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Summary: River Of Doubt
Comment: We thought this was an outstanding book. I read it outloud to my husband.
Each evening, after
work, we would have a glass of wine and enjoy "The River of Doubt". It is a non-fiction, but it
reads just like a fiction novel. If only our high school history books could read half as well, all
of our children would be in love with history!
Although a professional writer for National
Geographic, it is hard to believe that this is Candice Millards first book. Her research is
unbelievable. Both my husband and I learned many things about the Amazon and Teddy Roosevelt.
Three cheers to Ms. Millard ! Don't miss this one !
Betty CampThe River of Doubt: Theodore
Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

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Summary: Teddy tests his doubts; pace cracks like a page-turning novel
Comment: Fastpaced account of the South American River journey that hastened TRs early death a few years
later. What started out as a sight-seeing trip turned into a journey of exploration of the River of
Doubt--then the official name of a river nearly a thousand miles long that had never been mapped.
Ex-President Teddy was invited to make the journey casually by Brazilian politicians, and when he
accepted, the team of leaders and Brazilian Telegraph workers ended up on a journey that involved
deaths, capsized dugout canoes, and Indian encounters any of which could have left the entire team
dead.

As it was, TR became deathly ill from an infection and malaria, and in fact at
one point he told the team to go forward without him so he could put himself out of his misery. The
team (including TRs own son) refused, and he and the rest just made it out alive.
/>Millard tells the tale with few wasted words and keeps the pace cracking like a page-turning
novel.

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Magnifent Portrayal Of An American Hero
Comment: How delightful to read of a former president who was truly a man of honor. In Teddy Roosevelt's
treacherous expedition down the River Of Doubt, a previously unchartered tributary of the Amazon
River, you see a man who consistently could have used his status to gain privilege. However, this
Roosevelt, time and again, rather than being an elitist, shows himself to be a true meritocracist,
always honoring hard work, determination, and discipline over rank.
The circumstances the
men on his expedition found themselves in, constantly tested the metal of each of them. Roosevelt,
fell deathly ill. Rather than burden the others, and put them at peril, he decided to take his own
life. Realizing the damaging effect his death would have on his son (his son Kermit went on the
expedition to protect his father), Roosevelt decided not to take the lethal dose of morphine he
brought with him. Despite high fevers, and painful infected abscesses from a former injury, he did
all he could to carry his own weight and not burden the other men.
In adventure, after
adventure, you will come to love TR, and to see his humanity as it was never before portrayed.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Teddy takes a South American vacation!
Comment: After Theodore Roosevelt ran and lost the election for President on the Bull Moose ticket in 1912,
he felt he needed an adventure into the depths of South America. Indeed TR was prone to these
excursions since he was an experienced Cowboy in the West and he had done safaris in Africa. /> Candice Millard tells a true story which few people know about. Theodore Roosevelt was looking
for adventure in South America. By God he did indeed get the adventure of a lifetime. /> Teddy's friend suggested a survey of the Rio da Duvida, The River of Doubt an unchartered
capillary of the Amazon River. This area was both treacherous, unmapped and very dangerous. The
team he assembled for this expeditionary force was both ill equipped and not familiar in the
requirements needed for such a journey.
The President traveled with his son Kermit on this
exotic adventure. The travel was organized by Colonel Rondon. The travel was always dangerous and
at times reckless. Mr. Roosevelt nearly died of a tropical fever. In the end they indeed did
survive thanks in a huge part to the efforts of Colonel Rondon. Less than 7 years later TR
Roosevelt would die in his bed at Sagamore Hill, Long Island.
I learned a great deal in
Candice Millard's depiction of these South American episodes. Her prose was both informative and
very entertaining. Bravo! Five Stars!!

Customer Rating:

Summary: It's a great book!
Comment: It should not be easy to mix history, action, geography, ornithology...in one book, but this book is
exceptionally well balanced. The author gives not only the details of Theodore Roosevelt and his
companions heroic journey across the uncharted rain forests of the Amazon, but provides amazingly
deep insight of the wild life of the rain forests, and it's first explorers. I rarely find books
that makes me 100% satisfied, but this was that kind. It is a really great book!

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