5 comments about Rocketman: Astronaut Pete Conrad's Incredible Ride to the Moon and Beyond.

1. I have read a lot of material on the Mecury, Gemini, and Apollo missions and found this book to be a nice easy read. There were a couple of items that were mis-quoted, but other than that, I enjoyed reading it. I would suggest for readers of this type of material to be sure to read "Failure is not an option" by Gene Krantz, he was the flight director who was envolved with Mecury all the way to Apollo 17. With the knowledge of his book, it helps to understand a lot of what's going on. I did however, seem to notice a lack of writting about Pete Conrad's family. I have done business with Pete Conrad Jr. and he's a great guy. I was suprised to see so little mention of his family in the book. There was just a small part about them in the book. I guess perhaps written by is present wife would explalin it. But I enjoyed reading the book. Long may you rise above the earth Pete Conrad.
   
   KLD



2. Pete Conrad had a fairly colorful style about him, part cowboy - part engineer - full time iconoclast. However, these traits do not come thru in this book. The writing does not convey the dynamics of the man, so ultimately it becomes little more than a 'just the facts' biography.
   
   While I doubt any astronaut book came come close to capturing the human story of space Michael Collins' "Carrying The Fire", this book had a chance since it focused upon one of the truly unique characters in the space program. So am immensely dissapointed at the final product.



3. I enjoy reading about this time in American History and consider myself a student of the early space program. In that regard, in a brief perusal of the book, I have already noticed some factual errors that should have been caught by the editor or by Mr. Klausner. First, in the picture section, it shows a picture of Pete on the ladder about to board an F4 Phantom, yet the label says that he is posing in front of a T-38. Another error is related to the issue with "Max Peck". Max Peck was the Mgr of the Rice Hotel in 1962. After the 2nd group of astronauts was chosen, including, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, Jim Lovell, Ed White and Neil Armstrong they were asked to check in under the Mgr's name to avoid their names reaching the press prior to their formal introduction. However, this book states that this happened back in 1959 when the first 32 candidates for the Mercury program checked into a a non-disclosed hotel in Washington. Not only is that fact wrong, but they didn't check into a hotel in 1959 for that first meeting but the Dolly Madison house in Washington.



4. The book arrived within the scheduled delivery time in excellent condition.
   
   Thank you,
   
   Mark & Francine Keehnel



5. I've read way too many space books, so I love the subject matter, but the style of this one was too breezy, lacking in important detail. Each chapter is about 12 words long, so you get the impression this was either rushed through or intended for young adults. I learned little about the man, whom I wholly admire. Did he alienate anybody? Were there any character flaws? Also, I was looking to learn more of an insider's view of Gemini and Apollo, but it was all very superficial, heard-it-before material. I'd read a bit about Conrad, like his attempt to smuggle onto the moon a huge cowboy hat to fit over his space helmet, or his attempt at trick photography on the lunar surface, hoping to befuddle the photo analysts later. Neither of these gems were in the book. He's a great guy, a pilot's pilot, a problem-solving magician with a live-for-the-moment spirit. But the book is really junk food, even for a space nut like myself. Sorry, Pete. They done ya wrong.

5 comments about Daring The Sea: The True Story of the First Men to Row Across the Atlantic Ocean.

1. George Harbo and Frank Samuelson are drawn to each other as Norwegian immigrants to late 19th Century America, both by their shared background and their common love for the sea on which they make their living. It's a spare living at best, though, despite the opportunities the U.S. offers that Norway does not. After years of trying to build financially successful lives, George finds himself separated from his growing family because his wife is better able to care for their children by returning to Norway; and Frank worries over his younger siblings who arrive in New York expecting to find miracles there. The friends come up with a plan to win fame, and with it (hopefully) fortune, by setting a world record. Under the sponsorship of a New York tabloid, they will row across the Atlantic Ocean. No one's ever done that before; and as New York prepares to see them off, just about everyone else seems sure they're heading to their deaths.
   
   This clearly wasn't an easy story to tell engagingly, and I give its author plenty of credit for handling it as well as he did. The first chapters, which provide the background for the crossing itself, presented a bit of a slog for me; but the crossing was harrowing reading, the kind that kept me turning pages because knowing the ending already did nothing to allay the suspense. The tale is based solidly on documentation, despite the author's use of dialog that had to be fabricated, and the historical context provided goes a long way toward making the voyage's ironic aftermath both understandable and touching. Not the best written true adventure I've read, but a pretty good one overall.



2. Though this story would have been exciting as a work of non-fiction, author Shaw's choice of fictionalizing the first transatlantic rowboat voyage gave him license to paint a couple of truly appealing characters and a picture of being on the ocean that left me feeling wet, tired, cold, and exhilarated after finally making port. You can't ask for more than that from a book printed on paper truly meant to be thrown away after one reading...



3. In 1997, my cousin Jerry Bryant wrote a wonderful sea shanty/folksong simply titled "The Ballad of Harbo and Samuelson - a tribute to these two remarkable men after Jerry had completed a lot of research (but not as much as Mr. Shaw). "We'll see you in France or we'll see you in heaven, cried Harbo and Samuelson out on the bay" goes the chorus. After hearing this song, I began looking for more on this voyage, that as one previous reviewer of this book said, "has been kept a remarkable secret". And I found it in this book. Anyone with a thirst for doing the impossible, with a taste for adventure, and an amazement at the human spirit, will enjoy this book immensely - I read it in one night.



4. David W. Shaw captures the taste of salt in this well written and researched book. It is a page turner not only because of the subject matter but the author obviously knows what the sea is capable of with first hand knowledge. The reader can taste the salt and viscerally feel the ordeal these men went through. It is sad that these men were so soon forgotten and wonderful that Shaw has brought this story back to life.



5. Two intrepid men set out to row across the Atlantic, at a time when new exploits were filling the news. The two men thought their feat, if successful, would bring them fame and fortune. Being life long watermen, they were well suited to the daunting task, and it was a near-deadly challenge! David Shaw masterfully captures the dangers of storms at sea and the physical and emotional challenges involved. The men were Norwegian immigrants to the US and were having a difficult time earning a living in the 1890s. The idea of rowing across the Atlantic seemed to be within their capabilities and might possiblty be a path toward 'real money'. Against all odds, in an open, small row-boat, they succeeded. But they never excited the imagination of the public and their gains never materialized. If you like adventures and challenge writing, or if you like sea stories, this is for you.

5 comments about Strange And Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure And Madness.

1. The history of adventure and adventure travel has many stories and heroes: so how is the search for adventure defined, and what makes seekers distinct? STRANGE AND DANGEROUS DREAMS: THE FINE LINE BETWEEN ADVENTURE AND MADNESS covers the lives of eleven selected adventurers, some well known and some more obscure, covering two centuries. Chapters categorize these explorers by the emotional turmoil that drove them out into the world - and their common connection is that each has been called 'mad'. Psychological probe meets adventure story in a collection highly recommended for general library acquisition.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. From the perspective of someone who has a terrible mind for history (the kind of person who forgets about most historical figures soon after learning about them), I found this collection of histories to be surprisingly memorable and genuinely interesting. Author Geoff Powter does a great job of choosing some historical figures we have all heard of (like Meriwether Lewis) and throwing in several we haven't (like Solomon Andree). Each adventurer's life is covered relatively thoroughly from birth to death, but at a pace that keeps each segment interestng. With journalistic accuracy (and impartiality), Powter presents several sides to the most crucial or questionable events of each character's strange and/or dangerous path.
   
   Although it's true that many of the author-imposed categories for these troubled adventurers could be switched or overlapped, I don't think that takes away at all from the telling of the stories themselves. They all struck me as fascinating and quite worthy of being included in this volume.
   
   I found Strange and Dangerous Dreams to be an engrossing read when I had the time (sometimes I would read through three segments in a sitting) and at other times, a very easy book to pick up and put down at will. The organization of the book into differently-themed chapters and larger sections made each individual story more of a complete unit, and therefore easier to read in shorter sittings. Either way, if you're a history buff or a psychology enthusiast, this is a fascinating and informative read- no matter how much time you have on your hands. I highly recommend it.



3. Given the cover graphic and book title this is not a book that I would normally have picked up and started to look at. However, after reading through it I find that it would have been my loss. The author points out that there is often a fine line between the quest for adventure and madness. To make his point he examines the lives and dreams of several adventurers and how something in their character caused them to cross that line into madness or at least come very close to it. Some of the adventurers examined include Meriwether Lewis, Robert Scott, Donald Crowhurst, Jean Batten, and Aleister Crowley. This is a really interesting account of each of these people and an insight into their personal lives. Strange and Dangerous Dreams is a recommended read for people with a passion for adventure and history.



4. The real key to this book is in its sub-title. The author is a psychologist and a veteran of thirteen climbing expeditions to the Himalaya. Perhaps he, himself, is his first patient as he examines what makes people take on dangerous hobies, sports, or jobs. He is examining 'the fine line' that marks the difference between striving for your best and carrying it so far that it becomes maddness or even suicidal.
   
   We all know people who have trouble because of 'an old football injury,' or bone spur's from throwing a baseball to many times, or hearing loss from loud music. Where does the thrill of the sport cross over?
   
   It's a most interesting book, but as with the case of most psychological analysis, it doesn't give really a solid answer. It's easy to say this is an example of a person gone too far, and the other end of the scale is also easy to see. But inbetween?



5. A great and exciting topic but the book was very unexciting and seemed superficial--the three categories---lost, bend, burdened--totally arbitrary. Many of the subjects could have easily been mixed and matched in any of the other categories.
   
   The author often gives a rather long general overview of his analysis of the particular individal without thorough biographical data. The subjects/individuals are covered in approximately 12 to 20 pages. I would have appreciated more biographical facts and/or some type of clinical anaylsis rather than the superficially "psychology" presented--the writing reminds me of a bookstore cafe--the combination usually results in mediocre books coupled with mediocre coffee. Here we have a mediocre book about adventurers coupled with mediocre psychology.
   
   Maybe he should have justed written about several mountain climbers and their dangerous dreams rather than race through so many different subjects. I was hoping for something more indepth--the book could easily have been 400 pages longer if the subjects were as fascinating as they initially seemed to be. I was ready for a roller coaster ride and I got putt-putt golf instead.

5 comments about Porter Rockwell Biography.

1. I have read this book before and wanted a copy of my own for my library. It is a very interesting book about a very interesting man who led a strange life. Having lived in Utah most of my life I wanted to know about the history of the people who lived here before me. The Mormons here like to make him out to be a hero of sorts but I think that he was not all that they say.



2. I agree with critics of this book, i.e., willy-nilly insertions of the Rockwell character into scenarios that are all action-based and nothing of history--if, indeed, Rockwell was a participant. There is nothing of history here--just accounts, no basis, and certainly nothing theoretical. There is nothing from the author. "Porter Rockwell" is a study of omission. There is no mention of the Mountain Meadows massacre of 1857. Early in the book, as other reviewers have noted, Rockwell is magically plopped into actions the author assumed happened. I think Mr. Dewey must be a Mormon, the mention of which is not meant critically, but an admitted Mormon affiliation would surely have meant buyer hesitance. As 1857 was bypassed, I stopped reading the book. Lastly, the book jacket lauds Mr. Dewey's "years of historical research," all climaxed by a CLIO award--which is not in any way relevant to history. The book is interesting, but is a compilation, not history. It provided the basis of a film that, coincidentally, included the author's participation.



3. I can't put this book down! Dewey does an excellent job of placing the reader back in time as he develops the amazing story that is the coming about and triumph over the persecutions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because there is little written about Rockwell, Dewey does a traffic job of taking the reader through the church's history through church archives and journals describing how Rockwell was present at many important events loved by members of the church. I give it 4 stars and say it is a must read for those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for those who would like to know more.



4. This book is a poor, almost fictional attempt to chronicle the life of the infamous Orrin Porter Rockwell. While I'm sure Dewey's intentions were good, he did a bad job of presenting History.
   His subject was a difficult one, Rockwell having left no diary. In addition, there are a few undetailed accounts of him in the official History of the Church to which he belonged. Most of the rest is speculation. Despite this lack of evidence, Dewey assumes that he knows Porter's mind and emotions on all occasions. How could he know that something "turned Porter's stomach" or "hit close to home" if Rockwell never left a journal?
   Most of his biography is speculation. The bulk of the work is actually a brief overview of the history of the Mormon church, and Dewey just inserts Rockwell wherever he wants to. For example, he tells the story of a group of Mormons who, in 1838, went out to defend their Missouri homes. Dewey just assumes Porter was there, and says he was "probably riding at their head."
   Toward the end of Rockwell's life, firsthand accounts of him become few and far between. In order to deal with this, Dewey simply lumps together all accounts and legends of Rockwell with no consistency or continuity whatsoever. The stories jump around, and each paragraph is an entirely new subject. This is very difficult to read, and does little besides give a collection of myths.
   This book gets two stars because of Dewey's obvious sincerity. He is not a historian by trade, and it shows. His subject is a difficult one to write about, and Dewey managed to chronicle his life with some accuracy (despite all the speculation). If you want to read an interesting tale/legend about one of the most heroic Western lawmen, read this book. Just don't expect much in the way of historical accuracy.



5. Dewey does a defensive history of Rockwell, and does a good job of dispelling many of the myths. But like so many writers embracing LDS apologetics, he seems to be a frustrated lawyer, having an image of himself as Rockwell's latter-day defense council. He is too careful not to impugn the reputations of early church leaders, especially Joseph Smith.

   To understand just what faith-promoting history is, we should look at what Elder Boyd K Packer says about it:

   "That historian or scholar who delights in pointing out the weaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders destroys faith.... In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided."

   So we can see that a "one-sided" history is not comprehensive by any means.

   Dewey is definitely from the faith-promoting school of history, and writes as if "the Brethern" are looking over his shoulder. Because of this he has omitted significant discomfiture found in other Rockwell biographies. This less "faith-promoting" information would have been included if Dewey had adhered to principles followed by professional historians. However, because he did not, we are deprived of aspects more rounded but unfortunately more embarrassing to the LDS Church.

5 comments about Tom Crean: Unsung Hero of the Scott and Shackleton Antarctic Expeditions.

1. One night last week I watched "Scott of the Antarctic." Being very impressed with the realistic nature of this 1960 production and, always impressed with the stalwart, intrepid, and frankly at times, insane daring of the British Explorers, I picked up this volume from my shelf and read the whole thing in a single night!! It had actually been given to me by an Irish friend about two years ago.
   
   I am grateful to that friend. Here in one book is more adventure than several explorers can pack into many lives - all accomplished by a single man - Tom Crean -- backbone of the Expedition: stalwart working-class hero and embodiment of everything that made both Ireland and Britain great nations.
   
   Tom was the non-com backbone of the operation. Someone capable with his hands, able, trustworthy and dependable in the extreme, men like Crean built the Empire and made feats of arctic exploration possible. From an adventure reader's point of view Crean was part of the last accompanying party with Scott, before Scott's choice to proceed onwards with 5 men deemed fittest. Of course Capt. Scott assured his posterity by dying along with 4 of his men. What I did not really know was the epic adventure Crean and his remaining companions endured in their eventual return.
   
   I will spare the details, but this book is packed with non-stop action (one thing that sticks out in my mind is the wild and very imprudent sled ride down the glacier -- it has to be read to be believed -- especially by anyone with actual glacier travel experience). Crean's last solitary walk of 32 kilomentres to gain help for his starving and badly scurvied companions is at once a stroke of genius, courage and luck -- he would not have survived if he had arrived 30 minutes later, by that time a wild storm pummelled the camp and Crean would have died if he had not made the hut).
   
   Crean also was a part of the Shakleton expedition and was again selected as one of the most dependable, and physically strong people to undertake the long journey to South Georgia and the also epic traverse of South Georgia ( a 34 mile trek across an island mountain range that had never been explored before). The adventure is unrelenting -- even the last kilometre before reaching the Whaling Station involves them on an abseil down a 20 metre waterfall.
   
   This book should be read for the sheer joy of understanding what gives all people strength when all else seems lost... it would have been easy to give up, but Tom Crean and his ilk never did.
   
   There is one point I should raise with this book that is a little annoying. It is the prediliction to interpret people as the embodiment of their race and nationality. Of course the Irish do this much more and perhaps better than most... but the idea that figures such as Crean are some sort of Zeitgeist representative of their country is misleading and wholly beside the point. There are points in the narrative where the author postulates what would have happenned had Crean be choosen to accompany Scott...there is also the attempt to make the obligatory genuflections to Irish Nationalism -- how does one square the circle of him being the right hand of Empire but at the same time significantly nationalist enough for the Irish (as if loyalty to the British made a person any less Irish).
   
   In simple terms Tom has little time for politics -- he evaluated people individually. It wasn't like him to judge. He was in many ways the strong and silent type. As such he offers us a template for a very fulfilled, dependable and just human being This is the story of this remarkable man.



2. Tom Crean is a true hero of the age of exploration. He was a man of great courage, strength and conviction. He was a member of two South Pole voyages with Scott and one with Shackelton. One could argue that had Scott chosed Crean over P.O. Evans to represent the "lower decks" on the last push to the pole, Scott may have survived to tell the tale. As it was, Crean is credited with saving the life of Lt. Evans as they struggled back after being the last support group to leave Scott and his party of five on the polar plateau and thus were the last to see them alive. Additionally, Shackelton credits Crean with, if not saving his life, being integral to the success of the Endurance expetdition by playing a central role in Shackelton's escape from Elephant Island and hike to eventual safety. Michael Smith tells an exciting, compelling story of the stark realities of the age of exploration in the early 1900's. This book is a factual story, expertly told about the "follower" Crean, a quiet man with strength and character that are so remarkable it is difficult to comprehend. Everyone of us can learn something from his example. This is a story about human endurance and will.



3. May I state from the outset that I am Irish, so my opinion is probably biased. I was enthralled by the book, and this unsung hero (what a title, given that he never spoke about his exploits). Smith did a remarkable job given that Crean left so little written material behind. I am dissapointed with earlier remarks about "Not much new here folks", they obviously missed the point. This book is about Crean and his part in the well documented events of thos days. Crean is my hero, I would have loved to have known him.



4. Having read about Amundsun,Scott and Shackleton,this entry on Crean[and the Biography on Worsley],complete the elusive details on a host of characters who chose to go where no others had gone before. Isolated and at the unrelenting mercy of the elements,these thoroughly detailed accounts evoke the best of the human spirit.



5. A captivating read and even more than a book about Tom Crean.
   Michael Smith assembles a intriguing chronology that reveals
   a compelling perspective of the times and lives of the Polar
   Explorers. An insightful character analysis into the leadership and the crews.
   My only complaint is,after Smith's meticulous documentation of names,dates,latitude/longitude, and geographic locations,
   the book offers only a few rudimentary maps. But you can easily remedy this(inconceivable oversight)by obtaining the USGS Topographic Index Map of Antartica(free)and a beautiful Satellite Image Map($7 US)scale 1:5,000,000 mapI-2560.I plotted as I read and ended up with a great reference souvenir.

1 comments about Crossing the Darien Gap: A Daring Journey Through a Forbidding and Enchanting and Roadless Jungle That Is the Only Link by Land Between North America and South America.

1. Pros: enjoyable read
   Cons: wish I would have known this adventure took place many years ago before. Was disappointed at the end of the book to read how many years ago this actually took place (roughly 20 yrs). I plan to enter the Darien in the next few years and was hoping for something fairly recent.

5 comments about Scott's Last Expedition: The Journals.

1. I am reading the original 1913 edition. This is a truly great book. It is very well written, very exciting, and so far brutally honest.
   
   It is quite clear where the British made mistakes but that should not be the point. This is a journal by a great explorer who was writing events as they happened. It is full of praise for his men. Scott also criticizes himself for his errors in judgment. In a sense, the die was cast: they had lost many of their animals and nearly lost their lives before the main trek to the pole even started. And they were now forced into a race for the pole, which had never been their intention.
   
   They could not quit, as this would have been a national disgrace. So they went ahead anyway, hoping that hard work, the weather, and shear luck would prevail. But it didn't. Ironically, just a year later, many British solders would be facing the same hopeless odds in the battlefields of WW1 France.
   
   This is a classic (tragic) story, told as it happened by a fine author. I highly recommend it.



2. About halfway through this diary account of the Terra Nova expedition, it becomes clear why Amundsen made it first to the pole ... and why Scott's was the greater achievement. The Norwegians focused completely on getting to the pole and back: no fuss, no elaboration, no scientific spin-offs. Amundsen cared not a whit about paleobotany, the discovery of a new parasite in fish livers or pony psychology. (More to the point, Amundsen kept to dogs.) Scott took an interest in everything, and he was willing to experiment. The diaries brim with accounts of sledging diets, weather balloons, penguin dissections, ice crystal formation, geologic strata and killer whales. He writes of what it is like to be without the sun for four months, of feelings stirred by the aurora australis, and of the colors of ice and sea and sky. He describes camp life and daily routines and the antics of ponies and dogs. And, knowing he has failed in his goal, he speaks movingly of his obligations to his country ... and to science. Among the items dragged to their final camp by three exhausted, half-frozen dying men were 35 pounds of fossils - fossils which would help rewrite geologic history.



3. It's really too bad that "Scotts Last Expedition" was heavily edited by Sir J.M. Barrie, the talented author of Peter Pan. We'll never get to read Scott's real diary, which, I suspect, is a good deal more forthcoming on his feelings about Lt. Teddy Evans (his No. 2), Cecil Mears (his dog driver), and perhaps his own flawed self.

   Still, "Scott's Last Expedition" belongs in every collection on Antarctic exploration, regardless of whether you feel Scott is a hero or a buffoon. An original copy from the 1920s will set you back $300 or more, so this paperback reprint for $10 or so from Amazon isn't a bad deal at all. True, it doesn't look or smell the same, but it still has all of that great source material on diet, clothing, equipment and the officers and crew.




4. While the story is known to most armchair explorers, nothing beats the saga right from the horse's mouth. Yes, the journal does drag in places, but so do long days of waiting in the Antarctic. It makes us impatient and edgy, wondering if the storms will ever end or what equipment will break next. Knowing the climax detracts nothing from how they got there--or didn't. This and Shackleton's own story really have to be read if one enjoys this kind of tale.



5. The authoritive reference for what happened on Scott's polar journey - since it was written by the man himself. Don't be put off by the appalling introduction by Bainbridge (which ruins the story if you don't know all the details since it is just a brief summary of the rest of the book - just skip it!). I wouldn't recommend reading this first (try Scott by Elspeth Huxley as an intro) but for historical interest if you get into the history of the antarctic this is a must. The actual description of the southern journey only makes up the final section of the book, most of it is concerned with the depot laying and over wintering parts of the expedition. As such most of the book is mostly concerned with the details of preparing for the journey and hence probably won't appeal as a general introduction to Scott's last expedition.

2 comments about The Shameless Diary of an Explorer: A Story of Failure on Mt. McKinley.

1. Dunn takes the cake from the grave! While the Crook Society scrambles to promote the old faker Dr. Cook, and Bryce tries to sue Washburn for his book about the McKinley fraud we have Dunn's magnificent work back in print.

   Skip the modern intro (how ridiculous!) as Dunn's razor sharp writing needs nothing added. Was Cook a fake? Of course! And far worse than that - he is seen here as a sociopath, a failure, a miserable little worm who couldn't lead a horse to water.

   It is wonderful that publishers are putting books back in print such as this one, or the Denali (Deception, etc.) triple reprint. In addition to this group we now have Washburn's brilliant images that say more in a few photos than Bryce did in 100 pages.

   A fascinating study of an expedition gone to [junk], by the man who taught everyone else how to "tell it like it is".




2. If you've read Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" you can only come away from reading "The Shameless Diary...." thinking how it must have been the model for the frankness and criticism he wrote of himself and his fellow climbers in his blockbuster Everest disaster story. Besides the no holds bared frankness of the author's daily reflections of the events of this expedition the reader is let into the authors inner mind as well as the levels of, what can only be considered, animal brutality required to actually complete such a journey, and, which could have only been common, yet previously unexposed, to all such expeditions of it's age.

   Throughout the reading I was constantly contemplating how I could have stood up to the rawness of nature that these men withstood. My own meager climbs of the major peaks of the White Mountains of Vermont, and the high peaks of the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains of New York all paled in comparison to what these men accomplished during any one day of this expedition. A recent winter day hike to Windham High Peak, NY now seems like a child's day in the sun in reflection.

   This is the sort of book that forces one to be constantly making those sorts of comparisons.

2 comments about Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition (Penguin Classics).

1. I didn't know anything about this real story until I watched BBC Conquistadors. When I learned about Cabeza de Vaca, I was eager to read the account of his years lost, wandering in the south part of North America for 9 long years until he found some "Christians" in the northwest part of Mexico. Although the book is short and simple, the information provided is invaluable, especially with the descriptions of the Indians in this region, its customs and way of living.
   One thing that called my attention was all the hardships he had to endure during his long journey, going naked and feeding mostly of fruits and roots, proving in this case that he was a survivor by nature since others were not that lucky in the same precarious environment. And yes, what a strange name.



2. I was intrigued by this strange chronicle when i lifted it from the dusty shelf of my local bookstore. I had never heard of it and I was surprised that such a thing even existed. A first-hand account of a 16th century conquistador expedition to the new lands of the Americas no less!

   The book is short enough to hold the attention and the fact that it is a true tale holds the attention through periods of drab text and detailed descriptions of the lay of the land. In fact, two distinct points capture the attention, firstly the matter-of-fact way in which cabeza de vaca views the monstrosities he is faced with, from shipwreck to torture and hunger. Secondly, the altogether human way in which the natives are protrayed; they are not seen as unthinking savages but as children, scared and uncertain, that need to be cared for. This is certainly not the tale of a gross escapade to conquer primitive peoples, rather it is an 'expedition' in every respect and it is fascinating as a result.

   At times it is a chore to plough through, but i believe the overall and lasting impression that the book leaves is a sufficient reward for the time spent on it.

   And, hang on a minute, doesn't the name of the author mean 'head of the cow'? How strange....

5 comments about Walk with Me Through Alaska.

1. By:JOSEPH ROBERTIA
   Peninsula Clarion news
   
   
   Charley Dunn, a Soldotna resident for 42 years, has experienced a lot since first coming north as a wide-eyed young man in 1966, and if a person could earn a college degree for storytelling, he would hold a Ph.D. for his gift of gab.
   
   "I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work, hunt, fish and explore in Alaska," he said.
   
   He said he has always enjoyed sharing tales of these experiences with others, but recently decided to take his storytelling a step further.
   
   "I'd tell a story and people would say, 'You should write this down,' so I finally just did it," he said.
   
   Dunn put together 25 to 30 of his more interesting, exciting and dangerous stories and sent the manuscript to two publishers, and immediately got offers from both. He decided to work with PublishAmercia a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is promoting the works of new, previously undiscovered writers and on Oct. 25, his 125-page book, "Walk With Me Through Alaska," was released.
   
   "People aren't going to believe some of the stories in the book, but they're all true," Dunn said.
   
   They take place all over the state, and Dunn said he did his best to make readers feel transported to the scene of these stories.
   
   "The areas where they occurred will be explained in detail so that you feel like you are with me in a walk across Alaska. I have included pictures so that you will be able to see the things I have seen. It is my sincerest hope that you will have the same sense of awe and inspiration that I have had about Alaska," he said.
   
   He begins the book by detailing how he came to Alaska to work as an oil field service laborer, and what was in town when he arrived.
   
   "There were no malls, fast food restaurants or large grocery stores. It was mostly dirt roads and just a few service stations without convenience stores," he said.
   
   After a few stories about working for Shell Oil Company, Sante Fe Drilling Company and Coastal Drilling Company, Dunn moves into detailing what he did in his off-time.
   
   Most of the stories are "pretty serious stories of adventure," Dunn said. There are tales of moose hunts up on Tustumena Lake, sheep hunts through the rugged mountains near Seward, and bear hunts on Kodiak where Dunn almost became the hunted instead of the hunter.
   
   There are also fishing accounts describing the heyday of king salmon fishing on the Kenai River and a story about guided halibut fishing out of Seward that is almost too good to believe, according to Dunn.
   
   "We had taken out two elderly women and an elderly man from Seattle, and their nephews from Anchorage. Between them they had caught eight halibut that when we got back weighed in at 1,068 pounds for the eight of them," he said.
   
   This meant the average weight of each fish was 133.5 pounds.
   
   "They got about 855 pounds of fillets," Dunn said, and explains in the book that at that time, halibut was selling for around $11 a pound back in Seattle, which meant the tourists had roughly $9,400 worth of delicious flatfish meat.
   
   Dunn said while there are numerous adventures stories in the book, there are also a handful of humorous tales and a few accounts that are just plain extraordinary, such as when Dunn and a friend saw an unidentified flying object up on the Little Killey River, and another time when he found an original copy of the "Call of the Wild" that was signed "To Hattie from Jack London" in a cabin on Tustumena Lake.
   
   "It would be worth a million dollars now, but we left it because it didn't belong to us," he said.
   
   As to who might enjoy reading Dunn's new book, he said there's something in it for everyone from the cheechako to the sourdough.
   
   "I think it would appeal to anybody who's interested in Alaska and the goings-on up here," he said.
   
   Asked if he thinks he will write another book now that he knows the process, he said you can count on it.
   
   "This book is by no means everything. I've lived a life some will only dream about, and I've lived to tell about it, and I'm planning on having more adventures in Alaska," he said.
   
   To learn more about Dunn's book, or to learn how to order a copy, visit his Web site at [...]
   
   Joseph Robertia



2. We are so thankful that our dad took the time to write a book about his life adventures. These are exciting, unbelievable stories that make you want to take on the world. God has been so good to keep and preserve this man all the days of his life and this book is just the begining of the fun exploits and encounters that the family has been blessed to hear stories about through the years. Anyone who likes outdoor adventure will enjoy this book. Alaska is unlike any other place you will ever experience.



3. I enjoyed every minute of this book. A very interesting quick read. I learned a little more about the state I live in and also found no problem following and understanding the author's life events. Those of us that live in Alaska have such diverse experiences due to our jobs, location, living conditions, weather, and natural events. I found myself feeling that I was there, watching as every event unfolded. This can be a harsh life in Alaska and this man chose to live it to it's fullest! Can't wait for the "rest of the stories!" Another book maybe???? Thanks for some of the tips on what to do and "NOT" to do while hunting or being out in this wonderful wilderness.
   
   Pat Ligenza - Anchor Point, Alaska



4. I have lived on the Kenai Penninsula for 32 years. I've worked many night shifts with Charlie Dunn and shared many stories with him. All the events in this book are true in fact I lived many events that are simular.
   This book explains events that several people have lived which is common to the life in Alaska. The adventure never ends. Ifyou want to know what living in Alaska is like, this is the book for you.
   
   Dan Winters



5. This is a really interesting book that is true to life.
   The author did a good job of portraying his life in Alaska.
   If you have plans to visit Alaska, this is a good book to read first.