Customer Reviews:
 Charming April 27, 2008
This charming, light hearted book charts comedian and broadcaster Dave Gormans attempt to cross the USA in an old ford avoiding all chain motels, gas stations and eateries. Not much of an anti-corporate book and the end tends to fizzle out however what Gorman does do he does with plenty of humour and warm hearted incidents. No doubt more fun to do than read about the book never the less remains engaging and highly readable.
 Is this book good?...Yellville Flipping Gassville it is! April 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Dave Gorman has been described as the Bill Bryson of stand up comedy and when you read this book you will see why.It is a book about a road trip across America.The rules are that you can't use any corporate chains to sustain yourself, eg, Travel Lodge, McDonald's, Shell petrol, etc...
The good thing with master story teller Dave Gorman is is that you are in safe hands when it comes to a friendly entertaining read.Even if things aren't going to plan on the trip Dave makes entertainment out of it in the form of an anecdote, etc.
There is a lot of info about the places he travelled to, so the book can be classed as a travel book as well as entertainment.
Highly recommended.
Chuckles aplenty April 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After the Googlewhack Adventure, Are You Dave Gorman and other Astrological Experiment, driving from coast to coast without patronizing any chained establishments might not seem such a crazy idea, and it isn't either, but the plan stopped here so bring in Dave Gorman's spontaneity, curious mind and humour; drop in some uncontrolable events and you get a joyous roadtrip through small-town America. It made me want to stand up and hug those good people out there who still fight The Man(tm) and are content with getting by in a lifestyle they've chosen and like.
This book is funny, charming, warm and inspiring.
One heck of a journey.... April 18, 2008
Dave Gorman attempts to drive from the West coast to the East coast of the USA by only using independent petrol stations, motels and other businesses. To make his task even more difficult, his car is a 36 year old Ford Torino.
The book is both well written and highly amusing. Gorman makes it feel like you are travelling on the journey with him, and you get to see a more old-fashioned America.
As you would expect, things don't go exactly as planned. This is not helped by Gorman's numerous diversions. I won't tell you if he actually manages to fulfill his quest, but it was very enjoyable finding out all the same....
 Well written, flawed concept. April 11, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I don't know how original this book really is. The idea, certainly, must be one that has appealed to many a student in their university days, and I dare say a few must have actually tried it. Driving coast to coast from the states you say? Doing it in a big, classic American car? Avoiding the 'big chains' and looking for the 'real America'? I'm sure I can vaguely recall coming up with all these ideas myself at some point, whilst younger and perhaps slightly tipsy in the Union Bar. I've never done it, though one day I'd love to, but if I were looking for a book to give me the inspiration I needed to finally get the wheels on the road, this wouldn't be it.
The concept, in case you don't already know, is to drive from Los Angeles to New York, without giving money to 'The Man' - which, in practice seems to mean not eating in chain restaurants, not staying in chain hotels, and not filling up the car with chain-bought petrol. And nothing else, really. It really doesn't get any more complicated than that - eating, sleeping and fuelling a motor seem to be the only times that this 'challenge' becomes really relevant. Yet it's the challenge of being non-corporate that takes massive precedence over any insight into the American way of life. Perhaps, as I believe it's inhabitants often tell us, the Midwest really is big, empty, and not all that exciting. Perhaps there really aren't that many diversions there to speak of. But honestly, anyone who's ever run out of petrol before will find a 200 page book on the subject probably a little dull, whether the car's being driven through Manchester or Mississippi. The bottom line is, Dave Gorman's rigid adherence to the challenge he sets himself doesn't really leave him a lot of wiggle-room in writing a book that remains engaging throughout.
That said though, Gorman is a good enough, and entertaining enough writer to ensure that, despite the lack of quality subject matter, the book is readable and enjoyable from cover to cover. He has a very lighthearted tone, at all times, and captures the flavour of being a Brit-abroad very well. His style, including little maps, diagrams and of course the mandatory photographs of the places he's been and people he's met sit well in the book, and help illustrate the narrative nicely. He even manages some fantastically, and perhaps even profound insights into everything from Mormonism to human goodness.
But in reality, these moments are too thin on the ground, before we return to the common theme - what if they run out of petrol?
An enjoyable read, but he could have done with a little more to write about.
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