20 Best Books On Alaska (2023 Update)

In this sweeping epic of the northernmost american frontier, james a. michener guides us through alaska’s fierce terrain and history, from the long-forgotten past to the bustling present. as his characters struggle for survival, michener weaves together the exciting high points of alaska’s story: its brutal origins; the american acquisition; the gold rush; the tremendous growth and exploitation of the salmon industry; the arduous construction of the alcan highway, undertaken to defend the territory during world war ii. a spellbinding portrait of a human community fighting to establish its place in the world, alaska traces a bold and majestic saga of the enduring spirit of a land and its people. praise for alaska “few will escape the allure of the land and people [michener] describes. . . . alaska takes the reader on a journey through one of the bleakest, richest, most foreboding, and highly inviting territories in our republic, if not the world. . . . the characters that michener creates are bigger than life.”—los angeles times book review “always the master of exhaustive historical research, michener tracks the settling of alaska [in] vividly detailed scenes and well-developed characters.”—boston herald “michener is still, sentence for sentence, writing’s fastest attention grabber.”—the new york times

First drink. first prank. first friend. first love.last words. miles halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. he leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet françois rabelais called the “great perhaps.” much awaits miles at culver creek, including alaska young, who will pull miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the great perhaps. looking for alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. a modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author john green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. newly updated edition includes a brand-new readers’ guide featuring a q&a with author john green.

Winner of the national outdoor book award. celebrating the 50th anniversary of when dick proenneke first broke ground and made his mark in the alaskan wilds in 1968, this bestselling memoir features an all-new foreword by nick offerman plus color photographs not seen in print for over 20 years. to live in a pristine land unchanged by man…to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed…to choose an idyllic site, cut trees, and build a log cabin…to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available…to be not at odds with the world, but content with one's own thoughts and company… thousands have had such dreams, but dick proenneke lived them. he found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. one man's wilderness is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature's events that kept him company. from dick's journals, and with firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting, sam keith has woven a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond.

Good night alaska features anchorage, mount mckinley, denali national park, mcneil river, kodiak island, the iditarod, glaciers, icebergs, polar bears, walruses, caribou, crab fishing, eskimo culture, hiking, mountain climbing, trains, and more. north to alaska! this soothing board book explores alaska's most scenic and treasured places. don't forget your mittens! this book is part of the bestselling good night our world series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting, child-friendly themes.many of north america’s most beloved regions are artfully celebrated in these board books designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for north america's natural and cultural wonders. each book stars a multicultural group of people visiting the featured area’s attractions as rhythmic language guides children through the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while saluting the iconic aspects of each place.

The largest by far of the fifty states, alaska is also the state of greatest mystery and diversity. slotnick show in this comprehensive survey, the history of alaska's peoples and the development of its economy have matched the diversity of its land- and seascapes.alaska: a history begins by examining the region's geography and the native peoples who inhabited it for thousands of years before the first europeans arrived. the russians claimed northern north america by right of discovery in 1741. during their occupation of “russian america” the region was little more than an outpost for fur hunters and traders. when the czar sold the territory to the united states in 1867, nobody knew what to do with “seward's folly.” mainland america paid little attention to the new acquisition until a rush of gold seekers flooded into the yukon territory. in 1906 congress granted alaska territory a voteless delegate and in 1912 gave it a territorial legislature. not until 1959, however, was alaska's long-sought goal of statehood realized. during world war ii, alaska's place along the great circle route from the united states to asia firmly established its military importance, which was underscored during the cold war. the developing military garrison brought federal money and many new residents. then the discovery of huge oil and natural-gas deposits gave a measure of economic security to the state.alaska: a history provides a full chronological survey of the region's and state's history, including the precedent-setting alaska native claims settlement act of 1971, which compensated native americans for their losses; the effect of the oil industry and the trans-alaska pipeline on the economy; the exxon valdez oil spill; and alaska politics through the early 2000s.

"jennifer snow is one clever writer."–rt book reviews the alaskan wilderness may be the best place to protect her client, but also where it's impossible to protect her heart. needing a safe place to hide her latest client, agent leslie sanders returns to her hometown of wild river to wait out the search for the young hollywood star's stalker. just being back in alaska is stirring up emotions she'd buried, and as much as leslie believed she was moving on with her life in la, she's still not over the death of her fiancé. the sun, sand and surf made it easy to forget cold alaskan nights snuggled by the fire, planning a future with dawson…but seeing levi grayson just makes everything that much harder. levi grayson has been one of alaska's elite group of wildland firefighters for almost ten years, but nothing about his job rattles him as much as seeing leslie again. when leslie left wild river after dawson's death, it had hurt to lose his two best friends in a matter of weeks. resisting his feelings for her when dawson was alive was tough, but he's not sure he's strong enough anymore to fight the attraction between them, or to let this last chance at love slip away like smoke through his fingers. don't miss alaska dreams, the next book in jennifer snows wild river series! a wild river novel book 1: an alaskan christmas book 2: under an alaskan sky book 3: a sweet alaskan fall book 4: stars over alaska book 5: alaska reunion

Lonely planet's alaskais our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all that alaska has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. hike the history-laden chilkoot trail, spot icebergs and wildlife in glacier bay and marvel at the majesty of the northern lights; all with your trusted travel companion. inside lonely planet's alaskatravel guide: what's new in this edition? looking for more extensive coverage? about lonely planet: lonely planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. you'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'lonely planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – new york times 'lonely planet. it's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. it's on mobile phones. it's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – fairfax media (australia)

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from john green, the #1 bestselling author of the anthropocene reviewed and the fault in our starswinner of the michael l. printz award – a los angeles times book prize finalist – a new york times bestseller – a usa today bestseller – npr’s top ten best-ever teen novels – time magazine’s 100 best young adult novels of all time – a pbs great american read selection – millions of copies sold! first drink. first prank. first friend. first love. last words. miles halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. he leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet françois rabelais called the “great perhaps.” much awaits miles at culver creek, including alaska young, who will pull miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the great perhaps. looking for alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. a modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author john green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. newly updated edition includes a brand-new readers' guide featuring a q&a with author john green

The award-winning, genre-defining debut from john green, the #1 bestselling author of the anthropocene reviewed and the fault in our starswinner of the michael l. printz award – a los angeles times book prize finalist – a new york times bestseller – a usa today bestseller – npr’s top ten best-ever teen novels – time magazine’s 100 best young adult novels of all time – a pbs great american read selection – millions of copies sold! first drink. first prank. first friend. first love. last words. miles halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. he leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet françois rabelais called the “great perhaps.” much awaits miles at culver creek, including alaska young, who will pull miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the great perhaps. looking for alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. a modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author john green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. newly updated edition includes a brand-new readers' guide featuring a q&a with author john green

"a riveting…saga of survival against formidable odds" (washington post) about one man who survived a world war ii plane crash in alaska's harsh yukon territoryshortly before christmas in 1943, five army aviators left alaska's ladd field on a routine flight to test their hastily retrofitted b-24 liberator in harsh winter conditions. the mission ended in a crash that claimed all but one-leon crane, a city kid from philadelphia with no wilderness experience. with little more than a parachute for cover and an old boy scout knife in his pocket, crane found himself alone in subzero temperatures. 81 days below zero recounts, for the first time, the full story of crane's remarkable twelve-week saga.

Alaska remains one location that is singularly arresting to the american imagination. twenty exceptional writers share their stories of work, play, and life in what is often called the last frontier. armchair travelers everywhere will find delight in this anthology of exuberant original essays that reveals alaska as a place, an adventure, and a state of mind.

"travels in alaska" lets the reader take a trip to last century's alaska through muir's clean, easy-going, enthusiastic prose. he wrote the way he took pictures, with insight, attention, care and genuine feeling. the work is a lovely look into a beautiful land and its inhabitants the way it used to be, told in a flowing narrative that is far less rushed than contemporary travel tales.

One year in alaska is a unique and peerless guide for traditional living in the alaskan woods and will provide a wealth of valuable information for all who have dreamed of that life. it is a useful survival and tip guide for the vacationing outdoor hobbyist and the serious adventurer alike. it is substantive enough to save your life if stranded alone in the wild (although that is not its main purpose) and lighthearted enough to be a tour guide to the alaskan out-of-doors. the information and instruction provided here is timeless and not dependent upon modern day technology although it does make use of certain practical conveniences that have come into existence since the gold rush days such as the chainsaw, deet bug repellant, nylon tarps and visqueen, outboard motors, etc…. but nearly all the gear, food and techniques are indistinguishable from the forms used a hundred, and in some cases, even a thousand, years ago; not "for old fashions sake" rather because they proved to be un-improvable. to my mind nothing captures and conveys the spirit of the frontier in the bush more perfectly than an old school flat bottom riverboat, loaded to the thwarts, pushed by a small motor. no wheel or console just you and a tiller against the wind. add some rain and a 600 mile two week journey ahead of you and you are as close to the old world as you will ever be. the spirit of old alaska can't be found in a particular place simply by being there, rather it is a state of mind and a particular set of values and beliefs. it is a way of seeing things, not a way of dressing or intentionally depriving yourself of pleasure and conveniences. it's about minimizing your attachment and dependence upon the outside world and maximizing your self-sufficiency while being as comfortable as you can make yourself with simple things. it's not about self-denial – far from it – it's more about a form of self-indulgence and pursuing a certain kind of happiness: to live a life that nurtures a part of the soul that longs for independence and personal liberty.

The milepost is the best-selling travel guide to alaska and a "quintessential reference" for northern travelers. the milepost includes mile-by-mile descriptions of more than 15,000 miles of road in alaska, yukon, northwest territories, british columbia and alberta. its 700-plus pages detail accommodations, camping, fishing, gas stops, restaurants, attractions and services found along the highways and byways of alaska and western canada. the guide's travel planning section answers frequently-asked questions about travel in the north, including what you need to know about crossing the international border, traveling with pets, the alaska ferry system, driving conditions, railroads, tours and wildlife. suggested itineraries are mapped out to help travelers plan their trips.the 2020 edition of the milepost is the 72nd edition of this classic annual travel guide, which was first published in 1949 as a 72-page guide to the recently opened alaska ("alcan") highway. while the log of the alaska highway is still the foundation of this guide, it has been joined by dozens of connecting routes as well as newer roads, such as the dalton highway, the dempster highway and the recently opened road to tuktoyaktuk. all highway logs, which are updated every year by field editors, include a look at the history of the route and often the natural history of the region. the alaska highway section includes a brief history of the alaska highway that is a poignant reminder of the scale of this project. the alaska highway was named an international historical engineering landmark in 1996. the milepost has more than 100 city and highway maps; the wildly popular plan-a-trip map; more than 600 photos; and numerous sidebar features of special interest. print book buyers have free access to a digital edition.

Allowing himself to love always seemed too dangerous. now it might be his only salvation… single dad tank wheeler has vowed to keep his heart shuttered in the name of keeping his young daughter's life stable. but lately, the chemistry between him and his adrenaline-loving best friend, cassie reynolds, has been getting him a little hot under the collar. and then, with one scorching birthday kiss, these best friends are instantly more. – exactly the wrong time for tank's ex to show up in wild river, alaska. – cassie is pretty sure she's having a waking nightmare. not only is tank's gorgeous ex hoping to reclaim her family, but a new megastore is threatening the wilderness-adventure business she's spent five years building. but cassie never backs down from a fight. and now it's time to make the most terrifying leap of her life–and hope that tank catches her…before she falls too far. – don't miss alaska dreams, the next book in jennifer snows wild river series! – book 1: an alaskan christmas – book 3: a sweet alaskan fall – book 4: stars over alaska – book 5: alaska reunion

The 49th state is home to magnificent mountains, immense glaciers, and massive stretches of wilderness. alaska is a unique place where people live in close proximity to the natural world, and where humans and wildlife coexist, albeit very carefully. in 100 things to do in alaska before you die, readers will find inspiration for experiences that will draw you to the last frontier. watch a glacier calve thunderously into the sea in glacier bay national park and preserve. spy moose in denali national park and preserve, or trek on sand dunes in kobuk valley national park. whether your activity of choice is paddling through the quiet, riding a dogsled on top of a glacier, reeling in a trophy halibut, snorkeling, or yoga with reindeer, alaska is always ready for the adventurous in heart and spirit. local travel enthusiasts fran golden and midgi moore consider this their love letter to alaska. come along with them for inspiration for dining, imbibing, and otherwise having a good time in their favorite state.

In alaska, it's always a white christmas–but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot… if there's one gift erika sheraton does not want for christmas, it's a vacation. ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to wild river, alaska. her friend cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. but nothing compares to the adrenaline rush erika feels on being reunited with cassie's brother, reed reynolds. – gone is the buttoned-up girl reed remembers. his sister's best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. she's exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs–and everything he didn't know he craved. the gulf between his life in wild river and her big-city career is wide. but it's no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts… don't miss alaska dreams, the next book in jennifer snows wild river series! – book 2: under an alaskan sky – book 3: a sweet alaskan fall – book 4: stars over alaska – book 5: alaska reunion

This new look at alaska as the destination for wilderness experience in america celebrates the many lives and unique landscapes that make up the vast and storied land. the book captures alaska’s splendor with an astonishing combination of prose and photographs—from mountain ranges glittering with glaciers to lush forests and wetlands teeming with wildlife to fjords exploding with the barks of seals.visiting the places and people whose natures are true to the spirit of this still wild frontier, rennicke and melford follow a dogsled team up a frozen mountain river in search of an alaskan eden; hike along active volcanoes that brim and boil in the aleutian islands; summit mount mckinley with a double-amputee bush pilot in a triumph of spirit and determination over the mountain that almost killed him; and journey back through alaska’s human history, to the times of the gold rush miners, totem pole carvers, and nomadic hunters who crossed the bering land bridge and discovered a new land.from grizzlies to glaciers, gold fields to ice fields, fishing boats to northern lights, treasures of alaska uncovers the wild heart and the endless challenge that make alaska a land of enduring beauty and undying dreams.

A classic collection of over 1,400 alaskan recipes to delight those who love the north's traditional fare.

"prepare to have your heartstrings tugged! pure christmas delight."–lori wilde, new york times bestselling author on an alaskan christmas can a hometown christmas bring together these two polar opposites? after traveling to all corners of the globe, isla wakefield has returned home to celebrate christmas with her adoptive family. the gorgeous alaskan wilderness is the perfect place to recharge before moving on to her next adventure–whatever that may be. too bad that being home means once more butting heads with chief petty officer aaron segura, port serenity's resident buzzkill. – isla's fearless spirit has always infuriated aaron–but fascinated him, too. having lost his sister years ago, he's never understood how some people can live so recklessly. but after a terrifying ice-climbing accident leaves isla with amnesia, she and aaron both see each other in a brand-new light. forgetting the pain of her past makes isla fearless in a completely different way. she's not afraid to show aaron exactly how she feels, yet he can't help but wonder…will this temporary change of mind lead to a permanent change of heart? bonus novella – in love in the forecast, meteorologist monica mallard signs up for port serenity's annual navigation contest as a distraction from recent heartbreak. but when she's paired with silver fox captain keith beaumont, monica finds the second chance she never could have predicted. – book 1: sweet home alaska