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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier'
by Mark Adams is a travel story that combines history with commentary.
Author Mark Adams decides to mirror as best he can the Harriman expedition of 1899. Harriman was a railroad magnate and brought a variety of scientists, naturalists and artists along on a trip. Adams finds that getting to some of the same areas provides some challenges. He travels by ferry, kayak and seaplane along the way. The observations about the environs are compared to how things are today. He also has encounters with the kinds of people that call Alaska their home.
It read pretty quickly thanks the author's sense of humor about things. The narrative loses fluidity as the author jumps back and forth between the original expedition and the author's travels, but I think it's to be expected. It certainly filled me with a kind of wanderlust to go see a glacier before they disappear forever.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Group - Dutton in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this book.
by Mark Adams is a travel story that combines history with commentary.
Author Mark Adams decides to mirror as best he can the Harriman expedition of 1899. Harriman was a railroad magnate and brought a variety of scientists, naturalists and artists along on a trip. Adams finds that getting to some of the same areas provides some challenges. He travels by ferry, kayak and seaplane along the way. The observations about the environs are compared to how things are today. He also has encounters with the kinds of people that call Alaska their home.
It read pretty quickly thanks the author's sense of humor about things. The narrative loses fluidity as the author jumps back and forth between the original expedition and the author's travels, but I think it's to be expected. It certainly filled me with a kind of wanderlust to go see a glacier before they disappear forever.
I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Group - Dutton in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this book.
kb_hg's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve never been to Alaska but I really want to go someday! Picked this up to learn a little more about it
thatbookishwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
emilyjurlina's review against another edition
3.0
The subject matter of this book was extremely fascinating and I really wanted to like this book more than my three star review indicates.
The author recounts an Alaska trip made in 1899 by a railroad tycoon and a group of scientists and environmentalists (including John Muir!) and juxtaposes descriptions of their trip with his own Alaskan journey. However, while Adams sold me on Alaska (100% planning a trip there now) his narrative was a little clunky in parts and many of his attempts at humor really didn't land - hence the reduction to three stars.
The author recounts an Alaska trip made in 1899 by a railroad tycoon and a group of scientists and environmentalists (including John Muir!) and juxtaposes descriptions of their trip with his own Alaskan journey. However, while Adams sold me on Alaska (100% planning a trip there now) his narrative was a little clunky in parts and many of his attempts at humor really didn't land - hence the reduction to three stars.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I have wanted to take an Alaskan cruise for a while but have not done so yet. After reading this book, my excitement to take that cruise has grown even more. It kind of was like I had taken one with Mr. Adams.
Mr. Adams did not just give me a bit of a history lesson but also an adventure that readers will want to experience for themselves. Yet, the beauty of Alaska can make you almost forget the dangers as well. Like the close encounter some fellow travelers had with a bear.
What I liked the most about this book is that I never got bored. I kept learning so many interesting facts. As Mr. Adams says don't wait to take your journey but pack your bags and go.
Mr. Adams did not just give me a bit of a history lesson but also an adventure that readers will want to experience for themselves. Yet, the beauty of Alaska can make you almost forget the dangers as well. Like the close encounter some fellow travelers had with a bear.
What I liked the most about this book is that I never got bored. I kept learning so many interesting facts. As Mr. Adams says don't wait to take your journey but pack your bags and go.
boggremlin's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable. Adams retraces the route of the Harriman expedition of Alaska, relating both that peculiar journey’s history and his own modern experiences.