of hardships, losing their canoes and supplies to punishing whitewater rapids, and enduring starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder within their own ranks. Three men died, and Roosevelt was brought to the brink of suicide. The River of Doubt brings alive these extraordinary events in a powerful nonfiction narrative thriller that happens to feature one of the most famous Americans who ever lived. ( )

I was very excited to begin this book. Destiny of a Republic by Candice Millard had been a most enjoyable read for me. It engaged me from beginning to end. It was what a book of non-fiction can be but many are not. I enjoy being told a story, whether fiction or non-fiction, and Destiny of a Republic told a story in a way that fully captured my attention. I listened to it on my commute, and I remember that experience, regardless of how my day had gone, of turning on the story and listening non-stop with no need to backtrack. I have been looking forward to more by Candice Millard ever since. The River of Doubt was similarly well researched and the characters drawn well and developed well. It was my first detailed encounter with Theodore Roosevelt and the Amazon, so that was a definite plus. It wasn’t the same experience, though. The story just didn’t carry me along in the same way. Too much rainforest, too much nature, not enough history? A lot of the same story-telling techniques were used that worked so well for me the first time around, but the result wasn’t the same. The story dragged at times and at others it just didn’t capture my attention. It was still good, just not great. ( )

This is a little slow-starting, but once the actual journey begins the book becomes a fascinating read. The conditions they faced, the men's bravery, and the effort the trip took are phenomenal. ( )

This is the type of non-fiction I aspire to write, so thanks to the very talented Candice Millard for giving me a gripping story that taught me a lot about history, geography, character and writing without me feeling like I was in class!

Millard takes readers on an amazing journey and study of Teddy Roosevelt's tenacious character (and the characters of others in his party), the time period and the realities of being an explorer, especially in the unforgiving rain forest. This is a fascinating book that I highly recommend. ( )

Everything you ever wanted or needed to know about south American jungle rain forest, tropical fish, insects, rubber tress, pollinators, and poisonous arrows read this book and indulge yourself!

Exciting and slightly romantic account of Roosevelt 's insatiable appetite for adventure and discovery will keep you up late into the night to finish this page turning account of bravery and questionable sanity of explorers.

Great read. Great adventure. Long live the memory and exploits of one of our most colorful presidents. ( )