One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey (Annivers by Sam Keith

Jan 08, 2009

Toni marked it as to-read

Jason and I bought these books for our dads last year after we saw the PBS special, which was awesome. Dads loved the books and sent them back to us to read. Jason just finished it and suddenly has ideas about building all of our own furniture from FS land scraps. If we were living in a rustic log cabin, I'd be all for it. But, just can't see it fitting into our modular home decor. True, true the odyssey adds to the growing list of reasons to get to AK.

If you promise to send it bac...more

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Sep 02, 2009

Consuela rated it

This book is the log of Dick Proenneke's 18 months living in the wilderness of Alaska. During this time he built a log cabin completely by himself with hand tools. The book started out a little dry for me because it's pretty much a very short summary (I believe there is a fuller version of his diaries, but this one has been edited) of his day to day work on the cabin and changes in the weather and landscape as the seasons change, as well as animal sightings. But it really grows on you. While I a...moreThis book is the log of Dick Proenneke's 18 months living in the wilderness of Alaska. During this time he built a log cabin completely by himself with hand tools. The book started out a little dry for me because it's pretty much a very short summary (I believe there is a fuller version of his diaries, but this one has been edited) of his day to day work on the cabin and changes in the weather and landscape as the seasons change, as well as animal sightings. But it really grows on you. While I am not even tempted to rough it, especially in winter temperatures of -75 (!!!) I really appreciate that someone is secure enough that he can live by himself for over a year without any modern conveniences or company or news sources (and this was in the 1970s before the internet). You have to be comfortable with your own thoughts, that's for sure, -- something we are all challenged with because of the constant barrage of interruptions which we allow into our lives. His regard for the animal life was very touching. While he did hunt for his own meat, he would dress it and conserve it the proper way and used every bit of it, giving the parts he couldn't use (although the man could use just about every part of the animal for something!) to the birds and other "camp robbers" as he called them. He fished too but once he caught a trout that was so colorful and beautiful he put it back, even though he was very hungry for some fish. He made his own furniture, dishes, utensils -- everything. He did get supplies flown in from a friend every few months, but the visits were very short -- pretty much "here's your stuff" and then he would fly out again.

In one scene he stumbles upon a caribou mother and very young calf which are being chased by a bear. The bear was going after the calf but changed course and pursued the mother. Dick decided to take the calf home to his cabin because he figured the mother probably didn't make it. He fed it a mixture of various things and the calf seemed to be doing fine. He took it back to the original site the next day and saw evidences that the mother had been back to look for it, but not finding it had left. So he took it home again and it soon died. How he regretted taking it it away in the first place! He saw many wolves and greatly admired their beauty. I would have been so afraid. And he also had two very close encounters with a bear, the second one where he thought for sure he was a goner. But he made it out. I also love at the end where he says "I have often thought about what I would do out here if I were stricken with a serious illness, if I broke a leg, cut myself badly, or had an attack of appendicitis. Almost as quickly as the thought came, I dismissed it. Why worry about something that isn't? Worrying about something that might happen is not a healthy pastime. A man's a fool to live his life under a shadow like that. Maybe that's how an ulcer begins." Very wise words. I really enjoyed this book. It also has gorgeous photos of the landscape, his cabin and some wildlife. And maybe, just maybe, when I even try to contemplate what -75 degrees feels like, I won't complain so much about the winter here.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011

Greg rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoyed Thoreau's Walden

Shelves: history-and-biography, motorcycling-and-travel, personal-development, thought-provoking, lifetime-keepers

What a terrific book! Drawn from the journals and amazing photography of Dick Proenneke, it is his account of his first year in the back and beyond of Alaska. After retiring with a modest nest egg from his work as a diesel mechanic (and a highly regarded one at that), Proenneke retired to the shores of Twin Lakes, Alaska. His friend and bush pilot, Babe Alsworthy, took him and his equipment there, and visited him occasionally, bringing supplies and letters. During the sixteen months he was there...more

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Sep 27, 2010

Jon rated it

This is a remarkable story of a man who goes into the wilds of Alaska to build a cabin to live in. The book is written in a diary style, but is very readable. I would love to have 10% of the craftsmanship that Richard has. There are some beautiful pictures that he took (probably on Kodachrome, RIP) that show his building and furniture. Richard was off the grid before anyone at HGTV or Discovery was even born! After reading this book, I've added a visit to his cabin in Lake Clark National Park to...more

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Apr 06, 2011

Blah rated it

Shelves: dead-tree

This book is just a joy to read (and to re-read). Dick Proenneke was truly a unique person. At the age of 50, he turned his back on civilization and lived in the wilderness by the sweat of his brow and his own wits. He built a log cabin from primarily local materials using hand tools and lived in that cabin through 30 brutal Alaska winters.

"...A man turns on the TV and all those commentators bombard him...and the poor guy with all the immediate problems of his own life is burdened with t...more

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Apr 06, 2011

Brett rated it

Shelves: dead-tree, my-library

This book is just a joy to read (and to re-read). Dick Proenneke was truly a unique person. At the age of 50, he turned his back on civilization and lived in the wilderness by the sweat of his brow and his own wits. He built a log cabin from primarily local materials using hand tools and lived in that cabin through 30 brutal Alaska winters.

"...A man turns on the TV and all those commentators bombard him...and the poor guy with all the immediate problems of his own life is burdened with t...more

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Apr 13, 2011

Matt rated it

This book has a sort of lyrical beauty in its simplicity and hard-bitten descriptions of Proenneke's straightforward take on life. The descriptions of the weather, wildlife, and his work reflect someone who learns to actually dwell in the place where they live. The book is fascinating for its descriptions of nature, the craft of building things for oneself, and of Proenneke himself.

One residual yankering I have: the book only covers a little over a year in his life, yet Proenneke li...more

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Jun 12, 2011

Mark Hiser rated it

One Man's Wilderness is written from the journals of Richard Proenneke who built a cabin in the back country of Alaska and lived on his own for 16 months.

Unfairly on my part, I was hoping for more of a Thoreau approach and wished the author had included more reflection of his experience than the one chapter near he end of the book. Even so, I loved the description of this pristine land and admired the self-reliance of the author. He, Emerson and Thoreau would probably have enjoyed kn...more

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Apr 07, 2010

Wells rated it

This is a great book for anyone who has ever dreamed of living in the wilderness. The book is actually a compilation of journal entries made by Richard Proenneke, who gave up living in the civilized world to live off the land in a remote area of Alaska. His journal details how he built himself a cabin using simple hand tools and native materials. It also details his daily activities such as growing in his garden, hunting game, fishing, and exploring. He also talks about the long, cold winter...more

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May 17, 2009

Dana Stabenow rated it

This is not a book like Into the Wild, about a totally unprepared idiot committing suicide by Alaska. Dick Proenneke is the real deal. He goes out into the southwestern Alaskan wilderness and builds a cabin and lives off the land for 18 months, with semi-irregular supplies funneled through a bush pilot 40 miles away. A practical idealist, if there is such a thing, he gets about as up close and personal with the land and the wildlife as you can get and still fly out in one piece.

...moreThis is not a book like Into the Wild, about a totally unprepared idiot committing suicide by Alaska. Dick Proenneke is the real deal. He goes out into the southwestern Alaskan wilderness and builds a cabin and lives off the land for 18 months, with semi-irregular supplies funneled through a bush pilot 40 miles away. A practical idealist, if there is such a thing, he gets about as up close and personal with the land and the wildlife as you can get and still fly out in one piece.

This book is an interpretation of his daily journal by Sam Keith and Keith knows enough to keep out of the way of Dick's story. The tale is told in the first person in spare prose sharpened by a keen eye and an understated humor, with an attention to the details of his life that is flat hypnotic. Who knew building a fireplace one rock at a time could be so mesmerizing? I kept flipping back and forth between the text and the photographs. One of Dick's most attractive qualities is his fierce pride in his work.

In the beginning he writes, "...I was here to test myself, not that I had never done it before, but this time it was to be a more thorough and lasting examination...What was I capable of what I didn't know yet? What about my limits? Could I truly enjoy my own company for an entire year? Was I equal to everything this wild land could throw at me?"

Already something of a vest-pocket philosopher, his adventure mostly confirms what he thought when he went in, and he is no follower of Thorstein Veblein. "Needs? I guess that is what bothers so many folks. They keep expanding their needs until they are dependent on too many things and too many other people. I don't understand economics, and I suppose the country would be in a real mess if people suddenly cut out a lot of things they don't need. I wonder how many things in the average American home could be eliminated if the question were asked, "Must I really have this?""

and

"Funny thing about comfort--one man's comfort is another man's misery. Most people don't work hard enough physically anymore, and comfort is not easy to find. It is surprising how comfortable a hard bunk can be after you come down off a mountain."

We hear a lot of this kind of talk lately. Funny thing is, Dick went into Twin Lakes in the spring of 1967. Over forty years ago.

Well worth reading, if only to watch over his shoulder as he builds his cabin from the ground up, without a power tool in sight.

---

Click here for Dick's Wikipedia entry.

And here's the satellite view of Twin Lakes.
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Oct 02, 2008

Andrew Hecht rated it

Shelves: my-library, non-fiction

Whatever a Man Never Has, He Never Misses

I just finished reading One Man's Wilderness, Sam Keith's presentation of Dick Proenneke's Alaskan Journals. I caught the PBS special, Alone in the Wilderness back in March, and quickly became enamored with the Proenneke world. I picked up the book at the library. With a few notable exceptions, the book pretty much reads like a transcript of the documentary. Proenneke's words, like his lifestyle, are very simple. You won't find any metaphor or...moreWhatever a Man Never Has, He Never Misses

I just finished reading One Man's Wilderness, Sam Keith's presentation of Dick Proenneke's Alaskan Journals. I caught the PBS special, Alone in the Wilderness back in March, and quickly became enamored with the Proenneke world. I picked up the book at the library. With a few notable exceptions, the book pretty much reads like a transcript of the documentary. Proenneke's words, like his lifestyle, are very simple. You won't find any metaphor or simile or clever turns of phrase. But you will find straightforward, honest writing from a modern mountain of Emersonian self-reliance. It's very impressive. In fact, the whole book is a commentary on the evils of materialism. Here's how Proenneke sums it up in his Reflections section.

"Needs? I guess that is what bothers so many folks. They keep expanding their needs until they are dependent on too many things and too many other people. I don't understand economics, and I suppose the country would be in a real mess if people suddenly cut out a lot of things they don't need. I wonder how many things in the average American home could be eliminated if the question were asked, "Must I really have this? I guess most of the extras are chalked up to comfort or saving time."

This is the exact same sentiment embodied by Tyler Durden in Fight Club when he tells Jack (just before they pummel each other for the first time), "The things you own, they end up owning you."

I don't know about you, but I feel trapped by the things I own. My books. My music. My furniture. And now my cats (although, truth be told, they really do own me). I had to pay for a storage place when I was in the Peace Corps. And now my things don't quite overwhelm me, but they keep me pinned down, unable to make the decisions I want, to do the things I want, when I want.

It's a choice I've made to sacrifice the some of the mobility of my past on the altar of stability. We'll see how long it lasts, probably as long as I'm responsible for the Samoan Fighting Kittens, which could be a long, long time.(less)

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Mar 04, 2008

Sammy rated it

Recommends it for: naturalists, Alaska, Alaskans, People interested in the Americas, Seward's Folly Enthuiasts

I love(d) this book.

I was strangely enamored of the PBS broadcast of Dick Proenneke's 8mm video. It was during a pledge drive some years ago that I saw it, and its impact was such that I scoured the Internet to find out more about it/him.

Years later, after finding gainful employment in teaching, I had the resources with which to purchase, via Amazon.com the DVD/book set that I could have acquired through a slightly more costly pledge to public television.

Nee...moreI love(d) this book.

I was strangely enamored of the PBS broadcast of Dick Proenneke's 8mm video. It was during a pledge drive some years ago that I saw it, and its impact was such that I scoured the Internet to find out more about it/him.

Years later, after finding gainful employment in teaching, I had the resources with which to purchase, via Amazon.com the DVD/book set that I could have acquired through a slightly more costly pledge to public television.

Needless to say, were I employed then as I were now I would have made the pledge and reaped the benefits of the pomposity of being a "member" of public television synonymous with supporting NPR and the like, but I digress...

This book amazes me.

Reading it, I wish I had the strength of character, and the handy wherewithal, to do something comparable to what Dick Proenneke accomplished. I wonder often if the same is possible now, as this took place some 40 years ago, but I cannot help but be completely jealous and entranced by his story.

As purchased, the book compliments the DVD of Proenneke's experience. Although I have already made a close friend watch it with me, and have promised myself often that I will use the DVD in my classroom when and where time needs filling after federally-mandated testing is accomplished, I am thankful that my purchase included the book in question.

Having watched the film, the transcription of Proenneke's diary adds so much more depth that it's hard to imagine appreciating one without the other.

I desperately long for a time in which I could possibly live "off the grid," and will forever condemn myself for having been born after this seems a possibiity. Similarly, I am saddened by having lived in an era that doesn't bestow upon (by default) its sons and daughters a natural range of abilities comparable to that of Proenneke, people of his era, and those that preceded them.

Perhaps this very confession is indicative of the subjective nature of my review, but I fully believe this book is worth reading, if only as a companion piece to Into the Wild, which has been successful not only for its movie debut.

Please read this book, and for those that live in Alaska already: I am eternally envious.(less)

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Sep 30, 2009

Michael rated it

I started this once before but got busy and didn't get too far. I was inspired by a movie I saw concerning this on PBS. By writing this, I hope to actually read and finish the book this time. Sometimes shame is the best motivator.

[years later...:]

I wanted to like this book more, but it lacks something. While the idea of a guy going off to the Alaskan wilderness to build his own cabin and live there for a year sounds great, the execution leaves something to be desired....moreI started this once before but got busy and didn't get too far. I was inspired by a movie I saw concerning this on PBS. By writing this, I hope to actually read and finish the book this time. Sometimes shame is the best motivator.

[years later...:]

I wanted to like this book more, but it lacks something. While the idea of a guy going off to the Alaskan wilderness to build his own cabin and live there for a year sounds great, the execution leaves something to be desired. Now I know the limitations of the book – it was written by someone from the journal of the gentlemen who did all of this. I can understand the difficulty of making a narrative out of someone’s journal – someone who probably had more important things to do than think of a standard narrative arc and was just jotting down his every day experiences with a few reflections tossed in when he had the time. But given these limitations, I also want to read something that engrosses me. This did not quite do it. This may have been why I started it a while ago and only now have taken the determined effort to get through it.

The book does a great job of explaining in detail how he built the cabin, the tools, the materials, and the method. Sadly, it read a little too much like reading instructions for creating something and less like a narrative. It was too easy to glaze over while reading step-by-step instructions and the use of construction terms that were alien to me. Perhaps I am also a visual person and need to see these things and cannot simply read about them. The good thing is that the version I read contains photos, several which show the cabin in different stages of its construction – that was helpful.

The elements I did like were the interactions with the wildlife and observations about their behavior. His caretaker role with the young caribou was interesting but also odd. There seemed to be an emotional connection but I believe he then skinned it and dressed it for food once it passed away. That was just really odd and was described with such lack of emotion, it was almost disturbing. I also got hungry thinking about some of the food he prepared and ate (lots of sourdough products), except for the brains. That did not sound good at all. The book ended on a strong note, especially when he reflected more on his experiences. I can’t quite recommend the book unless I know the person knows these limitations and just finds the idea very interesting.
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Aug 02, 2011

Allison added it

Marvelous book. Dick Proenneke is an inspiration. He sees and describes things with complete clarity. A man who knows and appreciates the wilderness and all that it entails, good and bad, and that everything has it's place and purpose. If you don't get a chance to read this book, at least see his documentary "Alone in the Wilderness". NOT to be confused with "Into the Wild"!!! There is simply no comparison between that naive, idealistic kid and this wise, realistic man!

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Jan 19, 2011

Dan rated it

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It sparked my interest in reading about people who have set out to start a new life in a new location, particularly in Alaska. The book follows Richard Proenneke as he builds himself a log cabin and all of its furnishings using only hand tools. His diary entries provide the main source of his account and it is hard not to grow to like this rugged, inventive, and all around handy person as he thrives in the Alaskan Wild.

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Jan 04, 2009

Joe Conklin rated it

In the late 1960s, Dick Proenneke built a log cabin, by hand, in the Alaska wilderness. This book is a collection of diary entries and stories during the first 18 months at his cabin.

The book probably will only appeal to those seeking a wilderness experience (or at least dreaming about one). But the descriptions of the animals, ecology, and even his every daily chores are wonderfully detailed and at times humorous. Also wonderful are the many photos he took with his 35mm camera.

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Aug 16, 2011

Judas Bardon rated it

I've only just started this book but I'm already hooked! Written in a detailed and matter-of-fact tone perforated with captivating descriptions of the landscape, this is a book about a 50 year old man who retires and moves to the Alaskan wilderness to homestead. He's armed with limited supplies, basic hand tools, a keen knowledge of the practical, and a wonderful appreciation for both nature and the work involved in carving a life out of it.

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Feb 11, 2008

Samantha rated it

This is the most extraordinary story of one man who decides to move to Alaska for a year and survive on his own. He brings only some primitive tools, a gun and basic food supplies and proceeds to build his own cabin and live off the land. What's extraordinary about him is his passion for the environment he's living in, his horror at the waste of 'sport' hunters and his humble way of viewing the world around him.
The photos are helpful as I don't think it would really be possible to understa...more

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Jul 04, 2010

Coral rated it

This book is the diary of a man who went to a wilderness area in Alaska and built a log cabin by hand. He lived mostly off the land. It was interesting how he was able to live a slower lifestyle and make do with what was available. My mother really enjoyed this book, but it felt a bit slow to me. My favorite part was actually the final chapter titled "Reflections". I agreed with his feelings and views.

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Aug 20, 2009

Lori rated it

True Excellent account of living in the wilderness alone and building a life. Admire his courage and abilities/skills to do what he did. Wish I could experience the same. Great for anyone who loves the outdoors, solitude, and adventure. There is also a DVD available for viewing which chronicles Richard's story and has actual footage of his home movies he shot while living in the wild.

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Jan 03, 2012

Curtis rated it

This is one of the most honest and satisfying books I have ever read. If only I didn't have a family to provide for and a bum knee and a severe hatred of mosquitoes - the base man inside of me would love to follow in Dick Proenneke's footsteps and unplug from the societal machine that ensnares me to live an honest, full life of real work and true fulfillment in the mountains of Alaska.

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Feb 19, 2009

Jeff rated it

I remember seeing the movie on PBS as a kid. If you just have an inkling about liking the outdoors, you'll love this book! I could smell the bacon and taste the maple syrup drenched sourdough pancakes, feel the crispness in the autumn air, and hear the stillness. It is a must read for a camping trip; or a raining fall day after a long week at work!

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Feb 07, 2009

Jim rated it

Shelves: non-fiction

The book is a compilation of journal entries from a man who moved to Alaska and built a cabin with basic tools and supplies from nature. His happiness comes from simple successes. A good read for the do-it-yourselfer or the nature enthusiast. Read the book after watching the PBS special made from his homemade movies.

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Feb 06, 2009

Jared added it

Oh Dick, what a noble adventurer. His writing inspires me to give it all up and run away, but of course it will take years of developing the skills needed to build my own house, hunt my own food, and live a completely solitary life. And then I think of all the people in my life and I wonder how?

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May 26, 2010

Smellyfoot Jones added it

The first book I read after Easter this year. See, I gave up libraries for Lent. So during that time I only read books I own personally, or borrowed from people.

I saw the tv show of this book on public tv a few months ago. Tracked the book down at the library. I'm glad I did. Very inspiring.

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Feb 01, 2012

Janis rated it

I loved reading this journal of Dick Proenneke's (first) year in the wilds of Alaska. He details the work he did to build a cabin and create a home, and his adventures hiking and canoeing and exploring. I wish I could live two lives so one of them could be like his.

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Feb 02, 2009

Joseph rated it

Shelves: do-it-yourself, outdoor-adventures

Richard Proenneke is the man! An awesome book if you Love (Love not Like) the great outdoors and have ever wondered about the culture of Self-reliance. The stuff this man did to survive would strike him as mundane but fill most readers with amazement.

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Sep 03, 2011

Michael Armstrong rated it

How can you not give this book its due. Ability is the poor man's wealth and this man through his simple poetic journal and his hand crafted beauty of a cabin belongs to America as a great example of what a lot of us would do if only we had the guts.

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Mar 16, 2010

Louise rated it

Shelves: sustainability, non-fiction, favorites

This book makes a nice counterpoint/extension to Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Dick Proenneke spends most of his time discussing his day to day activities and the environment around him, whereas Thoreau spent more time discussing the philosophy of self-reliance and societal ills. This book is extracted from Dick's journals, and it's very well put together. The book goes through about a year of Dick's life, and then spends several chapters talking about his philosophy at the end. Dick is a go...more

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Sep 18, 2011

Michelle Corley rated it

I thought this book was excellent. I read it several years ago and saw it on the bookshelves in several Alaskan gift shops during vacation. Having visited a few of the areas he visited and lived really made me appreciate the book even more

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