The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

The River of Doubt completely pulled me in from the first page. Candice Millard brings Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing journey through the uncharted Amazon to life with incredible detail and storytelling. You can almost feel the heat, the insects, and the constant danger of the jungle as Roosevelt and his team push beyond their limits. What makes this book so special is how it blends history, biography, and adventure all in one — it’s both thrilling and deeply human. Millard captures Roosevelt’s determination, vulnerability, and courage in a way that feels intimate and inspiring. If you enjoy stories of survival, exploration, and real historical grit, this book is a must-read. It’s the kind of nonfiction that reminds you truth can be even more captivating than fiction!

This book ranks in my favorite non-fiction books of all time. Including Shadow Divers, Empire of the Summer Moon, and Sapiens. "The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey" by Candice Millard is a gripping and vivid account of an incredible expedition that took place in the Amazon rainforest in 1913-1914. The book chronicles the journey of former President Theodore Roosevelt and his team as they navigated the treacherous and uncharted River of Doubt, which was later renamed the Roosevelt River in his honor. Millard's writing is exceptional in bringing to life the jungle, the people, and the struggles of the expedition. She portrays Roosevelt as a man on a mission to prove himself, who was willing to take on any challenge, no matter how dangerous. The book is not just a thrilling adventure tale, but also a powerful character study of Roosevelt, who at the time was dealing with personal and professional setbacks, and the expedition was his way of regaining his confidence. The author's attention to detail is impressive, providing a rich and immersive experience for the reader. The research and historical context are also noteworthy, including the political and social environment of Brazil at the time and the scientific discoveries made by the expedition. Overall, "The River of Doubt" is a captivating and well-written book that transports the reader to a time and place that few have experienced. Millard's ability to capture the essence of Roosevelt's character and the challenges faced by the expedition makes this an outstanding read for anyone interested in history, adventure, or biographical literature. Highly recommended.

The author is a gripping narrator. I had previously read her Destiny of the Republic, which I found so compelling that I searched for other books she had written. That led me to this one. Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most original characters in American history (see Edmund Morris' three volume biography). His life was filled with challenging, courageous adventures, and this was surely his most challenging and most courageous. It is a wonder any member of this expedition lived to tell about it. It is impossible to put down this compelling story. Millard has thoroughly researched, painstakingly organized, and masterfully written this book. Her writing style is fluid and spell-binding. My only criticism relates to a small bit of her history. Among the many dangers encountered by this expedition was being stalked by a Stone Age Indian tribe, the Cinta Larga. The Cinta Larga was so isolated that civilization did not make contact with them until the late 1960s, more than a half century after they stalked the Roosevelt mission. Yet the book tells us in significant detail what these invisible stalkers were thinking and discussing as they were deciding whether to attack the Roosevelt mission. I was so surprised by this that after I finished the book, I searched her notes for some factual basis for these assertions. Her notes indicate that she interviewed some members of the tribe, but that must have been at least three generations after the events recorded. While she may have some basis for speculating on what went through the minds of the stalkers, I would have preferred for her to temper that part of the chronicle with "probably" and "likely," rather than reporting it as fact. But that criticism should not be read as tainting the book as a whole, which is superb. I highly recommend this book.

This was a surprise. Never would have picked this book by my own choice. It was selected by my book club so I ordered it, albeit reluctantly, because the subject matter, the place and the time period didn't hold much interest for me. However, it did occur to me that I knew very little about Teddy Roosevelt, and that, since I attended Theodore Roosevelt High School, perhaps at some point I should learn a little about him. Once I received this book, I couldn't put it down. Pure adventure, terrifying in places, so realistic you can feel the mosquitoes biting. But it's so much more than that. The reader learns so much about all the main characters, their relationships with each other, their values, their faults and foibles, their egos, along with courage and selflessness, sometimes selfishness. These are real people who come alive in this book, because Ms. Millard is a superb author and the amount of research on this expedition and these men is vast and impressive. I found especially interesting what the outfitters of the expedition thought (incorrectly) would be necessary for the trip, with often disastrous results. The men selected to outfit the trip were an arctic explorer and a priest, neither of whom had any experience with South America or the Amazon, and thus terrible decisions were made. The opinion of the book club was that they might have been better provided for if women had been the outfitters, because appropriate food, extra pairs of dry socks and underwear would have taken precedence over hauling a crate of Kermit's favorite book through the Amazon, as well as the cavier, chocolate, liquor, and other luxuries. Interesting insight into how foolish we humans can be and the price we sometimes pay for it. This was a fascinating read, but what I loved was that I learned so much from this book, about TR, about the river and jungle, and about human nature at its best and worst. I have so much respect for this author because this is a very well-written and well-research book.

Theodore Roosevelt was a man of exceptional vigor, ability, and zest for life. He is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating men ever to hold the American Presidency, and indeed possibly to have ever lived. His biography reads almost like a presciption for getting everything one can out of life -- to seize every adventure, to pursue every ideal, and to hold fast to one's personal moral code. Roosevelt is the star of the terrific story that is told in The River of Doubt, but he is not alone. He is surrounded by a number of other exceptional individuals -- the great Brazilian explorer Colonel Rondon, Roosevelt's own tormented but brave son Kermit, and a group of Brailizian camaradas who range from the most tireless and fearless, to the most venal. The elements of this story are such that it can hardly miss. Roosevelt, Rondon and the others traveled deep into the heart of the Brazilian Amazon to explore territory that no white men had ever explored before. Unimaginable challenges awaited them -- unpredictably difficult terrain, roaring rapids, ravenous jungles, arduous portages, inadequate provisions, cultural barriers within the exploring party, disease-carrying insects, and hostile, cannibalistic, and stealthy indigenous peoples. Terrific though the story is, Ms. Millard's treatment of it is what makes this a truly wonderful book. She has a great gift for relating the sensory flavor of the ecosystem through which Roosevelt and his company traveled. Her descriptions of the vast diversity of survival strategies employed by different species there, in mortal competition with one another, elevate this book above a mere relating of a gripping historical episode. She brings the rain forest to life, and conveys the dangers to Roosevelt's party with an immediacy and comprehension that even the participants could not have fully possessed. What makes the book for me, however, is the depiction of Roosevelt and his keen sense of personal honor. This was a man who refused to be shown any deference, who refused to sit if Colonel Rondon, the Brazilian commander, was not also so seated. This was also a man who, if his ailing condition became a burden to the rest of the expedition, resolved to take his own life rather than to jeopardize those of others. It is truly sobering ro realize how great a risk Roosevelt took in leading this expedition. He could very well have been killed and cannibalized. He might have died of malaria, and indeed almost did. One wonders what a shock it would have been to America to have its beloved former President die under such circumstances. I own several books about Roosevelt's life, and this might be the one that I would first recommend to convey the full flavor of his personality and his values. My wife and I have just had our first child, a daughter, and I found myself hoping that she will, at some point, read of this extraordinary man, and to profit from his example, to lead a richer and fuller life. Remarkable though Roosevelt is, he is not the only fascinating character on the expedition. At times, the Brazilian commander Colonel Rondon's plodding determination to survey the landscape, even at the cost of a risky loss of time and provisions, vexed Roosevelt utterly. This could not, however, diminish the profound respect between the two men. Rondon is himself a phenomenal character, a man who also stayed true throughout his life to an intense personal creed of honor -- someone who would die before killing, even in self-defense. Roosevelt, and the reader, could hardly fail to be impressed by him. Roosevelt's son Kermit, too, is a fascinating presence. In youth, he was Roosevelt's timid son, but over time, he absorbed his father's life lessons and in adulthood had become the most fearless, perhaps the most reckless, of the family. This expedition brought out the most in young Kermit, though his conduct was not without mistakes. Kermit's life ultimately ended in tragedy, but his conduct on this expedition would make any father deeply proud. As should be obvious, this book is highly recommended. Fascinating and inspiring, vivid and educational, it only gets better as it moves along. I believe that by its conclusion most readers would be, as I was, moved and inspired.

It's my third time rereading this book, and I just noticed that my review got deleted at some point, which is mildly annoying. I first read The River of Doubt in 2018 and loved it to bits. It follows the creation and path of the Roosevelt-Rondon scientific expedition of 1913 and reads like a comedy of errors before the journey down the river even begins, to the point where the reader is mentally begging the group to stop and reconsider (or at least get proper supplies from some knowledgeable person; the river's not going anywhere) before starting. That, of course, doesn't happen, which begins a journey down the then uncharted Rio da Dúvida in the Amazon basin where many, many stupidly risky things were done in the name of survival because, if not done, the expedition was going to die anyway. This is the kind of book that reads like an adventure novel and, if it were fiction, people would be clamoring to have a TV show or something made of it. The River of Doubt is like a handful of other books that I love to bits, and story is still as horrifying and compelling every time. Whenever someone asks for a nonspecific book recommendation, this is invariably the book I give them. It is amazing; well written and including enough background information for readers to understand what's going on in a very different time/place without bogging down the narrative with extraneous information. I cannot recommend this book enough.

And that's not a statement of partisan politics, but it does say a lot about leadership. Volumes have been written about Theodore Roosevelt, the soldier, the statesman, the adventurer, and the president, but if there is a single book that captures the vitality, the determination, and the indomitable spirit of this great American, it is "The River of Doubt." Former National Geographic writer and editor Candice Miller pulls no punches and leaves no stone unturned in spinning this vibrant and suspense-packed tale of risk and discovery cutting through the heart of the Amazonian jungle on an uncharted Brazilian river. Miller brings the Amazon to life in all its bloody glory, an unfathomably dangerous place where even the frogs are deadly, where schools of piranhas can turn an ox - or a man - to a skeleton in minutes, a place where, despite caymans and poison dart-wielding natives, it is the insects - insects of all types and descriptions - that pose the greatest risk. This is an epic journey facing not only the challenges of a wild river cascading over rapids and waterfalls through an impenetrable jungle, but also treachery and even murder. Roosevelt and expedition co-lead Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon, an officer of the Brazilian military and renowned Amazon explorer, find themselves surprisingly ill-equipped for their voyage through one of the planets most inhospitable regions, and ironically are soon near starvation in a green hell that while teaming with life, food is stubbornly unattainable. Meanwhile, it is a poignant tale of the bond between father and son, as Roosevelt and second son Kermit alternately sacrifice and suffer for each other while proudly denying emotion. This is one of those stories that, after weeks of terror, when Roosevelt and the tattered remains of his party emerge feverish from malaria and near starvation, you'll ask, "why haven't I heard about this before now." Were this fiction, it would strain the bounds of credibility. But that this is the story of a former President of the United States is truly staggering. A remarkable achievement, "The River of Doubt" is a must read, illuminating a fascinating slice of world history in the twilight of the age of exploration while providing an intimate peak into the unparalleled character of Theodore Roosevelt. Bully!

Candice Millard's "River of Doubt" is a well written, fast moving chronicle of Theodore Roosevelt's grueling, life-risking trip down a previously unexplored river in the Amazon. She brings to the story her own expertise and interest in nature, ecology and jungle ecosystems, which she presents in an easily accessible manner to provide a rich and unique context for this remarkable tale of adventure and death. Prior to leaving on his journey, Roosevelt had recently been defeated in his effort to win reelection as President at the head of the Progressive Party. His lifelong interest in nature and adventurous travel coincided with invitations for the defeated former President to speak in Latin America, and thus it seemed as if his desire to get away after the election, coupled with his long standing interests led him to undertake his trip. Millard does a good job quickly setting out the context for his travel so that she can turn to her main focus, the trip itself. For reasons that are less clear - perhaps post-election distractions - Roosevelt did a poor job planning, relying upon men who were ill-suited to be relied upon. Incorrect provisioning, including improper boats, a lack of familiarity with the jungle environment (the man placed in charge of buying supplies had experience on Arctic expeditions), and a change in plans along the way - to undertake a more strenuous trip than that originally envisioned - led to a nightmarish journey, one that became a life-and-death struggle on uncharted waters. What makes this book particularly interesting is Millard's background. These types of books are often written by historians who are clinically accurate and rely upon meticulously researched secondary sources. Millard's background is with National Geographic, as both a writer and an editor. As a result, while "River of Doubt" is as well-researched as any book of its type, replete with footnotes and a deep bibliography, Millard brings a naturalist's perspective to this story. She takes the reader into a deep understanding of the Amazon ecosystem, explaining why so many jungle expeditions starved in the midst of such apparent plenty, greenery, and abundance of life (something relevant for expeditions of the era into the Congo as well.) She also provides insights into the native people in the region, the Cinta Larga, and not only describes salient aspects of their life - explaining how they could live off of the land while the expedition could not - but also makes it clear that Roosevelt and his associates owed their lives to the native's decision to let them pass through their territory unmolested. A fairly quick read, "River of Doubt" will be of interest to anyone interested in Roosevelt (his life, psychology, and final years), the Amazon region, or the surge of exploration in the late 19th/ early 20th century. Millard's unique combination of skills provides a fantastic window into history and the twilight years of one of America's greatest presidents.