Genre: Travel/Politics
Description:
“What if the road to understanding American politics runs through
every one of its 3,000+ counties?
In this compelling mix of travel memoir and geopolitical insight, the
author crisscrosses the country, visiting every county in the US, with one
goal: to listen. From diner counters to train stations, coffee shops to rural
gas stations, the journey reveals how where we live shapes what we believe—and
how we vote.
Inspired by books like The Last American Road Trip and Our
Towns, this exploration uncovers the patterns, tensions, and quiet truths
that define the American experience today.”
Author:
“Danny Zimny-Schmitt holds degrees in environmental science and
geography from the University of Denver and works in the renewable energy
industry. Growing up in inner city Chicago, visiting family in Wisconsin, and
then moving to Denver for school, he was inspired to learn about the
differences between places at an early age. When he's not traveling, he enjoys
reading, running, and advocacy work for local nonprofits. He lives in Denver.”
Appraisal:
This series appears to be a set of short reads, each of them with “10
little rules” to help a person in some way, whether that help is what might be
classified as “self-help” or to help you understand something that is good to
know in a better way. In the process you’ll potentially learn about some other
subject that you might be interested in.
This specific volume involves travel and the ways it can expand a
person’s view and understanding of the world. Mark Twain has been quoted as
saying that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,” (a
quote included in this book at an appropriate spot), and that concept is one
that runs through this book. The author had a goal of visiting every county or
county equivalent in the US. He accomplished that goal and in this book delves
a bit into the travel experience, but also what he observed and learned from
the experience. A lot of this is political, but makes the point that we aren’t
as far apart as it sometimes seems. While a short quick read it also references
other articles and studies as well as having links to websites where more information
about some places and subjects mentioned can be found. A fun, quick, and
thought-provoking read.
Buy now
from: Amazon US Amazon UK
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues.
Rating: *****
Five Stars
Reviewed
by: BigAl
Approximate word count: 15-20,000 words
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