Coming into the Country

By: John McPhee

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Those who have traveled into America’s only remaining frontier rarely come back out the same. Only in Alaska can we come close to understanding what our forefathers must have felt upon their arrival in the New World. McPhee brings to this narrative the qualities that have distinguished him in the field of travel literature—tolerance, brisk, and entertaining prose, and a fascination with things most of us never bother to notice.

©1977 John McPhee (P)1990 Recorded Books, LLC

Classic John Mcphee

Apparently spending years in the state doing research, from the city to deep bush, talking to politicians and living among gold miners, his lilting style makes a whole lot of detail palatable.

great book

I am a lifetime Sugpiaq... from the coast. this book makes me smile ... the narrator is good but he pronounces some words very wrong... I laugh... but I enjoy. one thing that stinks... nonAlaskans... deciding the direction of Alaska.. I say...boogeroff!

great book

great book. I grew up in eagle so I know the people in the story. didnt like how many names that were not pronounced correctly. especially my maiden name

Classic Alaska Non-Fiction Remains Timely

Would you listen to Coming into the Country again? Why?

I generally only read or listen to a book once, but I might refer back to some of this one's prose.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Gelvin family. Practical, competent, decent.

What does Nelson Runger bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He's an accomplished pro. His reading does not get in the way of the prose.

Any additional comments?

Publish everything of McPhee's that you can.

Portrait of Alaska as a Young State

A wonderful snapshot of Alaska after statehood! With reference to the origins of the Alaska territory, the author covers a period early in the state's history where American's "went into the country" in search of a connection to the land. The stresses and pressures of Alaska in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's as state, federal, and native claims to the land affected mining, energy development, population, and key decisions like the location of the state capital. Thoroughly enjoyed this snapshot into the history and culture of Alaska!

Fantastic all around.

This book was a great explanation of pre 1980 Alaskan living. It will definitely give you a better understanding of the bush.

Wonderful Story

A very good book and very good narration. It was very enjoyable. I highly recommend it .

Who would choose to live in Alaska?

This book provides a somewhat dated but still interesting look at the people who were moving to and living in Alaska during the mid-1970s. These are the rugged individualists, the misfits, and those with an Alaskan heritage. They don't like the government or neighbors or the ill-informed tree-huggers telling them what to do. I imagine there are a few of them still on the outskirts of civilization in the vast wilderness up north, but the petroleum industry and escapees from the lower 48 have doubled the population of the state since this book was written.

There is a lot of political incorrectness and destruction of natural resources, but this was a tough country that extracted a high price from its residents. Those trapped animals provided food and clothing. The bulldozed landing strip provided a fragile link to medical care and supplies. Those cost could be easily be borne with so few pushing out into the unknown wilderness.

Anyone who wants to voice opinions on how the Alaskan lands should be preserved or used should know the people in this book. Alaska was a frontier in 1975; is it still one today?

Great book, poor narration.

The stories are fabulous and give the reader a deep understanding of Alaska’s settlement, culture, and issues (up to the late ‘70’s). I read the book when it first came out and remember loving it. Re-listening now for an upcoming trip to Alaska, and the narrator is very hard to listen to - he overuses inflection and overly dramatizes the story lines. Very disappointing.

Reader mispronounces many names

I'm from Alaska and was dismayed at all the mispronunciations for names and various words the author made. Is there no proofing before a story goes out?
The story itself was as captivating this reading as it was 34 years ago when I had just arrived in Alaska.