African Game Trails

This book proved to be a most fascinating read. I've read all of Peter Hathaway Capsticks books on African big game hunting and, in my humble opinion, they all merited 5 stars. This work, by a former president no less, is every bit as good. I hunted for quite a few years but, with time and a softening heart, have lost the desire to destroy any living thing. I do know that if it were not for hunting, and all the spending that goes into the pursuit of wild game, we would not have a lot of the preserved land and game animals that exist today. More to the point regarding "African Game Trails"... I have a whole new respect for Mr. Roosevelt. His mastery of the language (as spoken over 100 years ago, hence, sometimes seeming strange to younger readers) is remarkable and paints veritable masterpieces in the readers mind. At first I was a bit appalled by the seemingly endless and callous killing of so many animals but when you realize that he was, in his way, saving these special creatures for scores of generations to come, well, I'll let the reader draw their own conclusion. This book has also whetted my appetite for additional "Teddy" gems. If you are into Africa and the whole scope of flora and fauna that entails... if you want to feel exactly what it's like to come face to face or face to horn with Africa's most dangerous (and less dangerous) game; if you want to learn about the plants, trees, wait-a-minute thorn bushes and every type of creature from the smallest of rodents to the largest tusker and square faced rhino, then hold onto your seat and prepare to feast on the smorgasbord of smorgasbords! Perhaps, when you are nearing the end (sadly) you might feel as I felt... that I had just read an entire encyclopedia dedicated strictly to the dark continent - with an emphasis on a year-long pursuit of it's wild game!

An interesting read written by our former President. After not being able to finish The Naval War of 1812 I was glad to find this a much better read. A little long with the same thing happening almost every day it still holds your interest until the end of the book.

I’m trying to get past the racism, and see a fun filled travelogue. I guess if I squint my eyes real hard a see it from Teddy’s viewpoint, maybe it would work..

Good book. I don’t care for it being the size of a high school text book though.

The history and hunting stories.

As advertised

Interesting glimpse into the life of the former president.