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.
#1656236 in Books Jason Aronson; Inc. 1998-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.16 x .99 x 6.48l; 1.44 #File Name: 0765760584349 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An excellent resource!By MichaelI would like to recommend to those interested in the subject of Birth Control the book Birth Control in Jewish Law: Marital Relations; Contraception and Abortion as Set Forth in the Classic Texts of Jewish Law by David M. Feldman.I read the original edition a couple of years ago and I am now reading the 1998 edition.The author does not assume a lot of Jewish cultural understanding. He defines the Jewish terms as he goes. Although this can be overwhelming; it is of great help to the non-Jewish reader. He also makes clear the source of any statement; provides rabbinic reasoning and the progression of thought as it developed through time and along liberal and conservative lines. The author also includes some limited information about 'christian' thought on the subject.As the subtitle indicates; the book does not cover just birth control (the prevention of birth) but it includes all aspects of marital intimate relations and procreation. In the introduction the author states "Birth Control in Jewish Law; comprehending; as always; birth management more than prevention." I think the is a good clarification; birth control is not just about prevention; and is more correctly an issue of management. Choosing when to have children; not just when not to.This book is a good example of scholarship - as opposed to much of the feeling based; superficial writing on this; and may other; subjects.0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. excellent!By Samuel Hirschtop. excellent!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Excellent Resource!By MichaelI would like to recommend to those interested in the subject of Birth Control the book Birth Control in Jewish Law: Marital Relations; Contraception and Abortion as Set Forth in the Classic Texts of Jewish Law by David M. Feldman.I read the original edition a couple of years ago and I am now reading the 1998 edition.The author does not assume a lot of Jewish cultural understanding. He defines the Jewish terms as he goes. Although this can be overwhelming; it is of great help to the non-Jewish reader. He also makes clear the source of any statement; provides rabbinic reasoning and the progression of thought as it developed through time and along liberal and conservative lines. The author also includes some limited information about 'christian' thought on the subject.As the subtitle indicates; the book does not cover just birth control (the prevention of birth) but it includes all aspects of marital intimate relations and procreation. In the introduction the author states "Birth Control in Jewish Law; comprehending; as always; birth management more than prevention." I think the is a good clarification; birth control is not just about prevention; and is more correctly an issue of management. Choosing when to have children; not just when not to.This book is a good example of scholarship - as opposed to much of the feeling based; superficial writing on this; and may other; subjects.
