The River of Doubt

Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

By: Candice Millard

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2005 Candice Miller (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Millard...nails the suspense element of this story perfectly, but equally important to her success is the marvelous amount of detail she provides on the wildlife that Roosevelt and his fellow explorers encountered on their journey, as well as the cannibalistic indigenous tribe that stalked them much of the way." (Publishers Weekly)

The hardships they endured

They made a journey that should have been impossible. Their success was possible because of their courage and determination and because of their unseen foe allowed them

What an adventure in history!

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of a man I now know fits the part of Rough n Ready Teddy! The narrator brings to life a really great read

Great true story. Great narration.

Truly an amazing man. An expedition of great will, endurance and courage. And there was definitely some good luck.

Husband liked it

This book details his journey down a river in South America (maybe Brazil) and the challenges that they endured. It was very captivating and you feel like you are there

Extreme and fascinating experiences well told

Gained even more respect for Teddy Roosevelt's curiosity, conviction, and compassion in this riveting and disturbing account of his

Breathtaking

Exceptional, heartbreaking, exciting and inspiring. That sums it up. The “15 word minimum” for a review is ridiculous.

No Doubt - Engaging

When I first read the subject matter of this book, my interest was piqued. I didn't know much about Teddy Roosevelt, much less that after his presidency he travelled on a dangerous expedition down an uncharted tributary of the Amazon River.
This book lived up to my expectations. Very well researched and written, it brought back to life a real adventure story, complete with all the trials of a fictional novel with as many twists as the actual River of Doubt.
As a bonus, I found the discussions regarding the ecosystems of the rain forest fascinating. After all, the purpose of this expedition was scientific in nature.
Excellent listen, very entertaining and informative.

An adventure story like you've never seen

Let's start with the end, Candice Millard is a spectacular writer, her books are seemingly effortless and not only should you buy everything she's written, but put her on your list of authors to watch. This book, her first, sets the pace for a short but spectacular career.

Okay, now let's work backwards, to the River of Doubt. This is at once an adventure story as 22 men, with little experience and less food, float down an completely unknown and isolated river, surrounded by a jungle, animals and tribes that are actively trying to kill them. Teddy Roosevelt, having finished 7 years as president and looking for his next adventure, sets out on the biggest, most dangerous and last one of his amazing life. He wants to map a new river in the amazon, one that has never been charted. At all.

You learn so much about the Amazon rainforest here. But beyond the adventure and the danger, this is a character portrait of a man who was a naturalist and explorer at heart. While his health plunges downhill and men around him die, turn against each other and run away, his attitude never wavers. His son and the expedition's guide also show their true brave selves as they resolve to finish the voyage through strength of will alone.

It's shocking, what they go through, what they have to survive, and the sheer mountain of obsticles lined up against them. You'll have a new respect for Roosevelt and for exploraton after reading this - you'll also be breathless from the non-stop adventure of the story.

Super historical Snaphsot with Insight into TR

This book delivered. I LOVE listening and reading all kinds of books. I probably prefer sci-fi and fantasy, but like everything. Books like this and 1776 are compelling and interesting. They transport you to a different time and place and what you get when you walk away is a glimpse of insight into one of history's most interesting characters. I've long admired Teddy Roosevelt and still savor the tiny insights into his personality and character that this book left.

In short, a darn good story, with a good performance, and a captivating lead character. I'd give it 4.5 across the board and tried to reflect that in my ratings.

A great read!

This book has everything: history of an relatively unknown adventure by a former US president, a naturalist's adventure in the strange, fascinating and beautiful world of the deepest parts of the Amazon rain forest, a psychological study of a father/son relationship during the most harrowing of times, an eye opening account of Brazil in the early 20th century, a thriller few novelists could match, and much more. I don't doubt it will be made into a movie. Well read and superbly written. Incredible.