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Amazon Extreme: Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft and the Most Dangerous River on Earth | 
 enlarge | Authors: Colin Angus, Ian Mulgrew
Publisher: Broadway
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy Used: $0.92
You Save: $22.03 (96%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 804965
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9
ISBN: 0767910508
Dewey Decimal Number: 918.110464
EAN: 9780767910507
ASIN: 0767910508
Publication Date: April 9, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
What were these guys thinking? In September, 1999, three young men set out to float the length of the Amazon River in a rubber raft for the sheer thrill of it. No National Geographic sponsorship, no high-end gear, no support team--just plenty of guts and a desire to do something that had never been done before. Having sailed around the world at the age of 19, author Colin Angus was no stranger to adventure. But he had only one season of river-rafting experience and that was more than the other two members of the expedition combined--hardly impressive credentials for such an ambitious, even foolhardy, exploit. After an auspicious start in which they nearly died of dehydration before even reaching the source of the river, they put their small raft in the water and experienced one adrenaline rush after another, including countless raging rapids, scarce food and clean water, and even Shining Path guerrillas. Refreshingly devoid of bravado and boasting, Angus at times makes the trip sound as if it was just another weekend jaunt into the woods rather than a five-month endurance test. That they survived at all is amazing enough--how they did it makes for an exciting and enjoyable read. The writing itself is not stellar, but they are a likable trio with pure intentions, and Angus, with help from journalist Ian Mulgrew, has created an enthusiastic recollection of the adventure of a lifetime. --Shawn Carkonen
Product Description
The true story of three enthusiastic (but inexperienced) adventurers who attempt to become the first team to raft the entire length of the Amazon River–all 4,007 miles--and (barely) live to tell about it.
To a trio of twenty-something adrenaline junkies, it sounded like an irresistible challenge: tackle the Amazon with nothing more than a rubber raft between them and fate. But when Colin Angus, Ben Kozel, and Scott Borthwick embarked on their fantastic voyage in September 1999, just climbing to the river’s source nearly killed them.
Beginning with the dehydration that nearly did the adventurers in as they hiked the Andes to the river's source, Amazon Extreme is a breathtaking account of the daily challenges, dangers, and triumphs experienced over the course of this five-month expedition. With no money to speak of and inaccurate, fifty-year-old maps to guide them, this intrepid trio manages to persevere through violent rapids, guerilla gunfire, mosquito-infested drinking water, and numerous bouts of sickness. But in spite of several near-death experiences, including one particularly terrifying moment when their raft is toppled in the raging white water, Angus's crew finds a reverence for the compelling beauty that makes this region so renowned. Amidst the hardship are moments of pure pleasure, from graceful dolphins and lush forests to the intriguing, gracious people who’ve made their homes along the riverbank.
An inspiring tale of courage and exploration, this is the story of three guys who truly went off the deep end, and one who came back to write a riveting recollection of it.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Simply Wasn't... July 10, 2005
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book simply wasn't all that good. The adventure was amazing, the book it's self not so much. While I love Angus' wander-lust, his writing is bit repetitive and makes the book somewhat forgetable. I have a hard time really seeing what he sees and trully understanding what his adventure meant to him. I think I was looking for something a bit different. I was hoping to read another person's account of a pilgramige. I want to hear a traveler's soul speak through the book. While the book is gushing with action and suspense, (Of course, they nearly died), it didn't fill me in the way I had hoped. A Dissapointment over all but if you're just looking for action in plain language, this is your book.
amazon extreme April 27, 2002
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Several years ago, I read Joe Kane's "Running the Amazon" and I was interested to hear how Angus' journey compared. Not surprisingly "Amazon Extreme" proved to be every bit as exciting. The part that intrigued me the most was their budget. These three young men had just over ten thousand dollars for the entire five month journey - and that included their transportation and equipment. It is easy to see that the sheer determination of these men is what carried them across the South American Continent in one piece. For those of you who read this book, prepare to be inspired. Perhaps the writing isn't the best in the world, but the non-stop adventure more than makes up for it. Definitely worth reading!
 This book is the definition of adventure April 10, 2002
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I had no idea that the Amazon was anything other than a flat meandering river flowing through the South American jungle. When my wife first gave me this book, I thought, 'so what? some guys went down a river.' I had no idea that only a select few have ever achieved this feat and that it was so incredibly difficult. Angus paints a magical picture of beauty and fear as they navigate the Amazon's treacherous headwaters. Snow-capped mountains, raging whitewater and excellent team-dynamics weave together to create a story like no other. I would definitely recomend this book to adventurers or adventurers at heart.
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