Father of the Iditarod - The Joe Reddington Story [Paperback]

Lew Freedman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996

Meet rugged, independent, determined, and hard-working Joe Redington, Father of the Iditarod, a man who found his destiny in Alaska. In an inspirational biography, Lew Freedman chronicles Redington's birth on the Chisholm Trail and his boyhood in the Depression -- homeless, motherless, roaming the country looking for work. Alaska was his rebirth in 1948. On his own piece of dirt, a man could raise a family, hunt, fish, run dogs, and stand up for what he believed. Redington helped rescue Alaska dog mushing from extinction, creating a legacy in a thrilling thousand-mile race across Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Editorial Reviews

Review

There's no one like Joe. He taught me . . . about what being an Alaskan is and how a true pioneer lives. --Susan Butcher, Iditarod Champion 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990

If you're looking for a delightful book to read, FATHER OF THE IDITAROD is one! There are many humorous stories about Joe that had me laughing out loud. --Alaska Women Speak magazine

About the Author

Lew Freedman, an award-winning journalist and former sports editor for the Anchorage Daily News, now covers outdoor-adventure for the Chicago Tribune. He has written a dozen books about Alaska.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Epicenter Press; First Printing edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945397755
• ISBN-13: 978-0945397755
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #423,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Iditarod & Dog-Sledding

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There still are pioneers out there, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Father of the Iditarod - The Joe Reddington Story (Paperback)

Just when you thought that the age of explorers was dying down, along came Joe Redington, the founder of the Iditarod dogsled race. This book tells about the efforts he put forth to create a sporting event that continues to this day. You'll also learn about his life growing up and the many other adventures he had. I was surprised that one person could achieve so much in one lifetime. The author interviewed Joe and many of his friends to give the reader the feeling that if you didn't know Joe, you wished you had. Never a dull moment in this man's life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book does justice, June 30, 2004

By 

lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father of the Iditarod - The Joe Reddington Story (Paperback)

Even an non-dog mushing fan from Anchorage can acknowledge the huge contributions Joe Reddington made for our great state. This biography by Lew Freedman does great justice to a great Alaskan, tracing his path from the lower 48 states up to Alaska and his family life, adventures and achievements while in Alaska. Reddington have been acknowledge founder of the famous Iditarod Race to Nome, one dog mushing race every Alaskan virtually follow even if he/she isn't a fan.

The book appears to be well written and the author was probably well supported by the family members of Joe Reddington in writing this book. This make the author very sympathic toward his subject. While that itself is no great crime, like all student of history, I would like to know Joe Reddington bit more readily then his public image. Like all human beings, Joe Reddington had his moments of greatness and his flaws. I would like to have read more on his failings as well as his accomplishments. But nevertheless, the book does justice to the man and his accomplishments.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Father of the Iditarod: The Joe Redington story., November 14, 2000

By 

Neil Goodings "Reckless" (ADELAIDE, Sth Australia Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Father of the Iditarod - The Joe Reddington Story (Paperback)

As I read through this account of the roots of "The great race" I was all the while planning my next trip to Alaska. To be included in this was an attempt to me "The Man" so convinced was I that Joe would not only pull through his illness he would live for ever. I am now sure Joe will live for ever, not only in the hearts of the Dog sledding fraternity but amongst all who possess a sense of adventure. Read this book and live the greatest adventure race on this planet.