The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 4,611 ratings

Price: 19.68

Last update: 01-11-2025


Top reviews from the United States

Katherine Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Enteraining, edifying and emotional
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2016
This story of two modern-day pioneer brothers really struck a chord with me because, like Rinker and Nick Buck, I love mules. The painstaking research done by author Rinker Buck helped me understand why. Rinker's analysis of their personalities, strengths and stamina and how well the perform for skilled mule skinners made me tear up repeatedly. The story reminded me so much of mules I have known and loved.

In fact, his research into the westward journey that played such a large part in American history was fascinating. Buck added to the lore of the pioneers, while debunking some of the myths held by popular culture. The thorough historical research was certainly educational.

And the thoroughness of the research painted a picture of one-half of this brotherly duo: Rinker, the tightly-controlled and meticulous half of the pair is the perfect foil for Nick, the devil-may-care, take-things-as-they-come counterpoint. The two brothers are so thoroughly different that they often clash. But somehow, they make a perfect pair to drive a team of mules halfway across the continent.

I particularly enjoyed the scene where Nick arrives to see the mountain of gear that Rinker has carefully assembled for the trek, things he considers essential. In the pile are a matching set of mixing bowls and a shoe-shine kit. Nick contemptuously tosses most of Rinker's precious cargo aside, while Nick tries to sneak most of it back into the wagon, hiding it under hay bales.

For despite the fact that Rinker's research showed how many possessions the original pioneers had to abandon alongside the trail, like his predecessors, Rinker was too attached to the material things to start off without them. His transformation from the perfectly-groomed city boy into the unwashed, tattered trail boss is only one of the entertaining aspects of this book.

This book offers history, personality, good humor and adventure. It makes you wish you could have gone along for the ride.
J. M. Alexander
4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable and Informative Journey
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2016
When I bought this book I only knew that it had been on a number of “best book” lists for 2015. I didn’t know exactly what it was about (I assumed it had something to do with the Oregon Trail), but thought that it might be a Stephen Ambrose type work of historical non-fiction. As I started to read, I realized that it might be more akin to a work by Bill Bryson. It was, perhaps, a combination of both. (NOTE- I am not an expert on these authors; these thoughts just popped into my mind. Thus, my apologies to fans of those two, and Mr. Rinker, as well as to the authors themselves (Mr. Ambrose now unable to receive this message) to the extent that I might have caused offense.)
The book is about the present day journey of Mr. Rinker and his brother, Nick, across the Oregon Trail by mule drawn covered wagon. It is really a number of stories woven together. For me they can be broken down in no particular order as follows.
First, the Buck brothers are quite interesting characters– Rinker a graduate of Bowdoin and an accomplished journalist and writer; Nick a non-college graduate and one of those incredibly talented individuals who can make or fix almost anything. While Rinker pursued his career in writing, Nick did odd jobs in his home state of Maine, refurbishing decaying mansions, driving horse drawn sleighs in the winter, and buggies in the summer, and generally being a “handy man”. Rinker conceives of the idea of making the trip, and invites Nick as a bit of an afterthought. The introductory chapters about them and the rest of their family form an intriguing and engaging narrative, and the development of their relationship while on the trail is a heartwarming tale.
Second is, of course, the journey itself, one that tries to recreate as much as possible the rigors experienced by the 19th Century pioneers. They travel the route almost entirely without the benefit of “support teams” following in trucks or RV’s, and spend most of their days in the wagon or on foot, and their nights sleeping under the canopy or the stars. Although current civilization obviously disrupts much of the original trail, there are many stretches that are almost as barren and unpopulated as they were in 1850. Perhaps more so, because for a decade or more the trail was full of travelers headed west, so there was nary a time when a wagon would be on its own. By contrast, the Buck brothers were often by themselves, a lone venture that tested their determination and resourcefulness. The reader really begins to appreciate the rigors of the trip, and the intricacies of handling a team of mules. The trip also brings out the magic and majesty of slowly traveling across the American West. The brothers are often struck, perhaps awestruck, by the pure challenge of the journey and the beauty of the plains and mountains. Sometimes they wish, despite the hardship, that it would go on unabated.
The third story is that of the relationship between the brothers and their mules. This may not seem important in and of itself, but, to me, the bond between these men and these animals was a wonderful part of the book. Each day, as they struggled over miles of terrain, they learned to trust and rely upon each other more and more. The mules were spoken of as rugged and determined partners in the trip, not as some “beasts of burden”.
The fourth story is of the people that they meet upon the trail. As mentioned above, they did not travel with a support entourage. Instead, they generally relied upon the hospitality of ranchers and farmers to allow them to graze the mules and bed down for the night in the wagon or an outbuilding. (Rinker always slept in the wagon. Nick and his dog, Olive Oyl, slept outside the wagon in whatever shelter was available.) At other times they stayed at public corrals that are sprinkled across this part ot the country. As the news of their journey began to spread, and precede them along their route, their receptions became more enthusiastic, but even from the beginning they were almost always warm and welcoming.
The last story is built by the author from historical records. He read a great deal before the trip, and as he and Nick went along various portions of the trail he would recount stories of some of the original pioneers who passed through these same spots. The juxtaposition of these historical anecdotes is well done and adds much to the story of the modern journey.
This is a well written, light-hearted and enjoyable book. To resort to that overused and unsophisticated adjective, I thought the book was “nice”. In this day and age, that might represent quite an endorsement.

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