I love stories where people brave the elements as they complete feats that require determination and endurance. Gaechter has certainly done just that. In this book she goes over some of the challenges in planning and executing her kayaking trip from the contested source of the Amazon River to its delta.

What was an idea for a somewhat inexperienced kayaker became the trip of a lifetime for Gaechter and her husband (who owned a kayak expedition company in Latin America). Through trials and tribulations-and even moments of joy that spurred them forward-the author manages to convey the most interesting (and sometimes frustrating) parts of their thru paddle.