The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey in The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Oct 15, 2012 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013-around-the-world, ultimate-reading-list, history, travel, non-fiction, biography

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, 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, in that case Thomas Jefferson, as well as telling us one of the greatest stories of exploration. I have to admit having recently read Ambrose’s book, that left me less impressed with Milliard. The Lewis and Clark expedition is of course the bigger, more important story, and it's a subject that brought out the best in Ambrose, and though her book is very readable, I don’t think she’s a strong prose stylist, and the book doesn’t compare with the best works about exploration and survival or nature I’ve read.

But that’s to raise a perhaps unfairly high bar. And by quite a few measures, this is a strong book. I came into the book knowing little of Theodore Roosevelt, other than knowing he was a thorough-going imperialist and well, ~~war-monger~~ militaristic. I’d have said it was only appropriate that his favorite expression was “bully.” This book, though it doesn’t deny that aspect of Roosevelt, does also show his much more appealing side both as naturalist and a man imbued with more that his own share of undaunted courage. Milliard in the beginning of the book quoted someone describing Roosevelt: “When he came into the room it was as if a strong wind had blown the door open.” And she ends with the tribute of a fellow member of the expedition, who said he couldn’t understand “how any man could be brought in close personal contact without Colonel Roosevelt without loving the man.” And after reading this book I could understand why. Milliard also paints a vivid picture of Candido Rondon, the co-leader of the expedition and one of “Brazil’s greatest heroes.”

And the book certainly does well in giving us a sense of a unique habitat. Milliard, who was an editor of National Geographic, is good at choosing the kinds of details that stick with you and gives you a sense of enormous scales. Such as how the Amazon has over 3,000 different species of fish compared to the around 375 of the Missouri and Mississippi combined. And yes, she gives you a description of some of the dangers you might expect--alligators, piranhas, malaria-bearing mosquitoes, hostile natives (who happen to be cannibals.) Although I think if I’m likely to have nightmares, it’ll be inspired by her tales about a species of Amazon river fish called the candiru. Really... don’t ask. It’s a fast and informative read, so certainly if tales of exploration and history at all interest you, this would be worth giving a chance. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2023 Brenda rated it liked it

I really enjoy the author’s writing style. It was a very informative book. This book isn’t for someone who is sensitive to very descriptive writing about illnesses, disease, or violence.

Like · see review