The history of place and residents, past and present, is a major topic in the book. Most of the people Heat-Moon meets are affable and willing to talk, recounting the stories of their lives-narratives that often provide glimpses into local history. The chapter titles indicate the cardinal direction of his travel, and Chapter 1 is simply entitled “Eastward.” Throughout the whole journey, Heat-Moon encounters the populace of out-of-the-way places. Both books suggest a lot about Heat-Moon and hint at the true nature of his trip: This is a journey of self-discovery, one that will teach Heat-Moon valuable life lessons. He also brings along books: Whitman’s Leaves of Grass and John G. Heat-Moon lives in Columbia, Missouri, and sets off on his journey in his 1975 Ford van nicknamed “Ghost Dancing.” The van’s interior has been transformed into a makeshift camper, and as Heat-Moon traverses the nation, he spends most nights there. He is spurred on to this decision by two ongoing hardships: his separation from his wife, and his recent layoff from his role as a community college instructor. He decides to undertake the ultimate road trip around the United States using only old state routes rather than the convenience and speed of the interstate system. The edition used for this study guide is the Kindle edition published by Little Brown and Company in April 2012.Īs the book begins, Heat-Moon is at a crossroads in his life.

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