The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey | 
 enlarge | Author: Candice Millard
Publisher: Broadway
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Rating:  210 reviews
Sales Rank: 2713
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0767913736
Dewey Decimal Number: 918.113045
EAN: 9780767913737
ASIN: 0767913736
Publication Date: October 10, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth.
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, Candido 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.
From the soaring beauty of the Amazon rain forest to the darkest night of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, here is Candice Millard’s dazzling debut.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 205 more reviews...
 River of Doubt October 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The story of T. Roosevelt's trip down this perilous river was interesting and exciting. It certainly increased my knowledge of this adventuresome man. I would highly recommend it.
River Of Doubt October 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
We thought this was an outstanding book. I read it outloud to my husband.
Each evening, after work, we would have a glass of wine and enjoy "The River of Doubt". It is a non-fiction, but it reads just like a fiction novel. If only our high school history books could read half as well, all of our children would be in love with history!
Although a professional writer for National Geographic, it is hard to believe that this is Candice Millards first book. Her research is unbelievable. Both my husband and I learned many things about the Amazon and Teddy Roosevelt. Three cheers to Ms. Millard ! Don't miss this one !
Betty CampThe River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Teddy tests his doubts; pace cracks like a page-turning novel October 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fastpaced account of the South American River journey that hastened TRs early death a few years later. What started out as a sight-seeing trip turned into a journey of exploration of the River of Doubt--then the official name of a river nearly a thousand miles long that had never been mapped. Ex-President Teddy was invited to make the journey casually by Brazilian politicians, and when he accepted, the team of leaders and Brazilian Telegraph workers ended up on a journey that involved deaths, capsized dugout canoes, and Indian encounters any of which could have left the entire team dead.
As it was, TR became deathly ill from an infection and malaria, and in fact at one point he told the team to go forward without him so he could put himself out of his misery. The team (including TRs own son) refused, and he and the rest just made it out alive.
Millard tells the tale with few wasted words and keeps the pace cracking like a page-turning novel.
A Magnifent Portrayal Of An American Hero October 4, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
How delightful to read of a former president who was truly a man of honor. In Teddy Roosevelt's treacherous expedition down the River Of Doubt, a previously unchartered tributary of the Amazon River, you see a man who consistently could have used his status to gain privilege. However, this Roosevelt, time and again, rather than being an elitist, shows himself to be a true meritocracist, always honoring hard work, determination, and discipline over rank.
The circumstances the men on his expedition found themselves in, constantly tested the metal of each of them. Roosevelt, fell deathly ill. Rather than burden the others, and put them at peril, he decided to take his own life. Realizing the damaging effect his death would have on his son (his son Kermit went on the expedition to protect his father), Roosevelt decided not to take the lethal dose of morphine he brought with him. Despite high fevers, and painful infected abscesses from a former injury, he did all he could to carry his own weight and not burden the other men.
In adventure, after adventure, you will come to love TR, and to see his humanity as it was never before portrayed.
Teddy takes a South American vacation! October 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After Theodore Roosevelt ran and lost the election for President on the Bull Moose ticket in 1912, he felt he needed an adventure into the depths of South America. Indeed TR was prone to these excursions since he was an experienced Cowboy in the West and he had done safaris in Africa.
Candice Millard tells a true story which few people know about. Theodore Roosevelt was looking for adventure in South America. By God he did indeed get the adventure of a lifetime.
Teddy's friend suggested a survey of the Rio da Duvida, The River of Doubt an unchartered capillary of the Amazon River. This area was both treacherous, unmapped and very dangerous. The team he assembled for this expeditionary force was both ill equipped and not familiar in the requirements needed for such a journey.
The President traveled with his son Kermit on this exotic adventure. The travel was organized by Colonel Rondon. The travel was always dangerous and at times reckless. Mr. Roosevelt nearly died of a tropical fever. In the end they indeed did survive thanks in a huge part to the efforts of Colonel Rondon. Less than 7 years later TR Roosevelt would die in his bed at Sagamore Hill, Long Island.
I learned a great deal in Candice Millard's depiction of these South American episodes. Her prose was both informative and very entertaining. Bravo! Five Stars!!
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