The Jungle Doesn’t Care

Book Review: “The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” by Candice Millard

★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars)

If you liked my last book review on Into Africa, buckle up—because The River of Doubt delivers another dose of gritty, real-life adventure, this time deep in the heart of South America.

This isn’t just a story about Theodore Roosevelt. It’s about what a man does when he’s at the end of his rope and when disappointment and political loss push him to do something wildly dangerous just to feel alive again.

I had no idea that any of this was part of Roosevelt’s post-presidential story. After failing at a third-term run for president, Roosevelt packed up his gear and headed straight for the Amazon to explore an uncharted river. No press. No glory. Just hardship, heat, and a very real chance of dying in the jungle.

If you’re like me and fascinated by 19th-century exploration (or in this case, early 20th-century), especially the kind filled with disease, bugs, unfamiliar tribes, and animals that could kill you just by being in the vicinity, this book is right up your alley. The details are insane: from the planning of the trip and how Roosevelt chose his companions (including his son, Kermit), to the grueling ship voyage down to South America, the trek across land, the loss of almost all of his pack animals, and the desperate need to build canoes on the fly… it's all there. And yes, the river did it’s absolute best to kill Teddy over and over.

This one’s not about glory. It is 100% about grit and stamina. After reading this book, my dad cracked, “This story is about what happens when your pride meets the jungle and the jungle doesn’t give a shit.”

Pick this one up. I guarantee that you will have a hard time putting it back down.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch