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“A celebration of the human spirit from a kayaker’s drenched perspective! Whether on a river, in a cave, or with a critically ill loved one the reader is drawn into Ammons’ experience. Feel the power of rapids, plunge into whirlpools, laugh and cry. With illuminating detail, captivating storytelling, and exquisite photography Ammons inspires the reader to explore the untapped possibilities that lay within ourselves, our personal relationships, and the world in which we live.”
Dan Comstock, musician, conductor
Ever look inside and realize you’d frozen imagination, emotion and friendship in the face of risk? Doug’s book “The Laugh of the Water Nymph” provides a key to the inner workings of mind and soul that so often escape us in our preoccupation with survival. Be courageous and explore the kinship and dreams of water while journeying though incredible mountain canyons and rivers. The book will be your guide to experiences far beyond anything you’ve ever read about or seen.
“The helicopter story was hilarious and worth the price of admission by itself” (A little ride up the Alsek), “plus the photos are incredible.” “The extremists are a riot!” (Attack of the killer radical extremes). “This isn’t sports writing; it’s better than that.”
“Doug Ammons captures the wonder, excitement, fear, and grandeur of kayaking
the world’s rivers. The writing takes you into the waters of high adventure and
the pictures will leave you awestruck. The Laugh of the Water Nymph is the perfect
gift for all who dream of other places.”
“Doug writes with beautiful imagery as he blends philosophical musings with incredible and exciting adventures from around the world.”
“I am not much of a paddler myself. But I am enough of a paddler to fully appreciate the dimension of the stories told in this book. There are some great adventures to be found, and they are told in a way that make it clear to me that Doug Ammons is completely aware of the depth and profound nature of the experiences. This becomes all the more apparent in some of the lighter stories, including a very funny satire about those whose attitudes are maybe not as grounded as Doug’s (Attack of the Killer Radikal Extremes).
What impressed me most about this book though, were not the exciting epics and vividly described near-death experiences, but the understanding that all this outstanding paddling is embedded in a very full life as a father of five, a son, friend, and as a professional. It became apparent to me that Doug’s paddling achievements cannot be viewed without all the other activities in his life, just as his life shining through the pages isn’t complete without the kayaking. In this, he is an inspiration to me, and I am genuinely thankful for this book. And if that were not enough, there are poetic gems as well, like the title story and my personal favorite, the description of soap bubbles floating into the misty dawn along a river (Bubblemaking over the Lochsa River). Moments like these are what keep us returning to the river again and again.”
“The book is adventure writing at its best, taking readers on a tour of some of the most remote, beautiful and difficult places on the planet. What I liked most about it is Doug’s ability to shift perspective. In some stories you feel rooted to the bedrock with the water flowing over you. In others you’re gripped, hanging onto your kayak’s cockpit as the thing flies into the air. There’s adrenaline charged, wide-eyed, tunnel-visioned staring at death. There’s philosophy and deep discussion about the illusion of control. There’s humor, wilderness ethics, the cycle of living fully, being, and dying. The book easily could be put in the ‘Adventure Travel’ section, but equally it could be in “nature philosophy’, or even spiritual growth. Moving water is an ultimate creative metaphor in these 22 stories. My wrinkled and worn copy is on my nightstand.”
“In this collection of short stories, Doug takes the reader through 20 years on the forefront of expedition paddling. For those of you who are not familiar with him, Doug began paddling in the early 80s with many of the early big water paddling legends, like Rob Lesser and Bob McDougall. He has since pioneered a number of big descents, including the first self-supported descent and a solo descent of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine in British Columbia.
The stories in the book begin with his days as a new kayaker learning the ropes from those he looked up to, and ending with the year of his last big expedition, the “Triple Crown” (a made-for-TV moniker he didn’t really care for, representing back-to-back descents of the Devil’s Canyon of the Susitna, Turnback Canyon of the Alsek, and the Grand Canyon of the Stikine). In between, there are several incredible nail-biting epics, some quiet, thoughtful stories, and two really funny semi- fictional stories in which Ammons comments about the state of the sport.
I’ve known Doug since our experience together on the Triple Crown, and I’ve been looking forward to this book for some time. Though I had read most of the stories in draft form, they come together very nicely in this layout. Included is a great set of photos from his experiences (I admit a bias, as he used a few of mine for this). Rather than feeling like a set of unrelated stories, the book feels like one flowing narrative of a man’s extreme experiences in the sport.
Anyone who knows Doug would agree that he is a complex individual, and that sense certainly comes through in his stories. I have always admired his ability to write about the whitewater experience, bringing you along as a partner as you drop into huge rapids, or feel the satisfaction of paddling out of a deep, dark canyon.
These are more than just hair-raising, thrill ride kayaking stories. It’s a thoughtful examination of the sport and the people who are involved with in. If you have been kayaking long enough, you realize it’s not just about the adrenaline and excitement, but the core of the sport is in the friendships, camaraderie, and accomplishment. This book is a reminder of what makes kayaking more than just a weekend hobby and why it is so meaningful to so many of us.
I’m afraid my writing skills aren’t enough to convey the merits of this wonderful book. Read it for yourself.”
“The story Alive was amazing and worth a movie by itself.” John Bredar, top field producer for National Geographic Explorer. “Your book is beautiful. The writing is lyrical, heartfelt, and engaging. A cut above.” “The photos are magnificent.” Gordon Wiltsie, National Geographic photographer and life-long climber. “The book is incredibly impressive.” Todd Balf, former writer and editor at Outside, author of The Last River (NY Times Bestseller) and The Darkest Jungle (Crown/Random House) “Attack of the killer radical extremes is the funniest story I’ve ever read about extreme sports”, “the book is great.” Roger Brown, the grand old man of expedition documentaries, four time Emmy award winner, and author of Requiem for the West. “Awesome! Fantastic!” Jim Grossman, 2004 winner of the World Kayak Surfing championship and former national champion paraglider “The epitaph for John Foss is as good as it gets.” John Armstrong, independent film-maker, surfer, kayaker, two time Emmy Award winner “The book is amazing and the writing is absolutely beautiful.” Philippe Doux, publisher of Kayak Session and Adventure Kayak “WOW!!” Steve Metcalf (former editor of Powder magazine) and Ken Whiting (former world champion freestyle kayaker), now both editors at Heliconia Press “I’m amazed. I opened the book to Alive, and it read like Jack London.” Daniel Uselmann, blackbelt in Aikido and Ishi Yama Ryu Japanese Swordsmanship: “The best book on whitewater, period.” Dave Manby, British expedition kayaker, author and editor of Many Rivers to Run
“The book captures a true sense of the raw beauty of the environment, and also the excitement, fun, and adrenaline of rivers. The descriptions immerse you in a wild set of places and experiences. The book also expresses a deep passion for the outdoors, you relive your own adventures in the excitement. There’s danger and beauty, there are lines and descriptions that grab me all through the stories. I also liked the humanity that’s shown, the people and children that you meet through the travels. Doug leaves part of himself in the places that he visits, which is what I believe myself. You don’t just take away, you leave a part of yourself every place you go.”
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