I love books like this. Not only do you get a peek inside one person, you get to explore another time, place,and culture in a way that history textbooks will never match.
If you liked this book, I would recommend [b:The Walk West: A Walk Across America 2|122782|The Walk West A Walk Across America 2 (Walk West)|Peter Jenkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1216767057s/122782.jpg|1797421], [b:Diary of Two Motorcycle Hobos|51759|Diary of Two Motorcycle Hobos|Lois Wilson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170382424s/51759.jpg|50505], and [b:Flight of Passage: A Memoir|400492|Flight of Passage A Memoir|Rinker Buck|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174441793s/400492.jpg|389913]. ( )

I loved this book and wish I had never heard that Peter and his wife didn't stay married. ( )

Despite the "disillusioned young man" bit (which may be true), this book is in truth a love song to his dog Cooper, his "forever friend". Beautifully written and heartfelt. ( )

One of my first favorite books. ( )

Peter Jenkins grew up in an affluent home with a loving family and assumed most people were like him. At a loss with what to do after finishing college in the 1970s, he decides to walk across America to find out what the people and his country are really like. He encounters generosity from unexpected people and discovers an America he did not know existed. He learned to not listen to stereotypes, experienced sadness and loneliness and found happiness. ( )