Books About The Open Road?
December 18, 2011 8:51 AM Subscribe
Books about the open road, road trips, and new starts?
Two years ago I started working on my PhD dissertation. Those years, especially the last six months, have been the hardest of my life (both from stress and finances). I've gain weight, loss muscle, and probably added a few grey hairs. More generally, I've generally feel like I've lost my confidence. Even my wife has noticed that I am less optimistic and that I stress about things readily.
In a week I am filing the final version of my PhD dissertation (meaning I am 100% done). An hour after I submit it, my wife and I are driving from New York to Miami, for our first vacation in two years.
To mark the start of regaining my life, I am looking for books on the open road, road trips, or new starts. All suggestions are appreciated.
Two years ago I started working on my PhD dissertation. Those years, especially the last six months, have been the hardest of my life (both from stress and finances). I've gain weight, loss muscle, and probably added a few grey hairs. More generally, I've generally feel like I've lost my confidence. Even my wife has noticed that I am less optimistic and that I stress about things readily.
In a week I am filing the final version of my PhD dissertation (meaning I am 100% done). An hour after I submit it, my wife and I are driving from New York to Miami, for our first vacation in two years.
To mark the start of regaining my life, I am looking for books on the open road, road trips, or new starts. All suggestions are appreciated.
"Travels in Siberia" by Ian Frazier
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:54 AM on December 18, 2011
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:54 AM on December 18, 2011
Travels with Charley!
Round Ireland with a Fridge ? (About travelling Ireland, but it's wonderful how he begins as a bit distant, but connects more with people as it goes on - a good lesson for travelers who might not otherwise open up that way.)
The Lost Continent
posted by peagood at 9:00 AM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Round Ireland with a Fridge ? (About travelling Ireland, but it's wonderful how he begins as a bit distant, but connects more with people as it goes on - a good lesson for travelers who might not otherwise open up that way.)
The Lost Continent
posted by peagood at 9:00 AM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Che Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries and it's quasi-companion Patrick Symmes's Chasing Che.
On preview: +1 to Travels With Charley. It's awesome.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:03 AM on December 18, 2011
On preview: +1 to Travels With Charley. It's awesome.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:03 AM on December 18, 2011
+ 1 to Travels with Charley
Also, Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon.
posted by lvanshima at 9:11 AM on December 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
Also, Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon.
posted by lvanshima at 9:11 AM on December 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
Dharma Bums by Kerouac.
posted by WickedPissah at 9:13 AM on December 18, 2011
posted by WickedPissah at 9:13 AM on December 18, 2011
Some people like Blue Highways, though one of my outspoken college professors said that he didn't understand why anyone would want to read about Bill Trogdon's summer vacation. I like Bill Bryson a lot, particularly A Walk in the Woods. If you like Bill Bryson, Ian Frazier is entertaining as well. Hawk Flies Above is part memoir and part travelogue, set in the Nebraska Sandhills.
posted by Ostara at 9:15 AM on December 18, 2011
posted by Ostara at 9:15 AM on December 18, 2011
Driving Mr. Albert: A trip across America with Einstein’s brain
"A journalist and a pathologist take off for California toting the greatest scientific brain of the 20th century as cargo."
posted by Exchequer at 9:21 AM on December 18, 2011
"A journalist and a pathologist take off for California toting the greatest scientific brain of the 20th century as cargo."
posted by Exchequer at 9:21 AM on December 18, 2011
"Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing" by Erika Lopez.
posted by sea change at 9:47 AM on December 18, 2011
posted by sea change at 9:47 AM on December 18, 2011
Nthing Travels with Charlie, Blue Highways, A Walk in the Woods, and Round Ireland with a Fridge.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:04 AM on December 18, 2011
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:04 AM on December 18, 2011
If you're looking for something on the silly side, An Abundance of Katherines is funny (if you don't mind YA).
A number of Emily Hahn's essay collections are about traveling and getting to know new places. She moved a lot in her life. In particular, China to me, England to me, Africa to me, and No hurry to get home.
If you like science fiction, there's a lot on the theme of finding your way in a new place, such as Cordelia's Honor, The Finder, Y: The last man, and Girl Genius. Okay, also all but Cordelia are graphic novels. Don't let that stop you from borrowing a stack of them from your library. Congratulations on finishing your PhD!
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:05 AM on December 18, 2011
A number of Emily Hahn's essay collections are about traveling and getting to know new places. She moved a lot in her life. In particular, China to me, England to me, Africa to me, and No hurry to get home.
If you like science fiction, there's a lot on the theme of finding your way in a new place, such as Cordelia's Honor, The Finder, Y: The last man, and Girl Genius. Okay, also all but Cordelia are graphic novels. Don't let that stop you from borrowing a stack of them from your library. Congratulations on finishing your PhD!
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:05 AM on December 18, 2011
As someone who has gone through the whole life-changing PhD malarkey, I don't have any book suggestions, but I would say 'just enjoy yourself'. Drink good wine, eat good food, enjoy good company, don't think about work, university, your research at all. It'll take some time for you to process the idea that "you're done", so I suppose that's the great thing about going on a road trip: it gives you the chance to do that processing.
Good luck and have a great time!
posted by Scottie_Bob at 10:07 AM on December 18, 2011
Good luck and have a great time!
posted by Scottie_Bob at 10:07 AM on December 18, 2011
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
posted by melt away at 10:15 AM on December 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by melt away at 10:15 AM on December 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Some people like Blue Highways, though one of my outspoken college professors said that he didn't understand why anyone would want to read about Bill Trogdon's summer vacation.
Trogdon's wife left him and he lost his job on the same day. Blue Highways is a perfect suggestion.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:47 PM on December 18, 2011
For a dark but excellent take: Going Native by Stephen Wright.
posted by OmieWise at 2:11 PM on December 18, 2011
posted by OmieWise at 2:11 PM on December 18, 2011
Trogdon's wife left him and he lost his job on the same day. Blue Highways is a perfect suggestion.
I need to re-read it. It is a critically-acclaimed book that sounds like exactly what the OP is seeking.
Other suggestions: Hawk's Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone (begins with a 100-mile hike instead of a road trip, but the sense of exploration and wonder is the same).
Into the Wild. (The movie's good too!)
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America.
posted by Ostara at 2:13 PM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I need to re-read it. It is a critically-acclaimed book that sounds like exactly what the OP is seeking.
Other suggestions: Hawk's Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone (begins with a 100-mile hike instead of a road trip, but the sense of exploration and wonder is the same).
Into the Wild. (The movie's good too!)
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America.
posted by Ostara at 2:13 PM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's a boat, not a road, but it's one of my favorites; The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow
posted by The otter lady at 3:38 PM on December 18, 2011
posted by The otter lady at 3:38 PM on December 18, 2011
I really love Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen. It's more of a straight-up travel guide than narrative but it's still has lots of tantalizing description that will get you really excited about hitting the road. It has road trips in it that criss-cross every part of the U.S., including one from New York to Key West. The author even makes driving from North Dakota to Texas (what he calls The Road to Nowhere) sound fascinating.
Have a wonderful time! I envy you (except for the dissertation part)!
posted by Jess the Mess at 8:35 AM on December 19, 2011
Have a wonderful time! I envy you (except for the dissertation part)!
posted by Jess the Mess at 8:35 AM on December 19, 2011
The Majic Bus by Douglas Brinkley is about a college American history professor who takes his class on a six-week road trip around the United States by bus. Along the way they read some classic American fiction and get to meet people from all walks of life. It's kind of like a roving American Studies class. Though if you're trying to get away from Ph.D.-related stuff, maybe you wouldn't want to read about a college class.
posted by Tin Man at 1:12 PM on December 19, 2011
posted by Tin Man at 1:12 PM on December 19, 2011
+1 for Into the Wild. The movie and soundtrack are good, too.
posted by eq21 at 4:03 PM on December 26, 2011
posted by eq21 at 4:03 PM on December 26, 2011
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