s_books's review

3.5

If you were just interested in the speed run itself, this book might be a bit frustrating -- it takes quite a bit to get to the run itself, even to get to the predecessor runs, and in the mean time you have a lot of information about the early environmental movement and John Wesley Powell and the Bureau of Reclamation and Litton and his dories. Then once you get to the speed run itself it felt like it was just a bit glossed over; the whole drama at Glen Canyon Dam and its teetering on the brink of disaster felt like it was paid just as much, if not more attention. Which again, if that interests you (and it actually does interest me to an extent) that might be great but if all you wanted out of this book was a rip-roaring river ride, you might not enjoy this.
allison_e_smith's profile picture

allison_e_smith's review

4.5
adventurous informative reflective tense medium-paced
somestuff's profile picture

somestuff's review

5.0

some really memorable parts in this book
weaves the bureaucracy of reclimations and the parks service and the wildness of the environmental lobby and river runners together much more seamlessly than i was expecting

NIXON ROCK CAUSE ITS HARD TO GET TO THE RIGHT OF IT!!!!
wow a HUNDRED AND THREE days running the canyon
snowpack restarting to pony express for tax purposes (lol)
hiking the entire length of the canyon Without Extra socks!! except for once every like 7-10DAYS WILD
“even the beavers are portaging”
500$ fine downgraded to community service 
a long ass nap During a SPEEDRUN
aortic dissection is bad luck damn
three guys who ran the river with powell either killed by Shivwit native americans bc they attacked a woman or by mormon fanatics who thought they were federal interlopers
cloudss's profile picture

cloudss's review

5.0
informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

got a trip to the grand canyon planned? read this book 
ever been to the grand canyon? read this book 
enjoy nature history or science history or sporting nonfiction? READ THIS BOOK 
absolutely wild so so fun

taylorthiel's review

5.0
adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

jacopo_canton's review

4.5
adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
adventurous informative inspiring tense medium-paced

killstorm's review

4.25
adventurous informative slow-paced
nickny24's profile picture

nickny24's review

5.0

This is just great. One of my favorite books I've ever read now, and the best outdoor adventure book I could recommend. It does all the things and I am so impressed. Amazing work by Fedarko.
adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced