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The River of Doubt
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey | Candice Millard
52 posts | 57 read | 52 to read
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelts harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth. The River of Doubtit is a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron. After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazils most famous explorer, Cndido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever. Along the way, Roosevelt and his men faced an unbelievable series of hardships, losing their canoes and supplies to punishing whitewater rapids, and enduring starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder within their own ranks. Three men died, and Roosevelt was brought to the brink of suicide. The River of Doubt brings alive these extraordinary events in a powerful nonfiction narrative thriller that happens to feature one of the most famous Americans who ever lived. From the soaring beauty of the Amazon rain forest to the darkest night of Theodore Roosevelts life, here is Candice Millards dazzling debut. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Kboltz
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Pickpick

Telling of the discovery of a tributary of the Amazon River by Theodore Roosevelt in 1914. Written so well. I loved this and all of the facts about how difficult the Amazon rainforest is. I now have a new outlook on Theodore Roosevelt as well. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

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GinaKButler
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Up next on audio 🎧 (I checked out a hard copy to see maps/photos/etc.)

My first by this author…looking forward to it!

TEArificbooks Loved this one 11mo
Texreader It‘s fantastic! Definitely in my top ten for 2023. 11mo
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

108/150 It is easy to get swept up in this amazing adventure and grueling struggle for Survival. After losing the presidential election of 1912, Theodore Roosevelt decided to join an expedition to explore part of the Amazon known as the River of Doubt. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, the expedition was ill-conceived, ill-equipped and hopelessly optimistic about their voyage. What was planned as a pleasant jaunt ⬇️

RamsFan1963 turned into an epic battle for survival. Everything that could go wrong did, from the loss of food and provisions, hostile natives, deadly animals, and fatal diseases. It's a miracle any of them survived. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 14mo
Read4life Fantastic! 🍁👻🎃 14mo
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Librarybelle Great review! I think I gave this a 4 star read when I read it…I had no idea Roosevelt did this, nor did I realize all of the dangers his group faced. 14mo
TheSpineView Sounds like an amazing story. Great job! 14mo
Texreader Such a great book!! 14mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 14mo
Suet624 I had no idea he did this! 14mo
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Texreader
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The tagged book really was that good. It wins its bracket. #readingbracket2023

Bklover This sounds good. I have to admit that whenever I think of Teddy Roosevelt he always looks like Robin Williams. (Night at the Museum). 1y
Texreader @Bklover 😂😂😂 Yes!! 1y
Amiable I love Candice Millard —her book about James Garfield was fabulous! (edited) 1y
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Texreader
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#two4tuesday Thank you @TheSpineView for the tag!

1) tagged
2) I learned so much about Roosevelt, South America, Brazil, the Amazon—& the book read like a thriller. It was excellent.

TheSpineView You're welcome and thanks for playing 1y
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Initially I had mixed feelings about Roosevelt, as he was unable to accept he lost the election & he ran again with an oversized ego, and pouted when he lost again. But it turns out, he was brave and selfless, in endless quantities. He and native Brazilian Rondon set out to map a lengthy deadly uncharted Amazon river, one that promised danger and treachery. This book reads like a thriller of the highest order. #Brazil #readingtheamericas

kspenmoll Sounds fascinating! 1y
Librarybelle I really liked this one. I had no idea about this adventure, so it was so interesting to learn something new about Roosevelt! 1y
55 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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RamsFan1963 I need to read this. I really enjoyed her book about searching for the source of the Nile 1y
TEArificbooks I really liked this book 1y
CSeydel @RamsFan1963 I thought this one was even better than River of the Gods. My favorite of hers, though, is 1y
RamsFan1963 @CSeydel I read that, and also enjoyed it very much. 1y
Librarybelle This is a good one! I learned so much from reading this. 1y
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brushlo
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Pickpick

some of this was a bit too detailed for me but what an adventure. illustrates how very different all parts of our lives were only 100 years ago. a great peek inside a period of true exploration. shows roosevelt as a very unique and iconic american president.

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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

There are a lot of ways to die on the Amazon as proven by former President Theodore Roosevelt. This was a great audiobook. I found myself especially interested in the life of Kermit Roosevelt, the President‘s second oldest son. #ReadingTheAmericas #Brazil

Librarybelle This is a good one…I enjoyed it and did not know about this episode in Teddy Roosevelt‘s life! 2y
Pikathulhu This is one of my favorite books about Roosevelt. Glad you enjoyed it too! 2y
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

An intense tale of survival. Why these explorers trusted people with little to no experience to prepare the supplies their lives would depend on, I just can‘t fathom. I didn‘t understand where the Author obtained first hand accounts from the Amazonian tribesmen. I didn‘t see such information listed in the bibliography. I hope i just missed it.

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Rburton
Pickpick

What an amazing adventure! Teddy Roosevelt‘s epic journey down an unexplored south American river. Reminded me a lot of Into thin air in its sense of doom and foreboding.

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roseread
Pickpick

A great telling, it is done so well you can picture every but of the journey feels like you're there

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Librarybelle
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I love Millard‘s narrative nonfiction writing style - she really engages the reader in the topics about which she writes. In the tagged book, she chronicles former President Teddy Roosevelt‘s exploration of the Amazons. Along with his son and others, the group wants to investigate the River of Doubt, notorious for its deadly predators, both human and animal. #Fever becomes a deadly weapon, too...will the group survive? True story. #Movember #NFNov

Cinfhen This sounds like it‘s right in my wheelhouse/ NF expedition and The Amazon 5y
ljuliel I‘ve had this book for ages , just haven‘t gotten to it yet. It sounds very good 5y
Clwojick 6pt 5y
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KCofKaysville It was fascinating. 4y
Nebklvr I loved Destiny of the republic. 2y
Librarybelle @Nebklvr Yes! My favorite of her books! 2y
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WhatWouldJaneDo
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How's everyone's #reversereadathon going? This is my first post during it - getting online can really derail me and I feel like I'm just kind of half participating since I went to work this morning anyway. But I got some audiobook in at the office - I started this yesterday to get my "set in South America" book for #GoodreadsSummerReading
#toomanychallenges

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Librarybelle
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Theodore Roosevelt‘s exploration of the #WildWorld of the Amazonian jungle almost led to his death. Millard, who wrote Destiny of the Republic (one of the best books ever, IMO, which explored President Garfield‘s assassination and medical practices of the late 19th century), does a masterful job conveying the dangers Roosevelt and his group faced. #MarchIntoThe70s

squirrelbrain Sounds fab! Also #stacked! 6y
Crazeedi Never heard of this, I must read! Stacked! 6y
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Lizpixie I‘d have loved to be a 19th/early 20th century explorer!🛶🏔⛺️ 6y
sk888888 Love her books! 6y
Pricel101 This book is so exciting and great on audio! @Lizpixie you would love this 🛶 6y
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howjessicareads
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Pickpick

Theodore Roosevelt be cray cray.

I am bewildered someone would voluntarily undertake a journey like this. 😂 #howjessreadsin2019

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Mr.Hodin
Pickpick

Teddy!

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Texreader
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I‘m going shopping for my Litsy exchange matches and having studied them, I‘ve been making lists for possible purchases. You should look at your tbr... is it you? 🙂

Tanisha_A How fun! 🙂 6y
Texreader @Tanisha_A It is! But I also have to do it this way since Litsy won‘t let you sort lists by author last name, making shopping in a bookstore with just the tbr list very difficult 6y
58 likes2 comments
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Reviewsbylola
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#audiobooking while I do some stuff around the house. Next up, tackling this craft drawer. I swear I organized it less than a month ago. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

AlaMich It‘s not you. It‘s the gremlins. 😈 6y
Reviewsbylola They wonder why they can never find what they‘re looking for. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️. @AlaMich 6y
Mdargusch Audiobookingsure helps with those chores! 6y
75 likes3 comments
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BeverleeWitvoetAbell
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Reading about an Amazon journey at a Minnesota lake seems logical to me!

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hwestfall
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This book has been fascinating to read! "He could not stand idly watching others at a time when action was required."

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zdupe
Pickpick

Whew. What an adventure this was! Millard excellently weaves the journey in to a story that kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the extra information about the Amazon's ecosystems and this history of Brazil and the Amazon. If you want to know more about Theodore Roosevelt, the Amazon, or early 20th centurl exploration, check it out!

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Markblum
Pickpick

The harrowing story of one of Teddy Roosevelt's last major adventures on a largely unexplored river in South America. It is a cautionary tale for those who leap before looking.

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BookishMarginalia
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I didn‘t know that Teddy Roosevelt had been shot while campaigning for a third term as President (as a Progressive), against Democrat Woodrow Wilson and Republican incumbent president William Howard Taft.

This is a memorable description!

Mollyanna He was shot just down the street from where I work in Milwaukee, WI. There is a plaque in the lobby of the hotel about the event. It's fascinating. 7y
DrJAdMerricksson Yes! I learned that tidbit on 'Mysteries at the Museum' 😆😆 7y
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Tamra 😮 7y
BookishMarginalia Love that show, @DrJAdMerricksson ! Interesting memorial, @Mollyanna , though I‘m not sure the guests would appreciate the reminder. @Librarybelle — thanks for the rec; stacked! 7y
TNbookworm The River of Doubt is a fascinating read, I really enjoyed it. 7y
GlassAsDiamonds Oohh - I loved this one! Very very good read 😊😊😊 7y
eraderneely I loved this one as well 7y
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BookishMarginalia
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Who knew that Teddy Roosevelt had a voice that sounded like he had inhaled helium?

Dolly 😂 7y
Tamra I didn‘t know! He did have a HUGE personality . 7y
Avanders 😆😆 7y
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DrJAdMerricksson Wow😅😆😂 wouldnae have guessed that 7y
BookNotes 😳😳 7y
Lcsmcat I didn‘t know that! 7y
Kaye Too bad our current one doesn‘t get a whiff of helium. Then I might be able to find SOMETHING he says humorous. 7y
kalinichta I think the biographer might be embroidering the truth just a tad. https://youtu.be/tVNwLzUcPYk He sounds pretty close to what I would've imagined. 7y
110 likes8 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Good Saturday morning, Littens! Here‘s to holding on to some peace and joy today. 💜

Reecaspieces Lovely! Have a fabulous day! 7y
bookandcat That's such cool coffee art! 😻 7y
minkyb Same to you! 7y
moranadatter I‘m glad you‘re having a good morning. That looks tasty! 7y
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GlassAsDiamonds
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Pickpick

I'm rendered almost speechless by how good this book was. It wasn't a fast read but it is densely poetic, exquisitely researched and empathetical written. I've no grounding in Roosevelt's history and limited exposure to exploration non-fiction but this was a truly magnificent book.

High, highly, highly recommended.

#review #recommendation

Lwiesman Great book!! 7y
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GlassAsDiamonds
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Quite humbling - I find it hard to conceive of a world without penicillin in it but .... here it is. 1914, you're Theodore Roosevelt in the Amazon charting an unexplored tributary of the Amazon, cut your leg and.... hope that the infection you catch doesn't kill you. Mind boggling.

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GlassAsDiamonds
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I'm deeply in love with Kermit Roosevelt.... of *course* when exploring an unknown Amazonian tributary you have to keep your books over the food... good man, that one, good man.

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GlassAsDiamonds
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I admit that though it came highly recommended, I did wonder how a non-fiction book roughly summarized "Ill-prepared men attempt to document unexplored Amazonia river. Goes as well as expected, title character survives" was going to maintain 353 pages. Answer - exquisite attention to detail, broad research and prose like this. Quite a joy to read, this book, quiet.

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GlassAsDiamonds
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"In general, long term peace between the telegraph-station workers and the Indians was rare".....

What worries me most about this is that I currently live in India. Hopefully the universe knows the difference between Indians and I don't meet any telegraph workers...!

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GlassAsDiamonds
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Every expat I've ever known has carried a suitcase like that so I'm glad to see even Theodore Roosevelt liked a taste of home.... 😊😊😊

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GlassAsDiamonds
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😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

And in a nutshell, that is why I hate Amazon India,
Because every single book turns up damaged.

😡😡😡😡😡

#purist

Jas16 Oh no! 7y
GlassAsDiamonds @Jas16 they're just HORRIBLE! Don't see how a book service can't understand I don't want BOOKS damaged. 😡😡😡😭😭😭 7y
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Gulfskye
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Pickpick

Just finished this. Wow! Theodore Roosevelt was a renaissance man, an adventurer, they don't make them like him any more! Very slow start, slow storytelling, but it's true and worth the read!

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Librarybelle
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First thought for the prompt #welcometothejungle. Teddy Roosevelt was many things - not only a US president, but a supporter of the environment, a soldier and an explorer. Millard details Roosevelt's exploration of a Brazilian river and the deadly consequences of such an adventure. Millard writes an amazing narrative nonfiction. #JuneTunz

Cinfhen That's cool! I love NF reads about adventurers & explorers. Amazing stuff...only 100 years ago, still so much uncharted territory! 8y
Librarybelle @Cinfhen When you think about it, it really is amazing how much is yet to be discovered. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I just picked this one up at the library book sale! 8y
Librarybelle I really enjoyed it, @Riveted_Reader_Melissa . Hope you do too! 8y
39 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Gulfskye
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Just started this. I flipped a coin and it won over Lost City of Z. I think it will be next. I've been in the mood for adventure reading. Has anyone read Lost City of Z?

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GinEyre22
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#aprilbookshowers Day 17: On the nightstand

bookandcat Tana French ❤❤ 8y
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AllisonMP
Pickpick

Millard has a gift for crafting compelling narrative and characters out of piles of research. What a satisfying read, full of who-knew facts and human connection.

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Darthdad
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Pickpick

I don't think it's possible to read this book without finding something to love or admire about Theodore Roosevelt. This daring adventure seems more like something from a Hollywood movie than a tale from a former American President's Retirement years. Millard is a superb writer that blends Travelogue, history, and natural history into a gripping story that is hard to put down. Essential reading for anyone casually interested in Roosevelt.

Texreader Yep, I have to read this one now. 8y
ValerieAndBooks This is a very good book! And to think they did all that before the advent of cell phones, etc. 8y
Texreader @ValerieAndBooks I love that fact and one of the many reasons I love history. 8y
LitLogophile Definitely my favorite pres! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I really need to move this one up my TBR list, it was recommended to me after I read 8y
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Amandajoy
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How could not pick this book for today's book set in South America? It's Teddy Roosevelt! On the Amazon! #booktober

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ValerieAndBooks
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#mapsinbooks, also #recommendsday: The River of Doubt, later called Rio Roosevelt, was a uncharted tributary of the Amazon when Theodore Roosevelt and son Kermit decided to explore it. It took several months and they almost died. Some of their men did die. Also the piranha and candiru are unforgettable 😳. Overall very gripping story. My dad sent this to me a few years back with a note thinking I'd be interested (he knows me well).

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds really good! 8y
SusanInTiburon Oh, this was a great book! Because it's nonfiction, I knew how it had to end ... But as I was reading I just couldn't believe they would make it out alive! 😱 8y
SusanInTiburon My dad sent it to me with a note, too! 😄 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa it was really interesting and I'm not into "expedition " type books! @SusanInTiburon aww it's great when dads get us isn't it ??! 8y
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Aswenson
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Pickpick

Amazing retelling of Roosevelt's incredible journey down the River of Doubt in South America. The strength of character, physical endurance, and dogged determination of Roosevelt, Rondon and crew left me in awe.

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Aswenson
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Teddy Roosevelt in one of his last campaign speeches. Perhaps we could keep this in mind for the current election?

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Kirsten.White
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So many details I didn't know. I've been reading snippets out loud to whomever I can get to listen!

MrBook Lol! Good luck with that! If I relate non-fiction, I get dead ears; if I relate fiction, I get half dead ear and half perked ears. 8y
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emilygatlin
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Heard Candice Millard at the Unbound Book Festival in Columbia, MO last month and I threw 'bows to scoop this up. SO GOOD, y'all.

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