The River of Doubt

Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

By: Candice Millard

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

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, 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.
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.

Critic reviews

“A rich, dramatic tale that ranges from the personal to the literally earth-shaking.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“[A] fine account . . . There are far too many books in which a travel writer follows in the footsteps of his or her hero—and there are far too few books like this, in which an author who has spent time and energy ferreting out material from archival sources weaves it into a gripping tale.” —The Washington Post

“No frills, high-adventure writing . . . Millard’s sober account is as claustrophobic as a walk through the densest jungle, and as full of vigor as Roosevelt himself.” —Entertainment Weekly

Terrific Story

This is an account of Teddy Roosevelt's search for adventure after leaving the White House. He decides to tackle the charting of "The River of Doubt" an unexplored tributary of the Amazon. This is just a great story which fleshes out the biography of TR that I have carried in my head for so long. The former President, his son, and a partner set out on this "adventure" and all sorts of things happen along the way.

In addition to enlightening the listener about the post-presidential activities of TR, this book is wonderful for two reasons. First, the narration is some of the best that Richard Ferrone has recorded. Second, I purhcased the Abridged version. I usually avoid abridgements because they read like "cut and paste." This abridgement made me wish I had rented the full version.

The final section of the book informs the reader of what happened to TR and his son after the South American exploration. That is quite touching and informative as well.

Hooray for Candic Millard. I hope that she authors much more to come.

TR, Indy, and Lost City of Z

Anyone fascinated with Theodore Roosevelt, Indiana Jones, or The Lost City of Z will like this story of TR's research trip for natural history. Millard is as good as David McCullough.

River of Doubt

Usually I do not write reviews, but in this case I felt an obligation to tell all who would like a suspense filled biography from beginning to end, that this is it. Betond the suspense there are bits and pieces of human interaction that Candice Millard picks up. This was the best book that I have ever heard or read and one that I didn't want it to end. Beyond the drama of the event (exploration of an Amazon tributary) the writing style and narration was key to keeping my interest. I cannot wait for the next Millard book.

Interesting

Truth stranger than fiction. Hard to believe but true. Ted Roosevelt quite a man of his time!

Couldn't put it down!

This is a wonderfully written book about an amazing adventure - a journey down an uncharted and unexplored river of the Brazilian rain forest, led by the middle-aged ex-president of the United States. The explorers encountered privation, injury, disease and death in seeking the river's outlet to the Amazon; the two-month journey was nearly Roosevelt's last.