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Travels with Vamper: A Graybeard's Journey
In the course of a two-month solo road trip through the West, the Bible Belt, and Missouri River Country during the 2016 presidential election, Critchlow reflects on race, politics, religion and retirement. He weaves together legal tales, personal anecdotes, people, places, and past experiences to explore the competing narratives that divide America today. He also offers perspective on what retirement means for a generation of baby boomers.
Divine Zape, for Reader's Review, says this about Critchlow's new book:
"... this book isn’t just about someone driving across the country; the journey takes on surprising perspectives and plunges the reader into the heart of a powerful reflection on the American conundrum... George Critchlow has an inimitable style of writing and his narrative voice, strong and ebullient, is loaded with humor, and readers will appreciate the satire that comes across strongly most of the time. Here is a book that tells a story, but that also forces the reader to laugh and think at the same time. Apart from the beauty of the prose and the vivid setting, this memoir is loaded with facts and questions that will excite the minds of readers. Hugely entertaining!"
Divine Zape, for Reader's Review, says this about Critchlow's new book:
"... this book isn’t just about someone driving across the country; the journey takes on surprising perspectives and plunges the reader into the heart of a powerful reflection on the American conundrum... George Critchlow has an inimitable style of writing and his narrative voice, strong and ebullient, is loaded with humor, and readers will appreciate the satire that comes across strongly most of the time. Here is a book that tells a story, but that also forces the reader to laugh and think at the same time. Apart from the beauty of the prose and the vivid setting, this memoir is loaded with facts and questions that will excite the minds of readers. Hugely entertaining!"
- GenresTravel
206 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2017
About the author
George Critchlow
3 books277 followersGeorge Critchlow is a professor emeritus who taught law at Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington for many years. He is also an experienced trial lawyer with civil and criminal experience in state courts, federal courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
He has taught international human rights law and consulted in Europe, South America, the Middle East, and China. Critchlow’s interest in fairness, equal opportunity, and civil liberties has been a central part of his professional life.
He has now transitioned from a world of legal briefs and law review articles to creative writing that has freed him to say what he wants without lots of tedious footnotes.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 15, 2017
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The title of this book attracted me, as well as the writer being a retiree roughly the same age as I. The author decides to take off traveling in a RV as a way to reexamine his working life, raising a family, not to mention revisiting places he had been in his youth and places yet unseen. His objective for hitting the road felt parallel to my own targeted future. Early on George states he is astounded that Donald J. Trump could become our forty-fifth president and the text segues into the impetus behind his sporadic interviews of fellow citizens encountered along the way. The soundtrack behind this literary excursion centers on the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell to name just three. George’s taste in music is broader than my own but nonetheless adds to his engaging story as he rolls into the present while digressively looking back honestly at what got him there.
George courageously attacks our current politics head-on. He candidly examines religion and other ingrained and flawed belief systems. What might have been considered foolhardy in the past while he was engaged in getting a living as a professional in a suit, George Critchlow as a recent retiree now openly takes on these topics eagerly. It is refreshing to witness his indifference to what others might think. George does have something to say. Whether it be an anecdote describing his playing Santa in a Penny’s department store while still coming down on acid, or any number of forays into his past depicting conscious revolts against perceived wrongs being promoted and conducted in this country, Critchlow never flinches. His journey becomes a profile in courage and is refreshingly consistent with reminders of what is still good in our land but what still must be changed. A much better book than first imagined, and one needed for these troubled times. Too bad the Trump Voters won’t read it. But perhaps there is just enough camping and drinking in it to entice just a few. And as far as our perception of lawyers go, Critchlow does much to restore their good name.
The title of this book attracted me, as well as the writer being a retiree roughly the same age as I. The author decides to take off traveling in a RV as a way to reexamine his working life, raising a family, not to mention revisiting places he had been in his youth and places yet unseen. His objective for hitting the road felt parallel to my own targeted future. Early on George states he is astounded that Donald J. Trump could become our forty-fifth president and the text segues into the impetus behind his sporadic interviews of fellow citizens encountered along the way. The soundtrack behind this literary excursion centers on the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell to name just three. George’s taste in music is broader than my own but nonetheless adds to his engaging story as he rolls into the present while digressively looking back honestly at what got him there.
George courageously attacks our current politics head-on. He candidly examines religion and other ingrained and flawed belief systems. What might have been considered foolhardy in the past while he was engaged in getting a living as a professional in a suit, George Critchlow as a recent retiree now openly takes on these topics eagerly. It is refreshing to witness his indifference to what others might think. George does have something to say. Whether it be an anecdote describing his playing Santa in a Penny’s department store while still coming down on acid, or any number of forays into his past depicting conscious revolts against perceived wrongs being promoted and conducted in this country, Critchlow never flinches. His journey becomes a profile in courage and is refreshingly consistent with reminders of what is still good in our land but what still must be changed. A much better book than first imagined, and one needed for these troubled times. Too bad the Trump Voters won’t read it. But perhaps there is just enough camping and drinking in it to entice just a few. And as far as our perception of lawyers go, Critchlow does much to restore their good name.
December 27, 2017
Travels With Vamper is a wonderful travelogue of a man, newly retired, who sets off on a cross-country tour of discovery in his RV (Vamper). The author is a retired professor of law at Gonzaga University. Upon reaching retirement, Critchlow was faced with the question "what now to do?" Or as he puts it "I did not want to wake up the day after retirement lamenting the loss of my old life. I needed to put distance between that life and whatever lay in the future. And then it hit me-a road trip!" So he purchased a used RV and set off on a tour, starting in Washington and traveling cross country thru the west, southwest, south, and midwest, ticking off 15 states.
And not just a simple tour whereby one just follows the guidebooks, ticking off the mandatory sights in each state. No, this was more a "tour of discovery", or perhaps a "listening tour". The author made a point of interacting with the locals he met along the way, in an attempt to understand their lives better. And what a great time to undertake the journey, he chose the run-up to our most recent presidential election! He has a way of conversing with people to get them to open up and share their opinions. And share they did!
While Critchlow leaves absolutely no doubt about where he stands, and what he believes, he treated everyone fairly and with respect. Given some of the people's statements, I have to wonder how he did it, as I would have openly scoffed or mocked some of them. Some of the statements are hilarious, and some are down-right head scratchers. But I found them all interesting.
The book is not just about the political opinions of the people he met. No, there is some very good self-discovery along the way. For example, one paragraph that I really liked was "I have now lived long enough to return full circle to what I knew in kindergarten. It's not about your friend's clothes, or his parent's car or house, or the food they serve for lunch; it's about having fun playing marbles on the playground, and making friends with people who make you feel good. And it's about cleaning up your messes and being nice to people-habits that had to be hammered into me with coercive force, but which made a difference in how things went".
Isn't that the truth? And wouldn't we all be better off if we just lived our lives a little more based on that? I think so!
It's not often that I find a book that I want to share as much as I do this one. I wish I had read it a bit earlier, it would have made a great Christmas gift for all my friends and relatives who are currently at each other's throats over the political situation we are currently experiencing.
And not just a simple tour whereby one just follows the guidebooks, ticking off the mandatory sights in each state. No, this was more a "tour of discovery", or perhaps a "listening tour". The author made a point of interacting with the locals he met along the way, in an attempt to understand their lives better. And what a great time to undertake the journey, he chose the run-up to our most recent presidential election! He has a way of conversing with people to get them to open up and share their opinions. And share they did!
While Critchlow leaves absolutely no doubt about where he stands, and what he believes, he treated everyone fairly and with respect. Given some of the people's statements, I have to wonder how he did it, as I would have openly scoffed or mocked some of them. Some of the statements are hilarious, and some are down-right head scratchers. But I found them all interesting.
The book is not just about the political opinions of the people he met. No, there is some very good self-discovery along the way. For example, one paragraph that I really liked was "I have now lived long enough to return full circle to what I knew in kindergarten. It's not about your friend's clothes, or his parent's car or house, or the food they serve for lunch; it's about having fun playing marbles on the playground, and making friends with people who make you feel good. And it's about cleaning up your messes and being nice to people-habits that had to be hammered into me with coercive force, but which made a difference in how things went".
Isn't that the truth? And wouldn't we all be better off if we just lived our lives a little more based on that? I think so!
It's not often that I find a book that I want to share as much as I do this one. I wish I had read it a bit earlier, it would have made a great Christmas gift for all my friends and relatives who are currently at each other's throats over the political situation we are currently experiencing.
February 25, 2019
It was fun following the author's trip around the US.
January 29, 2019
After George Critchlow retired as a professor at Gonzaga Law School he purchased a camper van, set out on an extended road trip during the 2016 Presidential campaign and came home to write this book. But this is more than an updated "Travels with Charley." it is also part memoir of his growing up and his time as a lawyer and a professor and part political rumination based on his asking different people on the trip whether they were voting for Trump and why or why not
I slightly know George and knew of his family which may explain part of the appeal of the book for me. His dad, Ed, was a renowned trial attorney in the Tri Cities along with his partner Dave Williams. Ed had courtroom charisma and skill in representing the underdog and George recalls many of the interesting cases but balances it with memories of the long hours and weekends that his dad spent preparing for those cases. George also writes of his own trials including when he successfully obtained an acquittal on a rape trial and later received a distraught phone call from that victim when the rapist was later arrested for committing a similar rape. George writes that while he agrees that the constitution guarantees that every criminal defendant has the right to legal representation it doesn't require that he represent those accused of sexual assault and that he never did again. My memory of the case is more detailed, that George was held in contempt of court for violating the rape shield law to attack the victim's character and that the defendant was convicted not just arrested for the later rape, but that does not away from his honesty and authenticity in including it in the book, many memoirs would have skipped it.
There are great law professor stories especially his year as a visiting professor in Romania where he alternated between students learning about modern law in the new post Cold War world and the stark, bleak living conditions. Also intriguing was the recounting of a tenure fight when he was dean and defied the faculty vote to keep a professor who later became one of Gonzaga's assets.
The Steinbeckish travelog of his trip across the west into the south and back to Spokane were also interesting, the political conversations with strangers at times seemed forced but George successfully resists patronizing and condescending comments even when recounting claims that were obviously false and easily disproven.
All in all, this is a great read
I slightly know George and knew of his family which may explain part of the appeal of the book for me. His dad, Ed, was a renowned trial attorney in the Tri Cities along with his partner Dave Williams. Ed had courtroom charisma and skill in representing the underdog and George recalls many of the interesting cases but balances it with memories of the long hours and weekends that his dad spent preparing for those cases. George also writes of his own trials including when he successfully obtained an acquittal on a rape trial and later received a distraught phone call from that victim when the rapist was later arrested for committing a similar rape. George writes that while he agrees that the constitution guarantees that every criminal defendant has the right to legal representation it doesn't require that he represent those accused of sexual assault and that he never did again. My memory of the case is more detailed, that George was held in contempt of court for violating the rape shield law to attack the victim's character and that the defendant was convicted not just arrested for the later rape, but that does not away from his honesty and authenticity in including it in the book, many memoirs would have skipped it.
There are great law professor stories especially his year as a visiting professor in Romania where he alternated between students learning about modern law in the new post Cold War world and the stark, bleak living conditions. Also intriguing was the recounting of a tenure fight when he was dean and defied the faculty vote to keep a professor who later became one of Gonzaga's assets.
The Steinbeckish travelog of his trip across the west into the south and back to Spokane were also interesting, the political conversations with strangers at times seemed forced but George successfully resists patronizing and condescending comments even when recounting claims that were obviously false and easily disproven.
All in all, this is a great read
February 1, 2018
Honestly, I did not know what I was getting myself into when I requested this book. I miss read the title and thought I was requesting Travels with the Vampire! (NO JUDGING! It was late and I was on my phone with small print!!!!) So, when I downloaded the book and started reading it I was very surprised to find that this book was NOTHING like what I thought I was supposed to be reading. I hope the author can get a good laugh at this one! Since I had requested it and the publisher and author were nice enough to grant me access to this book, I went ahead and read it! I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book! Especially since it’s nowhere near a subject that I would choose from my own personal wheelhouse and like nothing I had expected it to be!
This book is about the adventures of the author in his RV as he traverses across the country searching for a new way to raise a families, reflect on his working life, revisit the places that touched his soul as a child, and of course to see new and exciting things that he hadn’t seen before. There were some political aspects to this book as well as George talked about his view on Trump as our president and what it’s like being a recent retiree under this administration. There was also his view on religion and other flawed belief systems that he would like to see changed.
I liked getting a little look at his point of view and seeing his outlook on life as he recalled his memories and the things that got him to where he is today. Also appreciated that he could openly admit to some of the wrongs that he has done in his life; for example, he talked about how he had been hired as a retail store Santa for Christmas one year while he was battling his drug addiction. It takes courage to admit one’s wrongs and then change them by living a respectful life. Kudos to this brave author!
I am also a fellow music lover, so I enjoyed the soundtrack that George put to his life! After all, you can’t have a decent adventure on a road trip without a fantastic soundtrack! Likewise, I really enjoyed all the interactions that George had with various locals on his stops across the country. He seemed to treat them with the utmost respect even if they didn’t always reciprocate the gesture. It is obvious that we are a country divided and this book does a tasteful job of accenting this without being too over-the-top.
Even though I am a young person and most of the struggles that George faces along with other current retirees of our country do not yet pertain specifically to me, I can respect his outlook on life and his thought processes. Being a young person in today’s society is tough; however, I found that there’s still hope for life after retirement. I just hope that in 35 years when I get to a retirement age that there still a great country to live in! Since I went in this with a very open objective because I thought I was going to be reading something completely different, I was able to see points from both sides and not take a strong objective on either one.
Thank you, George, First Edition Design Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book that I probably never would have read otherwise! I do not like reading about politics, religion, or any other controversial topics on an everyday level. I prefer to escape to fantasy when reading my books, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this book and felt a connection with George even if we might never meet in person or have the exact same interests in life!
***Obviously these views/opinions expressed were my own and not influenced in any way. I submit this honest review in exchange for the ARC via NetGalley***
This book is about the adventures of the author in his RV as he traverses across the country searching for a new way to raise a families, reflect on his working life, revisit the places that touched his soul as a child, and of course to see new and exciting things that he hadn’t seen before. There were some political aspects to this book as well as George talked about his view on Trump as our president and what it’s like being a recent retiree under this administration. There was also his view on religion and other flawed belief systems that he would like to see changed.
I liked getting a little look at his point of view and seeing his outlook on life as he recalled his memories and the things that got him to where he is today. Also appreciated that he could openly admit to some of the wrongs that he has done in his life; for example, he talked about how he had been hired as a retail store Santa for Christmas one year while he was battling his drug addiction. It takes courage to admit one’s wrongs and then change them by living a respectful life. Kudos to this brave author!
I am also a fellow music lover, so I enjoyed the soundtrack that George put to his life! After all, you can’t have a decent adventure on a road trip without a fantastic soundtrack! Likewise, I really enjoyed all the interactions that George had with various locals on his stops across the country. He seemed to treat them with the utmost respect even if they didn’t always reciprocate the gesture. It is obvious that we are a country divided and this book does a tasteful job of accenting this without being too over-the-top.
Even though I am a young person and most of the struggles that George faces along with other current retirees of our country do not yet pertain specifically to me, I can respect his outlook on life and his thought processes. Being a young person in today’s society is tough; however, I found that there’s still hope for life after retirement. I just hope that in 35 years when I get to a retirement age that there still a great country to live in! Since I went in this with a very open objective because I thought I was going to be reading something completely different, I was able to see points from both sides and not take a strong objective on either one.
Thank you, George, First Edition Design Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book that I probably never would have read otherwise! I do not like reading about politics, religion, or any other controversial topics on an everyday level. I prefer to escape to fantasy when reading my books, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this book and felt a connection with George even if we might never meet in person or have the exact same interests in life!
***Obviously these views/opinions expressed were my own and not influenced in any way. I submit this honest review in exchange for the ARC via NetGalley***
July 28, 2026
George Critchlow has accomplished something truly special with Travels with Vamper. This is far more than a simple retirement road trip diary; it’s a profound and beautifully rendered meditation on a life lived and a nation in flux. As a fellow baby boomer, I found his reflections on race, religion, and the environment to be incredibly poignant and honest. Critchlow has a unique talent for weaving together personal history, sharp political observations, and fascinating legal anecdotes, all while taking you on a vivid journey through the American heartland. His voice is wise, thoughtful, and occasionally wry, making you feel like you're riding shotgun in Vamper, engaging in the kind of deep, meaningful conversation you rarely get to have anymore. It’s a compelling and necessary read for anyone trying to understand the competing narratives that divide our country today, and it left me feeling more reflective and connected to the American experience.
July 28, 2026
I was completely captivated by Critchlow's journey through Middle America. He has a gift for finding the profound in the everyday, whether he’s describing a stunning Western vista or a small-town diner in the Bible Belt. His ability to connect the dots between the physical landscapes he travels and the inner landscape of his own life is remarkable. The book gracefully balances historical context with the immediate present of the Trump era, offering a clear eyed yet empathetic view of a divided nation. More than just a travelogue, it’s a deeply personal story about confronting the past and embracing the future as a senior citizen. Critchlow’s voice is intelligent and engaging, making you care about his journey and his thoughtful takes on the people he meets and the places he explores. It’s a wonderful, insightful read that I would recommend to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of America today.
July 28, 2026
Travels with Vamper is a gem. George Critchlow takes the classic American road trip narrative and infuses it with a sharp legal mind and a deeply humanistic heart. His solo journey is a powerful metaphor for the process of retiring and looking back on a career, and he handles the subject of the country's political and cultural divide with nuance and grace. I really appreciated how he uses his experiences as a lawyer and professor to frame his observations, making the complex topics of race, law, and culture feel accessible and immediate. The personal reflections on his own life are moving and add a beautiful layer of depth to the story. This isn't just a book about a man in a camper van; it's a story about America and the search for meaning, and it’s one that will stay with me long after I turned the last page.
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October 10, 2019I found this book when I was doing a google search of George. I knew him in the summer of 1979 and credit him with getting me to move from Kennewick to Seattle to finish my degree at the University of Washington. He called BS on every excuse I made as to why I couldn't leave my home town. If you ever read this George: THANK YOU!! Finishing my degree, as one might imagine, can be a life changing experience and in my case, it was.
I enjoyed this book and cruised through it quickly. A fun and easy read. I too retired in the last two years and was interested to see how George decided to view retirement. While the ending is no surprise, let's not spoil the mild revelation of his two month journey.
I enjoyed this book and cruised through it quickly. A fun and easy read. I too retired in the last two years and was interested to see how George decided to view retirement. While the ending is no surprise, let's not spoil the mild revelation of his two month journey.
January 26, 2018
There is life after retirement! This may seem to be the main idea behind the book “Travels with Vamper: A Graybeard’s Journey”, but as one keeps reading, it becomes clear that apart from being a personal account of the author’s adventures, the travelogue offers a detailed dissection of the contemporary American society. The personal experiences are intertwined with social commentaries and opinions making the book an interesting read.
December 14, 2025
This book feels like sitting by a campfire with someone who has actually lived. The reflections are honest, layered, sometimes funny, sometimes unexpectedly deep. I loved how the author moves between memory and the open road with such ease. It made me want to slow down, look around, and reconsider what a “life chapter” really means.
June 2, 2026
What really struck me was the generosity of spirit in these pages. The author reflects on his past with honesty and tenderness, and the present-day journey ties it all together. It’s reflective without being slow, personal without being self-indulgent. A wonderful companion for anyone in a transitional stage of life.
February 8, 2026
A beautiful, thoughtful read. The writing has that rare mix of warmth and sharp observation that makes even small moments feel meaningful. I especially enjoyed the way he explores aging, identity, and freedom without ever sounding heavy-handed. It’s the kind of book that lingers.
April 30, 2026
This is the kind of travel memoir that sneaks up on you. You start thinking you’re here for the roads and landscapes, but you stay for the wisdom, the humor, and the quiet emotional punches. It feels authentic, unpolished in the best way, and very human.
August 21, 2026
An engaging, immersive portrait of a man reconnecting with the world and with himself. There’s a richness to the storytelling that makes every town, memory, and conversation feel alive. You can feel the road, the uncertainty, the small joys. A very satisfying read.
September 7, 2026
This book made me want to pack a bag and rethink everything I thought I knew about retirement, purpose, and movement. The voice is grounded and wise, yet playful. It’s rare to read a memoir that feels both intimate and universal - this one does.
February 15, 2018
“I like to think of Vamper humming along the highway, taking happy people to happy places.”
After retirement, George Critchlow, a retired law professor, isn’t quite sure what he wants to do in life. He decides to go on an adventure by himself to see if seeing the country will help him figure out how to spend his retirement. He decides to get an RV, but the costs involved have him decide to get a van that is outfitted like a camper – Vamper as he names it. He starts his journey in Washington State with only a few dates and destinations pre-determined to meet up with family. He is free to roam and take whichever road he fancies.
The author requested a review of his book, Travels with Vamper, through my Web site. I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I thought the book sounded interesting, as he would be writing his thoughts about his journey across the country.
While the author does tell some about the places he visits, he tends to focus more on social issues and asking people about the current election (Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump). He makes no attempt to hide his own bias against Trump, including an epilogue after the election is decided where he tells his reservations about a Trump presidency. He includes an argument he has with a couple about the election and only blames Trump for their divisions, not giving Clinton any credit for also being part of the divisiveness. He also reinforces stereotypes by describing the small pieces of America he sees. A brief stop in the South where he sees people going to a restaurant after church assumes that lunch after church is a segregated event. I have lived in the South and that is not an overarching truth.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if there were more focus on the journey and the places he visited and less on politics and social issues. He talks about race, economic status and immigration with brief glimpses in a town or talking with one person and then tying that to a story from his past days as a lawyer. People who enjoy reading personal memoirs and journey stories would like this, but they will like it more if they agree with his liberal standpoints.
Read more here: http://sarahannecarter.com/travels-va...
After retirement, George Critchlow, a retired law professor, isn’t quite sure what he wants to do in life. He decides to go on an adventure by himself to see if seeing the country will help him figure out how to spend his retirement. He decides to get an RV, but the costs involved have him decide to get a van that is outfitted like a camper – Vamper as he names it. He starts his journey in Washington State with only a few dates and destinations pre-determined to meet up with family. He is free to roam and take whichever road he fancies.
The author requested a review of his book, Travels with Vamper, through my Web site. I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I thought the book sounded interesting, as he would be writing his thoughts about his journey across the country.
While the author does tell some about the places he visits, he tends to focus more on social issues and asking people about the current election (Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump). He makes no attempt to hide his own bias against Trump, including an epilogue after the election is decided where he tells his reservations about a Trump presidency. He includes an argument he has with a couple about the election and only blames Trump for their divisions, not giving Clinton any credit for also being part of the divisiveness. He also reinforces stereotypes by describing the small pieces of America he sees. A brief stop in the South where he sees people going to a restaurant after church assumes that lunch after church is a segregated event. I have lived in the South and that is not an overarching truth.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if there were more focus on the journey and the places he visited and less on politics and social issues. He talks about race, economic status and immigration with brief glimpses in a town or talking with one person and then tying that to a story from his past days as a lawyer. People who enjoy reading personal memoirs and journey stories would like this, but they will like it more if they agree with his liberal standpoints.
Read more here: http://sarahannecarter.com/travels-va...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews