River of Doubt by Candice Millard

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

This adventure / biography / travel story is quite the page turner. It tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt after his failed 1912 presidential run and his subsequent exploration of an unmapped river in Brazil. The story is crazy to the modern ear. Roosevelt, his son, and Brazilian explorer companions make an impromptu and unprepared journey down an uncharted river in the Amazon rain forest choked with rapids, are stalked by a native tribe, face starvation and disease, and somehow come out the other side. I was familiar with Teddy's Roughrider days, his safaris, Panama Canal, and his presidency, but had no idea the man had done this. The characterization of the explorers is fantastic, and the characterization of the Brazilian jungle even more so. Learned a lot and enjoyed every page.

Recommended.