Whitewater Adventure: Running the Great Wild Rivers of America

Despite a glossy, oversize format fit for the coffee table, this incongruous production has some guts to it. Rafting pioneer Bangs (coauthor of Rivergods ) serves up wonderful slices of life as he takes us on 10 of his favorite whitewater streams. On the Chattooga, on the South Carolina-Georgia border, he describes his rekindled interest in rafting after the river death of a close friend. On the Grand Canyon's Colorado, he ponders the fickle adulation shown the river guide and the tragic aftermath. On the Rogue (Ore.) and Snake (Idaho) Bangs plunges into the Hollywood exploitation of his favorite sport. But leaks abound in this shaky craft. The 85 mostly scenic color photographs which dominate the 144 pages clash horribly with the tone of the text. Bangs's efforts deserve better than this split canoe. (Nov.)