I have to agree with the previous reviews that gave this book low marks. From the very beginning, Todd Balf rubbed me the wrong way. The whole build up is disgustingly sycophantic and so much of it is irrelevant and boring--in reality maybe it wasn't, but it's presented that way--that it's hard to even make it to where the actual boating occurs (2/3s into the book). Balf's incessant fawning is just nauseating. They're just people Todd, they really aren't gods. Being a kayaker myself--admittedly not even close to the same league as the book's characters--I found Balf's handling of the story to be very poor. I may be wrong, but I just don't think he has a clue to what it's all about. My impression of Balf is that he's a wannabe that couldn't be, so he took to writing about his fantasies he couldn't fulfill. I know that sounds harsh, but if you read the book, you might just see what I'm talking about. But don't waste your money. Check it out at the library is you're really curious.

A caveat -- I've never done any river running. Now, after reading Todd Balf's book, I feel like I partially understand, in a white water sense, much more of the sport. The best thing about this book is that you fully experience the running of this mad river in Tibet! The river is awesome, beautiful, and irrestible. The guys running the river were nuts but somehow believed they knew what they were doing - and that they could survive. Not true. Not only do you learn a ton about the sport of extreme river running but also about the politics, and second guessing, of putting together an expedition to a far off country. I recommend the book highly and predict a breathless reading experience. Maybe someday I will go to Tibet and experience the last river!

Todd Balf's The Last River was a very compelling read about something I know little about - the sport, adventure and competition of white water kayaking. It was also a very interesting read about a part of the world that I always find intriguing - Tibet -- and the history of the Tsangpo region and the river itself. However, what made the book compelling was the story of the group of people involved in kayaking and this adventure, both those who went on the trip and those who didn't. I also enjoyed Into Thin Air and Perfect Storm, and would be surprised if this book wasn't another bestseller.