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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | In a gripping account, Millard focuses on an episode in Teddy Roosevelt's search for adventure that nearly came to a disastrous end. A year after Roosevelt lost a third-party bid for the White House in 1912, he decided to chase away his blues by accepting an invitation for a South American trip that quickly evolved into an ill-prepared journey down an unexplored tributary of the Amazon known as the River of Doubt. The small group, including T.R.'s son Kermit, was hampered by the failure to pack enough supplies and the absence of canoes sturdy enough for the river's rapids. An injury Roosevelt sustained became infected with flesh-eating bacteria and left the ex-president so weak that, at his lowest moment, he told Kermit to leave him to die in the rainforest. Millard, a former staff writer for National Geographic, nails the suspense element of this story perfectly, but equally important to her success is the marvelous amount of detail she provides on the wildlife that Roosevelt and his fellow explorers encountered on their journey, as well as the cannibalistic indigenous tribe that stalked them much of the way.
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Candice Millard | | Paperback: | 432 pages | | Publisher: | Broadway | | Publication Date: | October 10, 2006 | | ISBN: | 0767913736 | | Package Length: | 7.9 inches | | Package Width: | 5.1 inches | | Package Height: | 1.0 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.7 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 204 reviews |
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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 The River of Doubt Has Many Tributaries Aug 29, 2008
This fascinating account of Theodore Roosevelt's disastrous trip on the River of Doubt is well-written and meticulously researched. It has many "micro histories" on the flora and fauna of Brazil (hint: don't read this outside around a lot of bugs) as well as the native peoples of the region. My only frustration had to do with all the diversions when, on a few occasions, I just wanted to find out what happened next. The epilogue tells the reader the sometimes tragic personal stories once the journey ended and was one of the portions of the book that I shall remember the most. I read this as a book club assignment and we had a lengthy and lively discussion on Roosevelt, his son, and the men who played such a critical part of their journey. If you like a lot of detail in harrowing stories of exploration and adventure, this would be a perfect choice.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Wonderful Read Aug 28, 2008
Wonderful Read
Candice Millard's book about Theodore Roosevelt's darkest journey, The River of Doubt, is absolutely superb. 5+ stars. Not only does Ms. Millard's work read like a suspense thriller, but it is very informative, highly educational and all true as well. The book is about Teddy Roosevelt's nearly disastrous exploration of the then unknown Amazon after his humiliating presidential defeat in 1912. During the difficult journey both TR and his son Kermit almost die while most in the expedition feared they ALL would. It is an amazing and educational book not only about TR the man, but also about the mysterious, dangerous, unknown Amazon of 1914. It is the best non-fiction book I've read in the last few years.
Ms. Millard writes in a very engaging style. Very well documented, The River of Doubt presents this extreme exploration challenge of a then unknown Amazon tributary in such a way as to reel the reader into the heart of the adventure. You actually feel as if you are on the trek along with Teddy Roosevelt and the other explorers. Feeling their heartaches, emotional swings, fears, and physical victories and failures, you root for their success. As the expedition nears disaster and TR faces death, the expedition finally reaches the outside world and success.
An amazing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I heartily recommend this superb book. It is one of the best biographical works I have read in several years.
Enjoy.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Best book I've read in a long time Aug 18, 2008
If the events in this book weren't so well documented I would have accused the author of making them up to increase the drama. I haven't been so engaged in a story in a long time.
An amazing story, extremely well excuted by the author.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Rich Guys do Dumb Stuff --Surprise? Aug 14, 2008
I really looked forward to this book and will give it kudos for being nicely written. Quite frankly though I found the story lame. It follows the poor planning, bad decision making, and vast ego of Teddy Roosevelt. He picks the wrong people and endangers many others for an expedition that if anyone else were involved the book would be called Fools Rush In. Right from the start you know their doomed and sure enough its let the suffering begin. By the time the book was over I hoped never to hear another thing about good old Teddy and his over indulged family again. He stands despite attempts in the book to make him bigger than life an exploded ego driven by celebrity. If your a Teddy fan I'd pass on this book. If you like reading about people making really dumb decisions (ie picking a guy who failed at an artic expedition to plan you tropical one) and almost dying from them then this is the book for you.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Like watching the history channel Jul 31, 2008
I first bought this for my brother in law, and he couldn't stop raving about it. I had planned on buying myself a copy at some point anyway, but after hearing him talk about it, I decided to buy it a little sooner than planned. I wasn't sure what to expect from it, but it turned out to be a very good read. It's not written as an adventure novel - It's simply a play-by-play of what happened, and what some of the participants wrote about it. One could liken it to watching something on the History Channel - basically just giving the facts, but less dry than being told in a textbook. The passages of quoted letters, etc. work like the personal commentaries would - just giving a little extra insight to what the people were feeling. What I really liked about it though, was that it didn't focus solely on Roosevelt and his party - you also were given insight into the previously unknown inhabitants of the rainforest (both people and animals). The author also didn't try to paint the native people as "savages". While their violent acts were depicted, their reasons for such were explained. Their way of life, of "kill or be killed" was how they survived the violent unpredictable world around them. I think Millard did a wonderful job with this book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's even remotely interested in history.
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