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313 reviews for:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
Kevin Fedarko
4.34 AVERAGE
313 reviews for:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
Kevin Fedarko
4.34 AVERAGE
This is a great book! While the record breaking dory run down the Grand Canyon takes center stage, this book is very much also about the circumstances that allowed it to take place, foremost of which was the massive El Nino storms of 1983 that came close to overwhelming the Glen Canyon Dam. The language is a little overflowing, but Emerald Mile is a great source of info about the modern history of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon.
adventurous
informative
tense
slow-paced
I did not like this book because I felt no inspiration from this story of three Grand Canyon obsessed boatmen that thought it was a good idea to blatantly break the law to claim something as meaningless as resetting a speed record that they themselves already had.
However, I did thoroughly enjoy the context that was used to set up the significance of the main event. Even though I felt like the author included too much context and too many supporting side stories, the quality of the context was enough to tip the scales of my rating to a barely favorable three star.
However, I did thoroughly enjoy the context that was used to set up the significance of the main event. Even though I felt like the author included too much context and too many supporting side stories, the quality of the context was enough to tip the scales of my rating to a barely favorable three star.
It can be hard to get past the fact that adventure accounts like this generally document white guys marshalling a lot of resources (social captial, $$, fossil fuel) to try to touch the space where man and nature collide or intersect or whatever. They're usually a ton of fun to read, though, and "The Emerald Mile" was no exception. I'm completely ready to cruise down the Colorado on a dory.
A must read for anyone who has spent any time on the Colorado River. It made it easier to read that I was able to know and understand the specific rapids they talk about. Good read about the magic, history, and issues of the canyon
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
As someone who is Not Interested in rafting, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. A very interesting story!
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Absolutely incredible story. Beautifully written.
Wildly inaccurate description--only about the last sixth is "the epic story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon."
Storytelling at its finest. Fedarko simultaneously makes the reader feel both enormous and insignificant; over 500 years of history and the culmination of social, political, and other forces come together for an inspired work of raw American adventure seeking. Each part felt independent but built upon and added to the overall collective story creating a depth that is only rivaled by the canyon itself. I spent hours viewing photos and videos about the people and events within the book; I learned about debris flows and what it looks like when the water overflows off the cliffs into the canyon; I've reviewed maps of water supply forecasts and predictions for precipitations and the effects it will have on the river; I even researched the cost of the trip (~$5,000/person!!!). This book was a blast to read - and a nice respite to the typical nonfiction books which tend to be mostly encircle unpleasant things.
A colleague of mine recommended this book to me. He had said it was about a boat trip down the Colorado River. While I concede that the famous 1983 speed run is mostly if not pragmatically what The Emerald Mile is centered on, I would argue I found more value, if I dare steal from Buzz Holstrom, "in the doing of the thing"; and in this case, the "doing" is the "telling". I found the at the interconnectivity of the people, nature, politics, technology....all of it....was just awesome. I don't know what else to say except that if you are reading this review and haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and start the thing today. You won't regret it.
A colleague of mine recommended this book to me. He had said it was about a boat trip down the Colorado River. While I concede that the famous 1983 speed run is mostly if not pragmatically what The Emerald Mile is centered on, I would argue I found more value, if I dare steal from Buzz Holstrom, "in the doing of the thing"; and in this case, the "doing" is the "telling". I found the at the interconnectivity of the people, nature, politics, technology....all of it....was just awesome. I don't know what else to say except that if you are reading this review and haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and start the thing today. You won't regret it.
Really interesting subject matter but the overly dramatic language got distracting after awhile.