This book was recently chosen for my book club of dudes, perpetuating the stereotype that guys don’t read fiction. Y’all know I *do* read fiction, though, because (a) I like it, and (b) I like to be a contrarian.
Anyway, Dr. Nathalia Holt’s newest historical narrative is about the Roosevelt brothers’ 1929 expedition to the Himalayas to try and locate the fabled panda bear. Ted and Kermit were sons of former President Teddy Roosevelt, and frenemy cousins with FDR. 
Neither son could do much to get out from under the looming shadow of their father, but they did share a love of the outdoors. Taking that love of exploration, they lobbied for and eventually found funding from one of the many scientific/adventuring/exploring societies to lead a search for the panda bear, aka “bamboo bear” (what a cute name!).
Holt is a great writer – you may recognize her as the author of the popular Rise of the Rocket Girls. She throws in anecdotes, context, and even grainy photos as if she’s talking to you while on a hike. It’s natural. As a reader, you feel as if you’re on the trail with the Roosevelt brothers and their dozens of guides and support staff (many of whom could support books of their own). From sketching birds and fish by a river, to sitting by campfire reading Jane Austen (they were Austen fans), to trading with local merchants.
She also looks both critically and with forbearance at the exploration practices of these kinds of expeditions. Of course by our standards the idea of traipsing into a foreign land and shooting hundreds of animals in the name of science/museums/zoos seems reckless and unethical at best. Holt is unflinching here, and also explores how the expedition impacted everyone in real time. Unfortunately for us, she also zooms out and considers what our climate change-inducing lifestyles will do to all the species we encounter.
This is a well-written book that I ultimately could not enjoy because of the sad topic.
3.25/5 rounded down.
