Customer Reviews

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey (Annivers

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

if you made it this far as to read a review just by the book. what a great read, its better then the show.

When i began reading this book,i didn,t know what to expect but what a good surprise!It reads like a robinson crusoe story in the wilderness.Sure,it is a short story since he talks only of the building of his camp.But then,the photos themselves are worth the price of the book..Can,t wait to read the full personnal journal!Buy with confidence..

I just want to say "ditto" to the above review. If you've ever fantasized about spending a good chunk of time living off the land in the rugged back-country, surviving by using your own wits and muscle, then this one's for you. Well written with wonderfully telling photos. Two thumbs way up!

I was at Port Alsworth, Alaska, on Lake Clark this July 1999, and bought this book at the Lake Clark Vistor Center. The beauty of this country is awesome and spectacular. The book tells the adventure of a man called back in time. Dick chose to travel into bush country building a comfortable cabin with his two hands at the cost of $40 dollars. Surviving the severe weather with wisdom and common sense. Enjoying and making friends with the wild animals. He had great respect for God's country and the animals. Friendship with Babe Alsworth, a true christian native and bush pilot. I met Babe's son, Glen and his wonderful family, at Port Alsworth. The book is vivid in discribing Dick's many months of survival and adventure in the Alaska bush. The book is very well written and it makes you feel like you are living the adventure with Dick. Pictures of the Alaska country and cabin help to visualize your thoughts. In the busy world of today, it was refreshing to read this book and reflect on how in ages past people lived day by day. I enjoyed reading the book very much.

By choice, my husband has read this book many times. He says it's such an enjoyable book to read. In fact, he enjoyed it so much he bought the related video, 'Alone in the Wilderness' by Bob Swerer Productions. Like the video, the book is based on truth and it is an account of Dick Proenneke's secluded life in the wilderness where, for well over three decades, Dick's soul satisfying life of independent survival evolved into a genuine artform.

Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the simple and very personal story about wilderness living told in this journal. The first half of the book is probably fascinating for carpenters and do-it-yourselfers, but left me quick-reading to get to the story. Much of the middle narrative is about the author's meals, which varied little. I had hoped that there would be more about the personal challenges of living in extreme cold and complete solitude during the Alaskan winters, but there was none of that. The best parts concern the brushes with wildlife, and the expression of a simple philosophy about living in a self-sufficient, respectful way with nature. An interesting, but not compelling, read.

A very interesting daily jounal and account of someone really roughing it in the bush. This person's self sufficiency is admirable. A good read for all of us who live in a modern, mechanized society. In the end of the book many of us will question the value of all of our wants in relation to our actual needs. The author has a unique style for writing plainly and simply, yet really gets the point accross. I would recommend this book due to its uniqueness and we can all learn a lesson from it.

Glad to see this great book getting attention again! I read it years ago during my time in Alaska. I know first hand the splendid wild beauty of the place. I pulled out my copy and reread it the other day and it was like going back to an old friend. Nowadays my time is spent in tropical waters, but this book brings back memories of the Alaskan Bush.

In the 1960's Dick Proenneke chucked his years of the 50 hour work week and headed off into the Alaskan bush. He learned to live off the land, build a cabin with his own hands and simple tools, but more importantly he discovers his true self in the rugged wild country. Sam Keith takes the Journals of Proenneke along with his photographs and turns out a wonderful book of life lived in the wilderness. The first person prose works great here and allows the reader to imagine he his hearing Mr. Proenneke’s voice. I would think this is a must read book for all those who have ever fantasized about leaving everything behind and heading off into the woods. Another must read wilderness adventure I highly recommend is “Across the High Lonesome” set in California’s spectacular Sierra high country!

Few books touches the soul as much as One Man's Wilderness. The late Sam Keith has written a wonderful book which I believe was first published in 1973. Because of PBS, this book is now the talk of the town.

Peppered with photographs, this book will be enjoyable to young and old alike. It is the best book I've ever read -- the dvd is good as well and there's a new dvid out which complements One Man's Wilderness.

Sure the writing style isn't polished and there is little action, but I think that is what helps makes this such an enjoyable book. The observations and opinions presented in the closing pages (chapter 9) will cause most any reader to consider their place in their world. There is enough good here for me to add this to my extensive Alaskana library for long term keeping.