• The River of Doubt

  • Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
  • By: Candice Millard
  • Narrated by: Paul Michael
  • Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (8,650 ratings)

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The River of Doubt  By  cover art

The River of Doubt

By: Candice Millard
Narrated by: Paul Michael
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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)

What listeners say about The River of Doubt

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Who knew!

They didnt teach us this in school, who knew in the early 1900’s Theodore Rosevelt ventured off into the amazon and barely made it back out! A compelling story!

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Great listen!

I live Theodore Roosevelt and this story just adds to my admiration of the great man

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Incredible story of perseverance

Thoroughly enjoyed. Came for another bad ass story about Teddy but it was fascinating to learn of Robson and the thousands of miles of telegraph lines he made possible

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INCREDIBLE story!

What an amazing story about an amazing man and group of explorers! This is, perhaps the best audiobook that I have ever listen to.

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Excellent rendering of a true larger than life story

Very glad that I purchased this book. Narration was excellent; I felt as if I were there with Roosevelt. He was truly a remarkable man.

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Capturing

I had a hard time turning it off, every chance I got I would listen to this book.

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What a surprise!

The story turned out to be much more compelling than I expected. And the performance was quite good. I would certainly recommend this.

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Good storytelling, vivid characters.

Lots of drama and anticipation. great use of journals for dialog. engaging characters. excellent voice acting by the narrator.

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Must Read

Filled with countless twists and turns this
is one of those amazing stories that simultaneously educate and entertain you.

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Incredible tale

A well told real life adventure which delves into everything from the ecology of the rainforest to the psychology of the men involved. Truly harrowing at times.

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