On Assignment

"Excellent and profoundly moving. James Larison is a master storyteller who's produced an adventure yarn and love story as deeply rewarding as his best films. On Assignment is insightful and inspiring, honest, engaging, and most of all, immensely entertaining." -- Kevin Grange, author of Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Teton
"James Larison's book On Assignment is a compelling real-life adventure filled with danger and survival. I think readers will be on the edge of their seats when learning about the difficulties of filming for National Geographic. It would make a brilliant movie." -- Carl Ziebe, National Geographic Society Assistant Director, Educational Films
"Good writing, great stories! If you like National Geographic , you'll love this book. Larison's journey is truly one of adventure and a life well lived." -- Jack Gustafson, Wildlife Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
"No one works harder on his films than Jim Larison. . . . Technically and aesthetically, his films are simply unmatched among those produced for and by the National Geographic Society's Educational Film Department. . . . But what drives these filmsand what is integral to their successis more than technical prowess with a motion picture camera and a refined aesthetic sensibility; it is, as well, a passion for the subject at hand and a depth of knowledge about it. Jim's passion for ecology, biodiversity, and the health of the environment is what fuels his desire to make his films the most effective communication tools they can possibly be." -- Donald M Cooper, Associate Director and Acting Director, Educational Films, The National Geographic Society
"This captivating book gains elevation by the page, until we soon find ourselves in the rarefied air of an adventure memoir that engages on both the visceral and cerebral level. Larison has penned a vivid chronicle rich with hard-won wisdom and brimming with life." -- Chris Dombrowski, author of Body of Water