The River by Gary Paulsen Summary
Overview of The River
When survival becomes a military experiment, Brian Robeson returns to the wilderness in Paulsen's gripping sequel. This American Bookseller Pick captivated 26,000+ Goodreads readers across 17 editions. What happens when the river turns deadlier than the forest that first tested him?
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Key takeaways
Surviving Against All Odds: When Nature Calls You Back
The wilderness has a way of stripping away pretense. When Brian Robeson opens his door to find three men in dark suits standing there, his life takes an unexpected turn. Government representatives want him to return to the Canadian wilderness to demonstrate the survival skills that kept him alive for fifty-four days after his plane crash. Brian is skeptical-"Much of what I did was based on luck," he tells them. But Derek Holtzer, the lead researcher, counters with the simple truth: "You have real experience-none of our instructors have that." This request forces Brian to confront memories of what he simply calls "the Time"-his previous wilderness ordeal that transformed him in ways others can barely comprehend. Though outwardly his life appears normal, Brian has changed fundamentally. He handles food with reverence, appreciating what most take for granted. He's grown increasingly silent, finding that people quickly grow uncomfortable with his stories or dismiss them as exaggerations. Despite his mother's fierce objections, Brian surprises everyone by agreeing to return. Something deeper than logic drives him-perhaps the knowledge his experience could save lives, or maybe the wilderness itself calling him back. What none of them realize is how quickly their carefully planned expedition will unravel, testing Brian in ways he cannot yet imagine.
The Illusion of Preparedness vs. Reality
Finding Harmony with the Wild
When Disaster Strikes
The Impossible Choice
The River's Journey
The Wilderness Within Us All
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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