Super Short Summary

In John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead, the story follows J. Sutter, a black freelance journalist who attends the John Henry Days festival in Talcott, West Virginia, part of his quest to break a record for continuous junketing. Amidst several interconnected vignettes and the festival's commercialization, Sutter grapples with his ideals and the superficiality of his career, deciding whether to reclaim his initial journalistic passion. The novel incorporates sensitive topics including violence and racism.