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The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
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-...more
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-...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
October 10th 2006
by Anchor
(first published October 18th 2005)
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”In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea."
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Roosevelt wrote articles for Scribners while he was on this trip. Notice that he had to cover up his hands and face to keep the constant barrage of biting insects at bay.
As Theodore Roosevelt lay on his cot in the Amazonian jungle burning up with fever, yellow pus leaking from his leg, and his mind wandering aimlessly through t...more
Oct 22, 2007
Kevin
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes TR and exploration
Shelves:
history
Teddy Roosevelt is a MAN. I was a big TR fan before and an even bigger one now which is a nice surprise considering that I wasn't expecting much from this book.
There is one scene that I think sums up how impressive TR was. It comes when they are slightly more than half way through their journey, although the exploration party has no way of knowing that. TR has an infected leg, a fever, and has already stated that he should be left behind for certain death because he is a burden on the others. He...more
There is one scene that I think sums up how impressive TR was. It comes when they are slightly more than half way through their journey, although the exploration party has no way of knowing that. TR has an infected leg, a fever, and has already stated that he should be left behind for certain death because he is a burden on the others. He...more
This is an account of Theodore Roosevelt's descent down a previously unchartered tributary to the Amazon. What is amazing is that anyone, much less a former president, would make such a journey as poorly prepared as Roosevelt's expedition. For instance, to lighten the load on the overland journey to reach the headwater, they left behind a number of light weight canoes and arrived at the river with no boats whatsoever. Poorly crafted dugouts purchased from natives were unable to carry all of the...more
Theodore Roosevelt's leadership and charisma is a well documented part of American history. Although I'm sure I learned about him in my required history classes, and I've been to Mount Rushmore, I can't say that I knew much about him beyond the fact that he was a Rough Rider, a president, a large man, that he created the idea of a protected national park, and that he supposedly said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." I also suspected that he was related, somehow, to FDR, but never bothered t...more
I thought Candice Millard's other book Destiny of the Republic was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read, so I thought I should go back and read this, her first book. I must say River of Doubt may be even better, if not for her writing but for the absolutely amazing story she tells. Teddy Rosevelt's exepedition in the heart of the Amazon jungle may be a footnote in history, but Millard brings it to life as one of the most compelling adventure tales I've ever read. Millard does take he...more
Mar 13, 2013
Lisa (Harmonybites)
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
History and Nature Buffs
Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by:
The Ultimate Reading List - History
This book is a blend of subjects: a portrait of one of the most colorful of American presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, and the expedition he led into the Brazilian rain forest that literally put a major tributary of the Amazon on the map. And it succeeds very well at both. It reminded me quite a bit of Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage, the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition that opened up the American West. That book also gave us a portrait of one of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore,...more
Theodore Roosevelt, after two terms as president of the United States, runs for a third term on the maverick Progressive Party (Bull Moose) ticket. He loses in a lopsided victory to Wilson and is at loose ends politically and personally.
An avid outdoorsman and accomplished amateur naturalist, Roosevelt agrees to an expedition to gather specimens for the American Museum of Natural History, heading a party that includes several accomplished naturalists--and joined by Brazilian explorer and soldier...more
An avid outdoorsman and accomplished amateur naturalist, Roosevelt agrees to an expedition to gather specimens for the American Museum of Natural History, heading a party that includes several accomplished naturalists--and joined by Brazilian explorer and soldier...more
So now I know why Teddy Roosevelt's face is etched on the side of Mt. Rushmore, along with our other great Presidents: Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson. What an incredible giant of a man he was. This story tells of Roosevelt's explorations of an uncharted river in the middle of the Amazon rain forest, initially called "River of Doubt". The author delved into the mindset of Roosevelt and why he would engage in such a dangerous journey. Coming off his loss in the Presidential elections, Roosevel...more
GASP - Non-fiction!!! And I didn't hate it!
A notorious loather of non-fiction, I might just have found the one to break the cycle. River of Doubt was a brilliant, well-crafted narrative of Theodore Roosevelt's arduous journey down a previously unmapped tributary of the Amazon River. Barely surviving, Roosevelt makes it to the end in weary triumph.
One of my big problems with non-fiction is that there is no suspense. (Ok, one might argue that about romance novels, too, but go with me on this one...more
A notorious loather of non-fiction, I might just have found the one to break the cycle. River of Doubt was a brilliant, well-crafted narrative of Theodore Roosevelt's arduous journey down a previously unmapped tributary of the Amazon River. Barely surviving, Roosevelt makes it to the end in weary triumph.
One of my big problems with non-fiction is that there is no suspense. (Ok, one might argue that about romance novels, too, but go with me on this one...more
Teddy Roosevelt was fifty-five years old when he journeyed through Brazil to explore the River of Doubt, a heretofore unchartered thousand mile body of water. The journey changed the map of South America, but it also proved to be the greatest test of Roosevelt's adventurous life, and would eventually shorten the span of his years. In clear, unsentimental prose, Candice Millard uses the story of the expedition to paint the portrait of an extraordinary man. Roosevelt was a force of nature, as form...more
The account of Teddy Roosevelt's wild Amazon journey. After losing his bid for a 3rd term, a depressed Roosevelt heads for Brazil on a mission for the Natrual History Museum in NY. What started as a benign tour turned into a harrowing expedition to chart an unknown tributary - The River of Doubt. It was a journey that drove Roosevelt to the brink of suicide. The story is a page-turner - - an adventure or a calamity awaits the team around every corner. Just as gripping are the personalities invol...more
I'm currently reading this book, and it's meeting the need I'd hoped it would meet: I wanted to read about what a complete animal Teddy Roosevelt was. Indeed, he was a serious animal. I can't believe how unprepared these guys were as they barged into this totally unforgiving terrain. I'm only 100 pages in, but this book has made me think about how soft we've become as a people.
**It's now late September, and while I finished this back in May, I never updated this review. This book was a great re...more
**It's now late September, and while I finished this back in May, I never updated this review. This book was a great re...more
This is an exceptionally documented story of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1913-1914 journey down an unmapped river in the Brazilian Amazon. The expedition’s descent of the River of Doubt is such a fantastic tale wrapped in grandeur that it at times reads unbelievable. Candice Millard is able to lend credibility to the adventure through her diligent research and the supporting quotes pulled directly form the personal journals, published articles, and interviews of the expedition members and descendants....more
I can't imagine any ex-president taking a trip like this. There are some I WISH would take a trip like this, but the bottom line is that Teddy Roosevelt was fearless and I'm glad he was because it makes for a great book.
While much of the peril on Roosevelt's river adventure was due to poor planning, I still wonder how anybody can plan well for a trip down a river that nobody's explored before. It didn't help that Murphy's Law was pretty much in effect during the whole trip.
I thought this was a...more
While much of the peril on Roosevelt's river adventure was due to poor planning, I still wonder how anybody can plan well for a trip down a river that nobody's explored before. It didn't help that Murphy's Law was pretty much in effect during the whole trip.
I thought this was a...more
This was very informative! TR was a charasmatic individual and a self-promoter (which tends to go hand-in-hand with that type of personality). After stepping down from the office of President which he apparently could have easily won for another 4 years, he was unhappy not being in the public eye. When his run for office in 1912 ended in failure, he undertook the journey to the Amazon to take part in mapping one of its tributaries. I never knew this fact and I am sure that most Americans today p...more
Theodore Roosevelt is my personal historical hero. He acomplished more in his "strenuous life" than most people even dream about. He was a Progressive liberal who championed personal responsibility, an ardent militant who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping an ongoing war. He read and wrote constantly.
At a time when most men would have sought out retirement, he took on one last, great adventure - travelling and mapping out the "River of Doubt", a tributary of the Amazon River in Brazi...more
At a time when most men would have sought out retirement, he took on one last, great adventure - travelling and mapping out the "River of Doubt", a tributary of the Amazon River in Brazi...more
Once the set-up for this book is complete, you'll be engulfed by the brutal conditions Roosevelt and his team had to navigate on their exploratory journey down what's now known as the Roosevelt River. I'm not a nature buff, don't like to camp, and would certainly never rate such an experience on my "Bucket List." That's why I was totally surprised to feel treated by long descriptions of creatures and plants encountered on this previously uncharted South American river, not to mention the flawed...more
nonfiction usually requires a bit more from me than fiction--not the case here. this book is hard to put down. the book centers around theodore roosevelt's trek along an unexplored river in the amazon rainforest. an incredible journey that takes you into the heart of the amazon--i am still fathoming some of the life forms described there. whew!-- as well as into the character of the larger than life character of theodore roosevelt. i couldn't figure out how to feel about this former president......more
Oct 01, 2008
Alison
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in Brazilian culture/history, American presidential biographies
Recommended to Alison by:
Pirrie Bingham
Loved this book for the fact that I learned a bit about an American president that I can say I knew absolutely nothing about previously. Also learned a good deal about the flora and fauna and native inhabitants of the Brazilian rain forest and the Amazon basin, which totally made me want to visit there. The story itself, in my opinion, lacks some meat: there seemed to be a lot of potential for calamity and drama, but not a lot actually occurred. That's not to say that Roosevelt & Co.'s trip...more
“The River of Doubt” by Candice Miller. *** Recommended by Mike Daniels, intrepid adventurer in his own mind. Non-Fiction, Adventure. Cowboy, intrepid adventurer, big game hunter, man of action, warrior, beloved two time Republican president of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt decided, several years following his departure from presidential politics, to run again for president on a third party ticket. Devastated by his interpretation of defeat as a rejection by the American people, he sought r...more
http://kellylowenstein.wordpress.com/...
Today marks Day Two of the Obama presidency and almost exactly a century since William Howard Taft replaced Teddy Roosevelt as U.S. president.
For Roosevelt, his departure from the land’s highest and most powerful political office marked the beginning of a period in which he struggled to find meaning and purpose.
He initially channeled his prodigious energy into big game hunting in Africa, but eventually found that he missed the stimulation, constant intera...more
Today marks Day Two of the Obama presidency and almost exactly a century since William Howard Taft replaced Teddy Roosevelt as U.S. president.
For Roosevelt, his departure from the land’s highest and most powerful political office marked the beginning of a period in which he struggled to find meaning and purpose.
He initially channeled his prodigious energy into big game hunting in Africa, but eventually found that he missed the stimulation, constant intera...more
There is much about this book that's really interesting...that as late as the 1910s there was still a 1,000 mile river that had yet to be explored, and even further, that Theodore Roosevelt was the one who navigated it!
They were on that river - the River of Doubt - for a long time. Unfortunately, it feels like it. There's a passage in the book that says "For outsiders who are forced to spend lengthy periods in the forest, one of the most oppressive and frequently mentioned features is its relen...more
They were on that river - the River of Doubt - for a long time. Unfortunately, it feels like it. There's a passage in the book that says "For outsiders who are forced to spend lengthy periods in the forest, one of the most oppressive and frequently mentioned features is its relen...more
Really really liked this book, which told the story of the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition of the River of Doubt in the Amazon. Just the swampy river run I needed for an Iowa winter that wouldn't end. And now I'm hunting for another TR book. Roosevelt is fascinating, an eternal optimist and leader, even if he did leave his infant daughter to take off in a depressed funk for 2 years in the Dakotas after his wife and mom died. Equally inspiring is Colonel Candido Rondon, the Brazilian milit...more
Surprisingly to some I am not a fan of TR as President - he was a mythical figure that I think got a lot of his policies wrong. Millard's story of his trip down the Amazon after he left the presidency is a real insight into who TR was as a person. He cobbled together an expedition without a lot of care as to how it might work or with any knowledge of the perils that he and his party would face. But like TR charging up San Juan hill - he did it. Millard did some great research and so tells the st...more
We read this for book club, and several of the others did not even finish it, due to lack of interest. I wasn't really looking forward to reading it, but found the book to be fascinating! I also really enjoyed Millard's writing style. History buffs will enjoy learning about the journey and its outcomes; I previously knew nothing of this event. Others will be captivated by needing to know what happens next. I have always had an interest in the tropics, indigenous peoples, and travel, especially i...more
I'm the first to admit that my American history is not very good and that I don't remember much from high school or college. I did know that Theodore Roosevelt was a president and on Mount Rushmore and enjoyed the great outdoors -- that's about it. In THE RIVER OF DOUBT I learned much more. He had been a frail child and through raw determination strengthened his body. In 1912, Roosevelt decided to run for an unprecedented third term as president, running as a third-party candidate in the Progres...more
Wow! This book is one of my favorites. I don't know much about Teddy Roosevelt as a politician, all I know is that he was one tough sucker. So after he was president he needed an adventure so he went on a trip to Brazil and canoed down an unexplored part of the amazon for months in order to help map it. Can you imagine any other ex president doing anything half that awesome? There are cannibals, waterfalls, and fish that swim up your you know what and won't come out. You should all read this boo...more
This book is a perfect example of why I love reading history books. It's fascinating and impossible to put down; this book covers an expedition that Teddy Roosevelt takes part in after his failed try to win a third Presidential term. What was supposed to be a fairly routine trip through the Amazon turned into a battle for survival when the original course was changed in order to explore an unknown river. The planning and logistics were messed up and the expedition sailed with inadequate supplies...more
The story... When McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt, his VP, became president. He finished that term and was elected to a second term. He left office in 1909. In 1912 TR ran as a Progressive and was defeated. And crushed. So, he decided to go on a speaking tour of South America, with a little adventure thrown in. (He was TR, afte all!) The trip was sponsored by the Natural History Museum....or something like that.)
After several weeks of lecturing, TR joined a large contingent explori...more
After several weeks of lecturing, TR joined a large contingent explori...more
This is an amazing adventure story about how the former President takes an uncharted journey down a tributary of the Amazon River and very nearly dies in 1913 or so, following his defeat in the 1912 elections. Teddy wanted an adventure and was totally willing to die in the process. That's he rolled. And he very nearly did die, contracting malaria and losing 55 pounds on the expedition down a river no one had explored. Remembering the time of this adventure, communications were sketchy at best. T...more
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Candice Millard is a former writer and editor for National Geographic magazine. Her first book, The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, was a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor, and Kansas City Star. The River of Doubt was a Barnes & Noble Discover...more
More about Candice Millard...
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