The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

4.34 AVERAGE

pldean's review

4.0
The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko is a brilliant, brilliant book. It's about the Grand Canyon, about America, about the great era of dam-building in the West. It's about obsession and glory. Conquistadors, river rats, and engineers. Rock and water. I can't recommend it enough.

heather_g's review against another edition

4.0
The first 200+ pages built the background and the characters, but gosh was it a slough to get to the actual speed run portion of the story! I started this book in October on an overseas flight and kept picking it up, getting bored, putting it down & reading something else.
When I finally made it to the actual description of the boat ride, it was AMAZING! Gorgeously written and an exciting tale! and scary!!! I want to float down the Colorado some day and this book made me want to do it NOW!

elsaofie's review

5.0
Reread

tjmcq's review

4.0
Fascinating book. Dives deep into rafting/boating through the Grand Canyon, the types of boats, the Glen Canyon dam, the flood of 1983 & the fastest ride through the canyon during this flood, and the importantly the characters involved. Very well researched and woven together. I’m far from qualified to be a literary critic, but the only reason I didn’t give it a 5 was it seemed to be over written or perhaps over my head. An example “was as ephemeral as a plume of virga”
Huh?
It is a very enjoyable read. 4.5

12140holmes's review

5.0
How many ways can you say EXCELLENT!

bobbo49's review

4.0
Although the story is centered on the 1983 flood stage run that set the 36 hour record, much of the book provides an excellent historical perspective on the canyon and its explorers, as well as the geology and challenges of the river even after the dam was built.

chipskylar's review

4.75
adventurous funny informative inspiring medium-paced
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trailcat's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

davidmchristensen's review

4.0
This book is astounding. I’ve spent my whole life in the West. I am a civil engineer with a passion for the outdoors and this book nourished me on multiple levels. The historical background of the Grand Canyon and its exploration was enlightening. Fedarko manages to detail the Glen Canyon Dam and the river’s hydraulics on an intricate level with an obviously deep level of understanding. Most importantly the story-telling inspires passion for the wild and the untamed. As I finished the book I was left with a desire to hop on the nearest raft and start down the Colorado River. Overall, this is an amazing read that may feel slow at times, but eventually yields to a story worth reading and recounting to your friends and family.

laana_pi's review

5.0
adventurous informative medium-paced