Tim Cahill reports on the road trip to end all road trips: a journey that took him from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in a record-breaki...
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Apr 25, 2009
Marcus
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Tim Cahill's writing and humor really make this tale of his trip from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay a great story. His sense of humor is great--I found myself laughing out loud over and over though the book. The writing is clever and insightful. In a book that is composed almost entirely of descriptions, it never feels forced or boring. Cahill masterfully weaves in insightful and compelling mini-tours through the socio-political situation in the various countries that really add to the story. They were
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Apr 05, 2008
Wes
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One of the most epic travelogues you are likely to read. Cahill's trip (with a far more serious and experienced driver) driving from Tierra Del Fuego to northern Alaska, against the clock no less would seem completely unbelievable were it not documented right before your very eyes. Cahill's nuts, that's the only explanation. I couldn't begin to fathom just how you would get yourself mixed up in such an attempt. And as usual, Cahill keeps the comedy rolling right along with the trip.
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Nov 23, 2008
Amri
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A great read. It chronicles the preparation for and the trip of the Guinness Book of World Records longest road trip south to north, Tierra del Fuego Argentina to Prudhoe Bay Alaska. It's such a crazy trip you'd think anyone could write it but Cahill is really really funny. He's clever and he makes interesting observations. He has his issues that he harps on here and there (global warming, clearing of the rainforest, US involvement in foreign gov'ts) but mostly they're funny enough to be forgiva
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Jul 17, 2011
Kathryn
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Tim Cahill's writing and sense of humor (read- sarcasm) simply cracks me up. I cannot tell you how many times I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book. In fact, my hubby had to read it simply based on my reaction! He covers trip prep, socio-economic situations in the countries he travels through, and the mundane tasks of driving an insanely long road-trip but never gets boring.
The two main characters (Cahill and his driving partner) seemed to lack chemistry. However, i More...
The two main characters (Cahill and his driving partner) seemed to lack chemistry. However, i More...
Apr 02, 2010
Cynthia
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What a fun read! And what an accomplishment!! These guys drove from the southern most point in South America to the northern most point in North America in less than 24 days. And the nighmares and goofiness that they encountered is a great read. ROTO man!!!
A few good quotes:
"The truth was that Garry was a professional driver and that he was better behind the wheel than I was. It stood to reason and had nothing at all to do with the size of my thingy."
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A few good quotes:
"The truth was that Garry was a professional driver and that he was better behind the wheel than I was. It stood to reason and had nothing at all to do with the size of my thingy."
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Feb 11, 2010
Shek
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The story of a record-breaking Pan-American drive undertaken just before the age of the internet...much of the drama follows the author and his professional driver cohort as they examine "newspaper clippings" describing various acts of recent terror and criminal violence occurring in the Latin American countries through which they must transit.
Spoilers this graf! It's actually a bit of a letdown in the Latin American violence department. Despite all the fretting, the prepa More...
Spoilers this graf! It's actually a bit of a letdown in the Latin American violence department. Despite all the fretting, the prepa More...
Jun 03, 2008
David
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I grabbed this book from the Peace Corps libary in San Jose, and it is an okay travel narrative full of some standard adventures. And that is pretty much my problem with the book, its a by the numbers adventure for Americans. I also found the author's descriptions of the towns and countries they drove by to be oddly detailed and informed considering how quickly they were racing by everything. Also annoying is Cahill's personality, he seems like an annoying know-it-all you might meet at a part
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Mar 05, 2011
Deb
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This is pure travel literature candy. I have an affection for adventure travel stories in which travelers pursue risky goals and endure challenging conditions. Written in the late 80s, the book chronicles the pursuit of the World's Record for shortest time to drive from the southern most tip of Argentina to the end of the road in Alaska. Cahill's language brings to life the absurdity of their pursuit, along with the humor and challenges of racing on dangerous roads and enduring paperwork shuffl
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Jan 17, 2010
Carly
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One of the best books I've read in recent years, had me laughing out loud again and again. It gave me an insight on South America that was unexpected and unexpectedly entertaining. I particularly found the logistical nightmare of organising such an attempt pre-internet to be fascinating in a way that wouldn't be appreciated prior to the 2000s. Highly recommended.
Mar 21, 2011
Dustin
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I have wanted to read this for quite some time, but have been a little weary. The thing is, I love Tim Cahill, but all of his writing is short-form journalism style. I was worried that a longer narrative would lose its luster for me and Cahill would drop in my standings. Not at all. The book was delightful. Mostly because of the detail he describes of what it takes to be an adventure writer. As for the adventure itself, the book is truly exciting, with vivid detail of the gorgeous landscapes he
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Mar 19, 2009
Tina
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Dan bought this book after hearing an interview with the author on NPR. Since it was laying around I gave it a read. The author and a partner (not in a gay way) drive from Tierra del Feugo (South America) to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to set a new world record. After reading this book, I read most (if not all) of Tim Cahill's other books.
Sep 14, 2010
Pat
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I love to read about other places in the world. This book made me grateful that I live in the U.S. Most of the book is about what happened to them in South and Central America because life there is crazy! They go through the U.S. and Canada in a few pages because nothing ever happens to people who drive on our roads.
May 27, 2008
Michael
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Tim Cahill is part of a two-man team who set the land-speed record from Tierra Del Fuego to the northern coast of Alaska. This book is absolutely fascinating, a view into a kind of travel that even those who are devoted to seeking out exotic locales almost certainly never get near.
The trip itself is only part of the book: Cahill also chronicles preparations and tangents, and devotes a considerable amount of space to the tensions involved in stuffing two guys in a car together for 25 More...
The trip itself is only part of the book: Cahill also chronicles preparations and tangents, and devotes a considerable amount of space to the tensions involved in stuffing two guys in a car together for 25 More...
Aug 10, 2011
Emilymenz
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I LOVED this book. I have traveled a lot through Europe, and would love to go to South America but have never been. This book took me there. Cahill is hilarious, and by the end of the journey, I felt like I was his friend, sharing in all the inside jokes that developed along the way.
Jun 05, 2011
CB
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This is one of those serendipity books for me... had never heard of it before coming across it in a used book store and I loved it! Especially fun to read about being able to travel that distance before the days of GPS, cellphones, email and scary border crossings.
Oct 12, 2010
Catherine
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A somewhat schizophrenic book about automotive journalist Tim Cahill's attempt to set a Guinness time world record for longest drive south to north, driving from Tierra del Fuego Chile to the Arctic Circle (15,000 miles) in a new GM truck in 1987. Although the opposite of Paul Theroux's style of travel – which I prefer – the humor and adventure made the read worthwhile. The first half of the book is the planning, preparation and background necessary to achieve the fastest time possible. The a
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Jan 12, 2012
Marc
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It was a page turner for me; the only thing that could have made it better would be if he had done it on a motorcycle (see my review of Carlstein-Odyssey to Ushuaia). I read this one it two sittings it was that good.
Aug 05, 2011
Cathee
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How do you keep you head about yourself when passing through various countries in South and Central American on the way to Alaska in record breaking time. An must read for your next vacation
Apr 17, 2011
Anna
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One of my favorite travel writing books. The tone is fun and the pacing is spot-on. The narrator is honest about who he is, where he comes from, and the lens through which he views the world.
Nov 30, 2008
Kj
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By far one of my favorite odd-ball travel books. He (Tim Cahill) is just plain funny and it IS and amazing trip. I will read it again. Also a great read aloud book.
Dec 16, 2009
Dick
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A great adventure read, full of hijinks and surprising insights. Driving in a GMC-sponsored truck that's "More Than A Truck," living on leaky boxed milk shakes, beef jerky, and instant coffee so thick it's chunky, Cahill and endurance driver Gary Sowerby drive 23 days to set a Guinness Book record (another sponsor) for the fastest drive from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. With cynical acceptance of the corporate dole, Cahill smugly captures the unique type of cabi
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Jan 06, 2009
Johannes
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really amazing stories. sometimes the writing seems like he wrote it really fast and didn't spend enough time letting his writing trail on.
Jun 05, 2011
Alyssa
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Read this years ago but Cahill is one of my favorite authors and this book had me laughing constantly.
Jul 26, 2010
Kristopher
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This book is barely readable. The author takes what could be a great concept and destroys it with droning.
Mar 16, 2009
Dfoulser
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All that travel advice you get at the beginning of the trip is useless...
Keep an eraser handy for that "go west or bust" sign...
Stock up on 1 kind of food...
"Navi nightmare" was a totally new, but timeless old concept I recognized immediately...
Bus plunge articles still pop up in the paper as column fillers...
Sticks with you 20 years later...
Keep an eraser handy for that "go west or bust" sign...
Stock up on 1 kind of food...
"Navi nightmare" was a totally new, but timeless old concept I recognized immediately...
Bus plunge articles still pop up in the paper as column fillers...
Sticks with you 20 years later...
Jan 31, 2009
Becky
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Great adventure travel book, if you like anything from Tim Cahill you'll love this one!
Mar 12, 2011
Maria
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A fun tale of adventure, told in a super macho (but ultimately charming, imho) tone.
Jun 16, 2009
"Road Fever" is about a TransAmerican adventure drive from the southerm most point in South America to Alaska. This sounds easy to do, but the intricacies and complexities of maneuvering through the South America countries is unbelievable and unbelievably funny. It's sort of a "two guys and truck" meet hysterical South American bureucracy. I also learned much about South American cultures and was reminded how importatnt it is to be able laugh through adversity while traveling
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Mar 02, 2008
Corey
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It took me awhile to get into this book, but it definitely picked up once they got on the road - the first 100 pages or so were descriptions of preparation for their road trip. The book is interspersed with bits of political and historical details of the countries they traveled through. I had heard that Tim Cahill was hilarious, and while I did have a few soft chuckles, I was certainly not falling off my chair. Nevertheless, it was a fun book at certain points.
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