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46 pages 1 hour read

Blue Highways: A Journey into America

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1982

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Book Brief

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William Least Heat-Moon

Blue Highways: A Journey into America

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1982
Book Details
Pages

428

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 1970s

Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

980L

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Super Short Summary

In Blue Highways: A Journey into America, William Least Heat-Moon, at a personal crossroads and dealing with a separation and job loss, decides to embark on a 13,000-mile journey across the United States using only older, less-traveled routes marked in blue on old road maps. Throughout his travels in a makeshift camper van, he explores local histories and engages with resilient, everyday people, documenting their stories and reflecting on the tension between past traditions and modernity while seeking his own self-discovery.

Contemplative

Adventurous

Inspirational

Nostalgic

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.3

26,270 ratings

75%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon blends travelogue and personal reflection, capturing America's backroads. Critics praise its rich descriptions and insightful social commentary. Some note a meandering pace and occasional repetitiveness. Nonetheless, it remains a poignant exploration of cultural and geographical landscapes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Blue Highways: A Journey into America?

Readers who appreciate personal journeys and cultural explorations will enjoy Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon. Fans of John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley or Jack Kerouac's On the Road will find value in its reflective narrative and attention to America's backroads and diverse communities.

4.3

26,270 ratings

75%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

428

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 1970s

Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

980L

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