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Interesting,
Adventurous,
Informative

8 reviews

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard

Published: 2006-10-10
Paperback : 416 pages
13 members reading this now
53 clubs reading this now
8 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 7 of 8 members
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 ...
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Introduction

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, Cândido 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.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/114422/the-river-of-doubt-by-candice-millard/9780767913737/readers-guide/
by bookmoot (see profile) 10/12/17

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Personal reflection of keeping of diaries
by bookmoot (see profile) 10/12/17
An aspect of the author's research was personal diaries and primary sources. We talked about leaving a legacy of our own personal stories for future generations.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Leslie G. (see profile) 07/29/24

 
by Carrie O. (see profile) 03/18/21

 
by Elisa J. (see profile) 07/04/20

 
by Ryan B. (see profile) 12/21/18

 
by Stephen N. (see profile) 12/19/18

 
  "Excellent discussion"by Camille P. (see profile) 10/12/17

Many members said the book started a bit slowly but once the journey was underway it was a great read. Very detailed in parts but an enthralling and little known story. We had an excellent... (read more)

 
by Vickie V. (see profile) 03/29/17

 
  "River of Doubt"by Lisa L. (see profile) 04/28/14

Page turner.

 
  "River of Doubt"by Jane S. (see profile) 01/22/14

TR is bigger than life and it comes through in this book in both good ways and bad. Interesting story that gave our group a good discussion. Very informative and it reads like fiction!

 
  "Surprisingly I loved this book"by Traci C. (see profile) 06/23/12

I took a complete leap of faith in chosing this book & I was completelty pleased at how much I truly enjoyed this book. It didn't portray any of the people as 1 dimensional good or bad. The story was... (read more)

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