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 enlarge | Authors: Sam Keith, Richard Proenneke
Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $6.69
You Save: $10.26 (61%)
New (35) Used (38) from $6.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  102 reviews
Sales Rank: 4934
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Edition: 26th Anniversary ed.
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.6
ISBN: 0882405136
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.984
EAN: 9780882405131
ASIN: 0882405136
Publication Date: June 1, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 5 Stars is not enough May 15, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I've read Sam Keith's book, co-authored by Dick Proenneke, several times and have found it one of the most informative how-to books on living in the wild. From his masterful work on building his cabin to the photographs and video Proenneke shot, Dick imparts his day to day fears and uncertainty on living in the wild, his quest for food on a day to day basis and his criticism of those who visit the area for a few days and leave behind their garbage and trash for others to pick up. He doesn't particulary criticize all hunters, just points out how lazy many of them are in not salvaging ALL of the meat of game they've taken. Many of them are just trophy hunters, but, they are required to respect the game and harvest all of the edible meat of game they kill. As for the man he refers to as Boss Hunter, he's referring to the Outfitter/Guide who transports the hunters in and out of the area for their hunt. Proenneke doesn't say it, so I will. Whoever that outfitter was has the responsibility of keeping a clean camp and taking ALL of his garbage back to a landfill in his home base and disposing of it properly. You can tell by comments that Proenneke made, that he was thoroughly abhorrent of transient hunters and campers coming in and using such a beautiful and pristine area and leaving it trashed. I know what I'm talking about too, because I have a place in Alaska about 400 miles north of Twin Lakes and spend several weeks a year there. All of my trash goes out with me when the float plane or ski plane pilot picks me up and goes to Fairbanks to a trash receptacle where it is then disposed of in a landfill. If you have property in the Bush of Alaska, you are much more respectful of the area and take care of it, than if you're one of these "in and outers" who just "slash and burn" an area. I've seen this repeatedly by outsiders and have cleaned up their messes, bagged it up and taken it out with me when my trip is over.
In the first part of the book, there is a poem by Robert Service entitled "I'm Scared Of It All", which compares living in the wild with living in civilization, where there are traffic snarls, danger and doom, tumult and terror in the streets and the faces of people he meets in the street," not one has the face of a comrade to me", and he closes the poem by stating "I've got to get back to my thousand mile beat (meaning the wilderness), Goodbye, (to civilization) for it's safer up there". There is an interesting entry in his diary on the 4th of July where Proenneke says something to the effect that "no one died at Twin Lakes this day, I wonder how many in the Lower 48"?
Dick was a complicated man who, at the age of 51, basically was fed up with the 'dog eat dog' mentality of the workplace and society in general, and longed for the solitude of the wilds and wanted to prove to himself that he could survive the harshness of the environment, he wanted to build a cabin with his own two hands, something he could be proud of, and he obviously loved wildlife, the idea of going to sleep at night to the sounds of the trickling waters of the nearby creek and the occasional howls of the wolves in the distance. He referred to it as nature's sleeping pill. I can identify with him, because on many nights I've gone to sleep listening to the beautiful sounds of the loons on my lake and the wolves back in the hills.
In reference to his love of wildlife, he had started a garden to see what he could do with it. At one point, a snowshoe hare (he called it a rabbit), had been eating the leaves of the peas he'd planted and then later he stated that the "rabbit had changed his menu. He cleaned half a row of rutabagas. Bet he never tasted them before, either". But not once did Proenneke say anything about killing the offending rabbit. He just stated that he really didn't need the peas, so he just let the rabbit dine unmolested.
I've picked up more each time I read the book and watched the video, little items I glossed over initially. I even bought the DVD entitled Silence and Solitude, where an author and his son went up to Twin Lakes and filmed in the area. They included Dick in their documentary and Dick was in his seventies then. At the end of their presentation they noted that Proenneke had died in 2003. His cabin is being maintained now by the National Park Service as an Historic Site.
When Proenneke went to Twin Lakes at the age of 51, he was desperately seeking solitude, he yearned for simplicity, he loved the beautiful country of what is now Lake Clark National Wildlife Refuge, and, after he met the challenge of surviving a year on his own, especially through the bitterly harsh winter, he realized he'd found his niche. No bills to pay, the most beautiful country in his world and he apparently had enough money to buy food he couldn't grow or harvest at the lake, and he was a contented man. He didn't require much. He left the world of Murders, Rapes, Robberies, Thieves and such for a simple place. He wrote and received many letters that arrived periodically on the bush plane, he referred to his brother, who he wanted to come up and see the place with him and he was friendly and congenial to those who approached him.
Some might see Dick Proenneke as a drop out, a hermit who disliked others. But, to the contrary, I see him as someone totally at peace with himself, someone who'd succeeded in the workplace and civilization for 51 years, and yearned for a change. He seemed to have found peace around him, and within himself, and was content to spend the remainder of his life with that inner peace that many of us strive for, but never really find. I saw a very happy, contented and proud man, in Mr. Richard Proenneke. Not once did I see any profanity used by him and not once did I see him wish ill will toward others. I felt so very good inside after reading the passages of the book and I was at peace with myself and felt comforted each time I picked up the book. It was truly medicine for my soul, and so uplifting to see a man so content and happy with his life. I know that many could pick apart his lifestyle, trod on his successes, try to read something into many of the things he said or did.
But.....I saw and heard what I'd like to believe was...a decent man.
Respectfully, Jim Calvert
The Original Simple Life April 16, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Someone once asked me what One Man's Wilderness was about, and to put it into a sentence or two, it doesn't seem like a fascinating read, but, in fact, it is. The day to day routine of building a cabin, watching, enjoying, and becoming a part of your surroundings, as simple yet beautiful as the Alaskan wilderness is not only is fascinating, but inspiring.
The author, Sam Keith, was my high school English teacher, and became a friend. He used to bring in his own old 8mm home movies about Dick and his own adventures in Alaska. In fact, for a hunting trip I planned to Alaska, I purchased the same antique Winchester rifle Sam used to hunt with when he was there in the late 1940's.
In today's world of complications, read this book and take a lesson from it. Keep it simple, and enjoy what's around you.
 If you have seen the Public Television show...you'll love the book. April 10, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you enjoyed the public television show about this man and how he built and lived in his Alaska cabin....you'll enjoy the book.
Written in a very similar manner to the narration of the movie, the book is a collection of Pronneke's journal writings. It is a great book to read a few pages of before going to bed to help clear your mind. It's a simple book, but very enjoyable.
If you have ever dreamed of giving it all up and moving to the mountains...but the family and job keep you grounded....then read the book and get away for at least a few minutes every day!
Simple Inspirational March 29, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book and the DVD changed my life what an inspirational story.
Pretty unreal March 19, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If u like books about being one on one with true alaskan wilderness throughout all of Alaska's crazy seasons this book's for you. I really enjoyed the fact that his journal entries made you feel like you were the one alone in the wilderness and also the fact that he built a log cabin all alone you really understand how easy our lives are after reading this book...All in all this book rocked, I would advise anyone to buy/read this book.
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