The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

This work is a must listen for anyone interested in TR, Amazonia, tropical diseases, eqauatorial rainforests and the living things in them. In retrospect, this beautifully read work is brilliant because of its sheer depth and breadth. Every wound, sliver, bird, native and whitewater rumble is there for the listener to imbibe. Nearly every unique personality of the expedition party is woven into the this tale of naive and brash exploration. If you listen carefully you can be with them in the jungle without risk.

River of Doubt is a must read for enthusiasts of Teddy Roosevelt, but the story would work even without him. Candice Millard has written a book not only about an interesting phase in Roosevelt's extraordinary life, but also about an extraordinary part of the world: the Amazon. It is a compelling story told well and read extremely well by Paul Michael, who has narrated such other excellent books as Mountains Beyond Mountains. I highly recommend this book.

Once in a great while, I come across a book on Audible that deserves a very wide readership (if that is the right term for what we do). This is just one of those cases. Candice Millard has done a superb job in writing a very approachable book, in a breezy and informative fashion. The narrator is outstanding as well.

This is one of those books that combines biography, history, natural sciences, anthropology/ethnography with an adventure story. Millard does a great job in just a few passages characterizing TR -- part historian, part renaissance man, part hero, along with his less endearing attributes of being a blabbermouth, bits of excessive pride, mixed with not alittle hyperactivity disorder and alittle foolishness. She also provides good biographical information on TR's Brazilian co-leader of the expedition & TR's son Kermit, who came along on the trip a bit under duress, to take care of a father who was already visibly ailing.

In today's world, a world in which such exploration stories are rare, you can imagine TR going bungee jumping in his 50s, while on an exploration tour of the North Slope of Alaska in mid-winter. Or perhaps traveling out to the international space station (on someone else's dollar) and spending much time talking to us back on earth via a TV circuit.

Truth is better than fiction. This book deserves a wide readership.

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.

This history reads like a novel. It will keep you sitting in the driveway with the motor running, or riding past your exit on the subway, just to keep listening. I had not heard of this Roosevelt expedition before - great investigative and storytelling work by a first time author. NYT and Washington Post just named this book among the top nonfiction books for 2005! P.S. I have NOT been paid for this indorsement - I'm a fan a great history told well, and this book is GREAT!

This is a spectacular book. The author did a fantastic job in bringing together adventure, history and a little bit of science, with a very good narrative and great character development. In fact, it would make a terrific "Indiana Jones-style" movie.

As a Brazilian, I have always admired Candido Rondon as a true hero, and this book only confirmed my admiration. Even in Brazil very few people know much about the Rondon-Roosevelt expedition. Contrary to my initial assumptions, I learned that Roosevelt's trip to Brazil was not a mere "celebrity safari", but a real scientific expedition with scientific added value. The "River of Doubt" (now called River Roosevelt) in the Amazon basin was uncharted until 1914 and it is as big as the Rhine.

The narrator also did a great job - he clearly made the effort of researching the correct prounciation of the names in Portuguese.

Enough has already been said eloquently by the other reviewers so I'll just say you will miss a truly great book if you dont catch this one. I work in a bookstore and recommend it to my customers. None have been disappointed.

The story of Theodore Roosevelt's dark 1914 journey down the Amazon tributary, the River of Doubt is incredible. While I am tempted to compare this to Ernest Shackleton's Endurance odyssey, the latter's expedition took place around the same time in history, it was in fact a much more protracted one that lasted years and not just months. This is a book that combines biography, social and natural sciences, anthropology and exploration rolled into an exciting adventure story. We learn a great deal about TR the renaissance man, hero, and not always so admirable father. We also come to learn about another rather remarkable co-leader of the expedition, the Brazilian, Candido Rondon. He for me was one to be even more admired and respected particularly with regard to his leadership and relationship with the indigenous people of the the Amazon.

The book is beautifully written and narrated. It is a book that I hope is destined to become a classic. It deserves that much praise.

I'm a big fan of the survival/exploration/overcoming adversity type of non-fiction books and of Mr. Roosevelt, so after reading the glowing reviews here I was very excited to listen to this and learn something new about TR.

After finishing the story I'd have to say I was disappointed. I found my mind wandering and was disinterested at times when the author goes on long tangents about vegetation, reptiles, natives and insects. I realize that's necessary to establish the environment and the dangers these people were facing, but most of it felt like it was filler because they didn't have enough content to fill the book as it related to TR and the traveling party. Most of what was mentioned was never actually encountered by the traveling party. I never felt any momentum or tension building-up.

Seeing all these other reviews puzzles me, maybe I expected too much but I never felt I was at the "edge of my seat" or felt I couldn't go to bed until I heard what happened next. I still admire the men for what they accomplished and endured but I'd recommend other books in this genre to friends before this one (Undaunted Courage, Into Africa, Down the Great Unknown etc.). I guess I'll give 3 stars because it clued me into something else in TR's amazing life.

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.