Stronghold

One Man's Quest to Save the World's Wild Salmon

De: Tucker Malarkey

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell

PNBA BESTSELLER • “A powerful and inspiring story. Guido Rahr’s mission to save the wild Pacific salmon leads him into adventures that make for a breathtakingly exciting read.”—Ian Frazier, author of Travels in Siberia

Editors’ Choice: The New York Times Book Review • Outside Magazine • National Book Review • Forbes

In the tradition of Mountains Beyond Mountains and The Orchid Thief, Stronghold is Tucker Malarkey’s eye-opening account of one of the world’s greatest fly fishermen and his crusade to protect the world’s last bastion of wild salmon. From a young age, Guido Rahr was a misfit among his family and classmates, preferring to spend his time in the natural world. When the salmon runs of the Pacific Northwest began to decline, Guido was one of the few who understood why. As dams, industry, and climate change degraded the homes of these magnificent fish, Rahr saw that the salmon of the Pacific Rim were destined to go the way of their Atlantic brethren: near extinction.

An improbable and inspiring story, Stronghold takes us on a wild adventure, from Oregon to Alaska to one of the world’s last remaining salmon strongholds in the Russian Far East, a landscape of ecological richness and diversity that is rapidly being developed for oil, gas, minerals, and timber. Along the way, Rahr contends with scientists, conservationists, Russian oligarchs, corrupt officials, and unexpected allies in an attempt to secure a stronghold for the endangered salmon, an extraordinary keystone species whose demise would reverberate across the planet.

Tucker Malarkey, who joins Rahr in the Russian wilderness, has written a clarion call for a sustainable future, a remarkable work of natural history, and a riveting account of a species whose future is closely linked to our own.

Praise for Stronghold

“This book isn’t just about fish, it’s about life itself and the fragile unseen threads that connect all creatures across this beleaguered orb we call home. Guido Rahr’s quest to save the world’s wild salmon should serve as an inspiration—and a provocation—for us all, and Tucker Malarkey’s exquisite book captures Rahr’s weird and wonderful story with poignancy, humor, and grace.”—Hampton Sides, author of In the Kingdom of Ice and Blood and Thunder

“A crazy-good, intensely lived book that reads like an international thriller—only it’s our beloved salmon playing the part of diamonds or oil or gold.”—David James Duncan, author of The River Why and The Brothers K

Too Bad

It would have been nice to see the story continued to the present. Hatchery production in Oregon has transitioned to wild broomstick and I am afraid that readers will be left with a negative view of hatcheries and we need them. See Hatcheries vs Wild on YouTube.

Unbelievable Story!

I loved this book from the first page. So many experiences and feelings that resonated strongly with me. It's a fantastic read that I couldn't put down.

An Amazing Story

This book is an inspiring story of one man’s quest to change the world and the impact he’s had on salmon conservation. It’s a study of character, determination and vision, woven perfectly together with the power of relationships to do great things. For anyone interested in conservation, this is a must read.

Thoroughly engaging story

I couldn’t put this book down, from the story of Guido Rarh’s early life, with his cousin, the author Tucker, and through his search for salmon stronghold in Russia. The adventures in Russia, including complexities of Russian cultures, Russian and US politics were fascinating. Here is to hope that we don’t lose the positive progress that Guido Rarh and others like him have made. The book is well written and narrated, and I’lll be thinking about this for some time.

Breathtakingly Brilliant

Cassandra Campbell’s presence is lovely and captivating. I am heartened by her and the perfection of her contribution to this important book.

Tucker Malarkey’s writing gracefully, elegantly set the hook ensuring my willing capture as she pulled me from my ignorance of salmon’s central role in carbon based life on this, our beautiful Earth.

As to Guido and his Wild Salmon Center, I deeply bow in obeisance to his right livelihood and the rightness of its consequence.

A heartened salute to all involved in Guido’s body of work — and to those involved in getting this book into my own and others’ hands.

Love for the rivers

I absolutely fell in love with this story! Growing up in Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia and working in the cannery as a young person I was overwhelmed by what I didn’t really know about my childhood surroundings. Thank you to Tucker Malarky for putting it all together in such a beautiful way! Thank you Cassandra for lending your wonderful reading skills!

Made me an environmentalist!

I was “hooked” by this story! I appreciate our rivers and the interconnectness of all things much more after hearing it! The beauty described was palpable and the story itself had enough of everything to appeal to a wide variety of readers. I was sorry it had to end!

captivating

Both beautifully written and narrated, and hard to put down. You don't have to have an initial love for salmon to enjoy this book- but you'll leave with a new appreciation for the fish and its ecosystem.

Too long and too much fluff

While the story is important and it is well written and read, it is too long, with too much fluff. For example, did we really need to know so much about Guido’s fishing trip with Justice O’Connor?

A Grand Journey

This story is full of fascinating people and their quest to protect an important part of the world. Through shared vision and love for the wildness that sustains us all, they made the impossible possible. This story gives me great hope.