Let me start by saying this isn't your typical polished autobiography. Kit Carson's life story, dictated rather than written (since he was illiterate), reads like a campfire tale - rough around the edges but utterly authentic. After reading 'Blood and Thunder' first, I was surprised by how modest Carson is about his own legendary exploits.

The book's brevity (under 30,000 words) might disappoint some - it ends 12 years before his death - but what's here is pure gold for history buffs. You can practically smell the campfire smoke as Carson describes traversing thousands of miles on foot and horseback, sometimes covering distances in a day that would challenge modern hikers with GPS.

What struck me most was Carson's unexpected linguistic genius (fluent in multiple Native languages plus Spanish and French) juxtaposed with his complete illiteracy. His descriptions of battles and cultural clashes are matter-of-fact, devoid of modern political correctness, which makes them historically valuable if sometimes uncomfortable to read.

The most poignant moment comes when Carson finds a dime novel about himself among a massacred family's belongings. His humble reaction reveals the burden of being a living legend. While not as detailed as modern biographies, this raw account made me book a trip to Taos to see his home - something no secondary source has ever inspired me to do.

Fair warning: This isn't an easy read. The violence is relentless, and Carson provides little context about the broader historical events. But for those wanting to understand frontier life through the eyes of someone who shaped it, this autobiography offers something no historian can replicate - unfiltered authenticity.