Amazon Woman Audiobook By Darcy Gaechter cover art

Amazon Woman

Facing Fears, Chasing Dreams, and My Quest to Kayak the Largest River from Source to Sea

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Amazon Woman

By: Darcy Gaechter
Narrated by: Laura Jennings
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $31.97

Buy for $31.97

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Part memoir, part feminist manifesto, this narrative shows what incredible feats we are capable of and will encourage people, especially women, across all backgrounds and ages to find the courage and strength to live the life they’ve imagined.

This 148-day journey began on Darcy Gaechter’s 35th birthday. She sold her successful outdoor adventure business, upsetting her partner and boyfriend of 12 years and getting them both fired in the process. The emotional waters that would fester and erupt on the ensuing journey were often more challenging to navigate than the mighty river itself. With blistering lips and irradiated fingernails, Darcy would tackle raging Class Five whitewater for 25 days straight, barely surviving a dynamite-filled canyon being prepared for a new hydroelectric plant. She and her two companions would encounter illegal loggers, narco-traffickers, murderous Shining Path rebels, and ruthless poachers in the black-market trade in endangered species. They would plead for mercy at the hands of the murderous Ashaninka people who were convinced that they had come to steal their children’s organs.

In a desperate attempt meant to give her some pretense of control, Darcy even cut off all her hair before entering Peru’s notoriously dangerous “Red Zone” in hopes of passing for a boy and being seen as less of a target. At once a heart-pounding adventure and a celebration of pushing personal limits, Amazon Woman speaks to all of us feeling trapped by our desk-bound, online society. This a story of finding the courage and strength to challenge nature, cultures, social norms, and oneself.

©2020 Darcy Gaechter (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC
Adventure Travel Extreme Sports Personal Success Water Sports Women Adventure Outdoor Heartfelt Boating Celebration Kayak Memoir
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Amazon Woman

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    61
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    50
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    51
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

such an exciting story!

this book was everything I wanted it to be. I grew up in the Aspen valley and it feels so cool to know that one of our locals did such an amazing thing and continues to do such amazing things.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story of adventure and exploration!

The book was great and I loved learning about some of the history of the Amazon river basin and its people. The first chapters were really gripping and I loved experiencing the whitewater sections of the river through the storyteller's voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story telling

She did a great job, it was a joy to listen to. Would love to listen to more books by Darcy Gaechter

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More than just an adventure book...

There are many facets to this book beyond kayaking, beyond adventure travel, and beyond the now well worn “human spirit triumphs over a seemingly impossible challenge”. While all of those are present and enjoyable here, Darcy reflects on more personal and in many ways more universal questions and issues. The challenges faced by women athletes, the difficulties of relationships and interpersonal dynamics in difficult times, and my personal favorite “What the hell am I doing with my life?” While Darcy chose a very different path in life than I have, many of the questions remain the same. While very few of us can imagine what it’s like to paddle 148 days down the Amazon almost everyone can relate to the agonizing dilemma of trying to choose between something you love and what society / family / and “better judgement” say we should do. It’s this deeper theme that made this book special for me, maybe it’s a different theme for you, there are several good ones to choose from in there.

Additionally, killer job by the narrator! She translates the emotions of the text incredibly well. You can hear the tension, fear, and exhaustion in her voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book for Everyone

Incredible story. I'm not a kayaker, and couldn't stop listening. The narrator wasn't my favorite, but the story is so well written and compelling that I couldn't stop listening. This is an adventure story, but a story of self acceptance. I loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!!

This is a must read for anyone who wants to learn some excellent life lessons on how to Persevere and not give up, when practically everything and everyone is telling you to give up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved every page of 'Amazon Woman'!

Her writing brought this journey to life in such a vivid way. I'm in awe of the research, writing, and passion that went into creating this incredible story. Excellent read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Get ready for an amazing adventure!!!

Even if you don’t whitewater kayak you will enjoy this story from an amazing woman, kayaker and adventurer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

A brutally honest account of an woman struggling to put her life in order. A least an order that other people expect of one another. The adventure helps her order her life in a way that satisfies her.
No physical challenge can stop her once she learns about herself.
A fantastic read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Amazon Woman

Most excellent book. Quite a feat, physically, mentally, emotionally to kayak the Amazon source to sea. Amazing! I could not stop listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful