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Uneasy Rider: The Interstate Way of Knowledge
"Engagingly curious open-mindedness . . . an amiable deadpan worthy of Richard Ford." --Pico Iyer, Time
in this offbeat and original road book, cultural observer Mike Bryan takes issue with the traditional idea that the "real" America is to be found somewhere on our scenic backroads. He argues instead that it is right out in the open on the interstates, and he travels the big highways of the Southwest to prove the point.
Bryan engages motel operators, state troopers, and traveling salesmen. He discovers the world's only "No Smoking" ranch; hobnobs with elusive novelist Cormac McCarthy; spars with Bob Sundown, who prefers his covered wagon to any car. Between encounters he contemplates everything from America's pioneering spirit to its history of road building. In the end, he discovers that the interstates, far from producing the homogenous society he feared, nourish a rich community of eccentrics. And that ultimately, as this deeply romantic travelogue shows, there is no such thing as an "ordinary American."
"A wonderful writer, he manages to transmit his enjoyment of the places and people he encounters." --Austin American-Statesman
in this offbeat and original road book, cultural observer Mike Bryan takes issue with the traditional idea that the "real" America is to be found somewhere on our scenic backroads. He argues instead that it is right out in the open on the interstates, and he travels the big highways of the Southwest to prove the point.
Bryan engages motel operators, state troopers, and traveling salesmen. He discovers the world's only "No Smoking" ranch; hobnobs with elusive novelist Cormac McCarthy; spars with Bob Sundown, who prefers his covered wagon to any car. Between encounters he contemplates everything from America's pioneering spirit to its history of road building. In the end, he discovers that the interstates, far from producing the homogenous society he feared, nourish a rich community of eccentrics. And that ultimately, as this deeply romantic travelogue shows, there is no such thing as an "ordinary American."
"A wonderful writer, he manages to transmit his enjoyment of the places and people he encounters." --Austin American-Statesman
- GenresTravelNonfiction
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2011
A road book based on the premise that most road books, exemplified by "Blue Highways", make themselves insufferably romantic and out-of-touch by sticking to and glorifying the back roads. A cultural dead-end. This author instead stays close to the interstates, where real people live and real things are happening. I'm on board with an interstate-based road book, but I don't understand the vitriol - interstates may represent main-line culture, but of course culture has its own back roads, too.
Other annoyances are occasional overly long digressions into the author's personal life and the fact that he stays entirely within Texas and the southwest. As the author surely knows, being a part-time New York resident, we have a different interstate culture up in the northeast and it's undoubtedly different still in other regions.
On the plus side, some of the word choice and phrasing is outstanding, and Bryan really embraces the interstates as roads, spending time with a construction project manager, highway troopers, and interstate border patrol.
Worth a read if you're up for a different take on the road book, but it could have been a lot better.
Other annoyances are occasional overly long digressions into the author's personal life and the fact that he stays entirely within Texas and the southwest. As the author surely knows, being a part-time New York resident, we have a different interstate culture up in the northeast and it's undoubtedly different still in other regions.
On the plus side, some of the word choice and phrasing is outstanding, and Bryan really embraces the interstates as roads, spending time with a construction project manager, highway troopers, and interstate border patrol.
Worth a read if you're up for a different take on the road book, but it could have been a lot better.
April 8, 2009
This book took a long time to read. Usually I dislike books that take me a long time to read, but I really liked this one. I was kind of happy I got to savor it over the course of a few weeks. I enjoyed his premise - that by sticking to the back roads and demonizing the interstate, road trip writers are ignoring our emerging culture. I found the book to be both engaging and informative about subjects in which I didn't previously think I was interested.
December 28, 2007
This book is essentially a collection of essays about interstate culture in America. There are some chapters that are more interesting than others, such as the one about how highways are paved, and the one about drug enforcement at US border patrol stations, but generally speaking this is a very interesting read.
October 4, 2017
Un libro di viaggio sulle autostrade d'America; una carrellata di facce, luoghi, mestieri che gravitano attorno ai grandi nastri d'asfalto USA.
Non è malaccio, però consiglierei questo libro solo a chi ha una gran passione per gli States.
Altro appunto, il libro ormai risale al 1997, perciò si corre il rischio di leggere di molte realtà che ormai non esistono più.
Forse potremmo avere di meglio da fare!
Non è malaccio, però consiglierei questo libro solo a chi ha una gran passione per gli States.
Altro appunto, il libro ormai risale al 1997, perciò si corre il rischio di leggere di molte realtà che ormai non esistono più.
Forse potremmo avere di meglio da fare!
November 1, 2022
It was ok, some interesting personal stories from a South-western perspective. I liked that so many of those with whom the author chatted spoke of their faith in the Lord, in Christ. The skeptical leaning of the author did not ridicule even where he did not agree, and so that is significant. I liked some of the sharing from people who are not only independent but industrious.
March 8, 2016
He's no McPhee.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews