Product Description

“From my back window the forest rose in a wall of green, every possible shade, as if the whole spectrum were made from one color...”

So begins Thor Hanson’s remarkable journey into the heart of Africa. Lying in the remote hills of southwest Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest harbors elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, and half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. For two years Hanson called the forest home, working with local guides and trackers to develop a gorilla tourism program in the newly formed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Thoroughly researched and beautifully told, Hanson’s story blends natural history with cultural insight to place the forest and the gorillas in the context of modern Africa. He writes of “the inseparable weave of people and landscape,” and how in Uganda, the survival of either depends upon the survival of both. At once humorous, revealing and poignant, The Impenetrable Forest offers a rare and unforgettable glimpse into the world of mountain gorillas and the human cultures that surround them.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to help protect and preserve mountain gorillas in the wild.

“fascinating…very well written.”—Gorilla Journal

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #737878 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
"Like a warm cup of sweet Mexican atole on a cold morning, (The Impenetrable Forest) fills your belly and makes you smile." -- PeaceCorpsWriters.org

"...a downright wonderful book. A fine writer and a superb naturalist, he brings the true observer's eye and the artist's sensibility to one of the most compelling subjects in all natural history....an unforgettable book--funny, tragic and brilliant." -- Robert Michael Pyle, author of Sky Time in Gray's River and Where Bigfoot Walks

"Like a warm cup of sweet Mexican atole on a cold morning, the book fills your belly and makes you smile." -- Lawrence F. Lihosit, Across the Yucatan

"Thor Hanson's `The Impenetrable Forest' takes us on several remarkable journeys as he describes his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote national park in Uganda: his personal journey into a new culture, a journey into the habitat of mountain gorillas, and a journey into the complex issues of conservation in a developing country. Hanson's lighthearted, yet poignant stories of life in Uganda make you feel like you are right next to him throughout his adventures and misadventures. Hanson's `coming of age' experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park parallel the development of a new national park struggling to save the critically endangered mountain gorillas. The book uniquely intertwines the natural history of mountain gorillas with the culture of the people that live as their neighbors. Hanson's experiences were both happy and sad, stressing the bittersweet aspects of life in Africa. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a personal account, yet well-rounded view, of the conservation issues surrounding a charismatic species such as the mountain gorilla." -- Martha M. Robbins, PhD, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

"Thor Hanson's memoir is a fascinating and enjoyable read. Particularly timely, it gives us great insight into conservation and ecotourism in a world that is often harsh and cruel. More so, though, Impenetrable Forest transforms the mountain gorillas of Uganda and the people who care for them into deep, complex, loving characters. " -- Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

Fascinating...very well-written -- Gorilla Journal

If you love to read about people who've made a difference, Thor's life--full of successes and disappointments--makes a fascinating, inspiring memoir. -- John Coyne, Living on the Edge: Fiction by Peace

This book is a `fun-read' that provides an insider's account of life in the remote African bush as a Peace Corps volunteer.... Great reading for everyone with a sense of adventure and interested in protecting our natural world. -- Craig R. Sholley, African Wildlife Foundation

Thor Hanson's memoir is a fascinating and enjoyable read. Particularly timely, it gives us great insight into conservation and ecotourism in a world that is often harsh and cruel. More so, though, Impenetrable Forest transforms the mountain gorillas of Uganda and the people who care for them into deep, complex, loving characters. -- Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

From the Publisher
Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist

From the Author
As a biologist, working with endangered mountain gorillas deepened my understanding of evolution, animal behavior, and the critical interface between people and the natural world. Personally, my time in Uganda gave me friendships and insights that crossed wide cultural boundaries. The Impenetrable Forest describes a transformative period of my life and will always be a special book to me.

Customer Reviews

Beyond all expectations!
And not that my expectations were low, either, since bestselling novelists Garth Stein and Jennie Shortridge heartily endorse Thor's book. So, were the tear tracks on my face as I finished the book from laughing or crying? Both. Thor is a master at blending the two emotions -- and everything in between -- in this well-crafted, poetic story. While I never forgot that every word, every event, every emotion was true, the book reads as smoothly as a brilliant piece of fiction. But it's not. And that's the book's majestic legacy. As seemingly impenetrable as the forest he writes about, Thor Hanson pierced the barrier between fiction and memoir -- incorporating traits of the former to the benefit of the latter. Huge kudos to the self-described "eco-nerd" with the soul of a poet, the heart of a giver and the eyes of a very wise man.

Laugh-out-loud funny AND educational
I always know it's a good book when I can't help but stop continuously to say to my husband, "Greg you have to hear this." I did that a lot with this book. Thor may be a scientist but he writes clearly, engagingly and with lots of humor, not always common with scientists. His interactions with the gorillas were very interesting, but what I found most fascinating were the interactions with the people of Uganda. Thor has a good eye for interesting (some poignant, some funny) similarities and differences between our cultures. Whether you ever plan to travel to Uganda or explore gorilla eco-tourism, or not, this is a worthwhile read.
---Kathie Hightower, co-author of Help! I'm a Military Spouse -- I Get a Life Too! 2d Edition

A riveting tale that will please primate lovers
Most Americans wouldn't be able to cut it in a small rural village in Africa. "The Impenetrable Forest: My Gorilla Years in Uganda" is Thor Hanson's reflections on his suffering for his craft as he stayed in such a village in order to further his studies on the endangered species of the Mountain Gorilla. A candid and vivid account about all the difficulties he had to face, "The Impenetrable Forest" is a riveting tale that will please primate lovers seeking a story of a man's dedication to science.