Read The Oregon Trail A New American Journey Audible Audio Edition Rinker Buck Simon Schuster Audio Books
Download As PDF : The Oregon Trail A New American Journey Audible Audio Edition Rinker Buck Simon Schuster Audio Books
In the best-selling tradition of Bill Bryson and Tony Horwitz, Rinker Buck's The Oregon Trail is a major work of participatory history an epic account of traveling the entire 2,000-mile length of the Oregon Trail the old-fashioned way, in a covered wagon with a team of mules - which hasn't been done in a century - that also tells the rich history of the trail, the people who made the migration, and its significance to the country.
Spanning 2,000 miles and traversing six states from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean, the Oregon Trail is the route that made America. In the 15 years before the Civil War, when 400,000 pioneers used it to emigrate West - historians still regard this as the largest land migration of all time - the trail united the coasts, doubled the size of the country, and laid the groundwork for the railroads. The trail years also solidified the American character our plucky determination in the face of adversity, our impetuous cycle of financial bubbles and busts, the fractious clash of ethnic populations competing for the same jobs and space. Today, amazingly, the trail is all but forgotten.
Rinker Buck is no stranger to grand adventures. The New Yorker described his first travel narrative, Flight of Passage, as "a funny, cocky gem of a book", and with The Oregon Trail he seeks to bring the most important road in American history back to life. At once a majestic American journey, a significant work of history, and a personal saga reminiscent of best sellers by Bill Bryson and Cheryl Strayed, the book tells the story of Buck's 2,000-mile expedition across the plains with tremendous humor and heart. He was accompanied by three cantankerous mules,;his boisterous brother, Nick; and an "incurably filthy" Jack Russell terrier named Olive Oyl.
Includes an extended behind-the-scenes conversation with author/narrator Rinker Buck with his brother and trail companion, Nick Buck.
Read The Oregon Trail A New American Journey Audible Audio Edition Rinker Buck Simon Schuster Audio Books
"This is a non fiction narrative primarily about two brothers taking a three mule team, covered wagon across the historical Oregon Trail. The narrative has a popular style flow and is easily read. There is a lot of information about the Oregon Trail. Personally, I found it very instructional. As an amateur history student, I probably doubled my personal knowledge about The Oregon Trail by carefully reading this work. The author also includes a good deal of personal stories insights about his own life that I found very interesting.
I closely followed the progress of the trip as described. I used maps and took notes. I enjoyed that very much. I read additional articles about the various locations. I found the entire exercise very illuminating. I plan on following the Oregon Trail as best I can on highways this fall. The author often left the highways with his covered wagon.
The author also shares his personal views on subjects such as religion. He makes it clear he is an atheist. That is all well and good but at times I found his lectures tiresome. After all there is a reason that the word "faith" exists and there is a reason we each know what it means and how it feels. In the end, Atheism is still a faith based belief system. Speaking for myself, that was probably the part of this otherwise fine work that I liked the least.
The author also went on a brief tirade against law enforcement. I am not sure that was necessary. The outburst was not related to this adventure. The author's experience during the trip with law enforcement seemed all positive.
In the event one reads this fine work and enjoys it as I did, by coincidence, a friend recommended to me another book that I also enjoyed and is of a similar format, except it is about a motorcycle trip. The name of the book is "The Old Man And The Harley" by John J. Newkirk.
Thank You..."
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The Oregon Trail A New American Journey Audible Audio Edition Rinker Buck Simon Schuster Audio Books Reviews :
The Oregon Trail A New American Journey Audible Audio Edition Rinker Buck Simon Schuster Audio Books Reviews
- Rinker (the author) and his brother decided on a whim to build a covered wagon, buy a set of mules to pull it, and head out on the Oregon Trail. They started In Missouri and travelled through Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon to get there - over 2000 miles. They essentially traced the route the settlers took, over 400,000 of them made the trip in the middle of the 1800's.
The book consists of several things - the story of the trip I great detail, ruminations about Rinker's father and how he made him who he was, and passages about the West. These included, among others, information about the importance of mules, how the wagon business prospered as a result of the Trail, the impact of the trail on the Native American population, and how the Mormons (LDS) affected the trail and its history.
In the beginning the sheer amount of information is a bit off-putting. After the first few chapters are complete it sort of becomes part of the scenery and blends in. Additionally he and his brother become humanized and there is often a warm feeling present.
They actually do make it after making their way through many hair-raising adventures. All of those are told with a breathless spirit that adds to the interest. If you have an interest in the West and how it came to be, you will enjoy this wonderful book. - I'd heard about the Oregon Trail, but didn't really know much about it. I bought this book at the suggestion of a friend. There are many books on the subject, old and newer. This one is current and informative, entertaining and a picture of the changes in the trail which was at its height in the 1840's. Obviously, Buck and his brother had very different problems than the original pioneers. That's why I decided to first read a first hand experience written by Francis Parkman in around 1845. I'm glad I did and I'd suggest that to anyone reading this recent account. Both old and new books are easy reads and excellent glimpses into an important part of American history. The newer book however might appeal to a man or someone more into the technicalities of wagon construction, mule harnesses, etc., but this doesn't take away from the relationships of people on the trail or that of the two brothers.
Both good reads! - Rinker Buck is hilarious. I was fortunate enough listen to him at a local library and it was one of the best author talks I've attended. There's a little bit of everything in here from American history that's all but been forgotten to why you should sleep next to a pile of manure. What else do you need?
- I had seen the writer on a TV show and ordered the book immediately. It was quite an epic journey of two totally different brothers who set out on a journey to trace the steps of so many pioneers who had traversed this trip across unknown territory. I was amazed that they were still able to find much of the original trail, especially through the mountains! Loved how Rinker was able to weave his own personal story/relationship with his father as he and his brother traveled. They had many interesting experiences with some colorful people who helped them along their trip. The ONLY couple who were awful to them, I hope were remorseful about their attitudes, especially when they see their names in print! It is a really, really good book and highly recommended--some strong language between the brothers! Loved that the mules have a good home together after all that travel!
- This is a non fiction narrative primarily about two brothers taking a three mule team, covered wagon across the historical Oregon Trail. The narrative has a popular style flow and is easily read. There is a lot of information about the Oregon Trail. Personally, I found it very instructional. As an amateur history student, I probably doubled my personal knowledge about The Oregon Trail by carefully reading this work. The author also includes a good deal of personal stories insights about his own life that I found very interesting.
I closely followed the progress of the trip as described. I used maps and took notes. I enjoyed that very much. I read additional articles about the various locations. I found the entire exercise very illuminating. I plan on following the Oregon Trail as best I can on highways this fall. The author often left the highways with his covered wagon.
The author also shares his personal views on subjects such as religion. He makes it clear he is an atheist. That is all well and good but at times I found his lectures tiresome. After all there is a reason that the word "faith" exists and there is a reason we each know what it means and how it feels. In the end, Atheism is still a faith based belief system. Speaking for myself, that was probably the part of this otherwise fine work that I liked the least.
The author also went on a brief tirade against law enforcement. I am not sure that was necessary. The outburst was not related to this adventure. The author's experience during the trip with law enforcement seemed all positive.
In the event one reads this fine work and enjoys it as I did, by coincidence, a friend recommended to me another book that I also enjoyed and is of a similar format, except it is about a motorcycle trip. The name of the book is "The Old Man And The Harley" by John J. Newkirk.
Thank You...
