The Oregon Trail

A New American Journey

By: Rinker Buck

Narrated by: Rinker Buck

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.

©2015 Rinker Buck (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Don Quixote and Sancho Panzo on the Oregon Trail

When we think of the Oregon Trail or the Appalachian Trail, we think of cute little hikes, pioneers, out for a Sunday stroll with the occasional Indian attack as their only deterrent. The Oregon Trail shows just how dangerous and grueling that trek to the west actually was. The writer, who also happens to be a good narrator for his own book, offers a piece of history and a first-hand experience of heading west by covered wagon. With his quirky brother by his side, this becomes the Sancho Panzo and Don Quixote tale of the Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail retreaded and story retold

A great story of Rinker Buck’s modern journey across the American West in a covered wagon drawn by a mule team. This is wonderful tale of the pioneer West along the Oregon Trail, yesterday and today from the old Mormons and many pioneer hero’s of the past both women and men, to modern day saints along the road. Buck tells a great tail of brotherhood among men and no more poignant than one than the story of brotherhood between Rinker his brother Nick as it evolves along the Oregon Trail. Loved it!!!

Engrossing

This was an exceptional story. Who thinks about the Oregon Trail these days? The author's journey along this trail is a spectacular account with many side trips into old journals and reminiscences. Thoroughly enjoyable and most highly recommended!

Great adventure story and heartwarming tale.

I grew up with a mule and other critters and have sleighs, wagons, etc. The sheer audacity of this undertaking seriously impresses me.

I find it to be very encouraging how well they were treated by nearly everyone they encountered. In an age when we seem so divided, this was very welcome reporting. That it was two brothers making the trip together makes for an interesting twist as well.

The stripped down language and lack of pretension was a breath of fresh air. My hat's off to Rinker, Nick, and Jake.

Prairiesmoke from Texas

Rinker, I relished Flight of Passage. Being a pilot recalling the earliest days let me share the adventure. Your dad was my dad. How strange.
My highest praise for this beautifully-told tale, The Oregon Trail. Thank You to you, Nick and the mules ... especially Jake.

Amazing Adventure

Although the narration was unique, to say the least, it was absolutely perfect for this story! Rink added a such a personal, real feel to the awesome adventure that I felt as If I were traveling along with them on a life journey. Any adventurer, real or wannabe, can relate to and relish this story.

Author was annoying

I found the adventure of retracing the Oregon Trail a great subject. The history given was very interesting; but the author's political preachiness caused me to stop listening with two hours to go. He is an elitist who makes sweeping assessments of non- east coast people. He finds most distasteful and stupid. This is despite the fact these 'idiots' saved his ass several times.
If you aren't a New England trust fund liberal, you won't like this book.

Excellent book

Part history and part modern adventure. If The Oregon Trail ever had a Tarzan Rinker and his brother are it. Second listening and loving this book.

great story bad narration

I really enjoyed the material, the writing and the story. although having the writer as narrator gave it some emotional impact, he had a hesitating stilted way of talking. Hesitating after every few words, sometimes every word. This changed the emphasis in strange ways. Not noticable at first, but as the narrative continued it became maddening and annoying. The stilted, hesitating narration greatly took away from the excellent writing and the power of the inspirational story. A smooth narrative by a professional reader would have greatly enhanced an already great story.

Not what I expected- better

You know when you buy something, you get it home and you are disappointed when you open it? That was this book. I guess I didn't really read the right up.
You know the feeling when you go to use the aforementioned product and it ends up being much better than you expected, that is this book.
I couldn't wait to turn it on at every opportunity to listen. Exciting and invigorating. The total victory of the human spirit. My kind of storey with lots of good old-fashioned excitement in between.
In closing I have to say; Rinker, Nick I am very jealous!