End of the Trail

by Dan Rice, Jennifer Havenner, Angela Hooper

End of the Trail is an autobiographical account of Route 66 enthusiast Dan Rice's eight-year struggle with Traumatic Brain Injury. His Hollywood life and high-paced track to a Ph.D. in Psychology was abruptly derailed in 2002 when he suffered severe brain injuries in a near-fatal car accident. A long and painful road to recovery began only after a desperate period of depression, anger, sadness, insomnia, vertigo, suicidal ideations, and an increasing inability to understand the world around him. The book, written about the accident and struggle to recovery is told from the vantage point of Route 66, intertwining Rice's journey to recovery with his lifelong passion for the historic Mother Road that is in its own struggle for survival. The book's title refers to a historic sign that once marked the western end of Route 66 in Santa Monica. To Rice, the sign represents a milestone in his recovery when he overcame all odds and replaced the missing historic sign at the Santa Monica Pier with other Route 66 advocates demonstrating that he is living the life of his dreams in full recovery. Rice explores the desperate conditions he and his family lived in before the injury was diagnosed and as he began his recovery tells also of the story of Route 66. The historic Mother Road's own struggle for survival mirrors Rice's and is used as a metaphor to demonstrate the path of recovery and the importance of raising awareness for the victims and their families. End of the Trail was written to bring needed information, warning signs, and insights to victims and their families, but is also about providing hope and demonstrating that the trail's end is well worth the journey.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2010

Reviews

[Tim Yearneau]

Dan Rice has a gift for explaining terms and telling stories. I bought this book at his Route 66 Kiosk on the Santa Monica Pier. His writing style is simple and to the point. This made the book a very easy read. One of the biggest themes I get from this book is that if one door closes, another opens up. Certainly doors were slammed shut on him, especially after suffering his injury. The fact he came storming back to run a successful Route 66 business is inspirational.

I can tell you with unabashed certainty that Dan Rice and his employees are the most passionate, most knowledgeable people on this planet when it comes to Route 66. I had the pleasure to speak, and interview, some of his employees at his Route 66 Kiosk on the Santa Monica Pier. Their knowledge and enthusiasm would make any educator and student proud.

I won't lie. I wanted Dan to share more of his Route 66 experiences with me. His life experiences are tied together and brought home with his passion for Route 66. I wanted more of that. Perhaps in his next book!

[Jim]

It is not often I find a book worthy of reading a second time inless than six months but this book has a level of inspiration that is difficult to find.