Do You like book One For The Road: An Outback Adventure (2010)?
The thing I enjoy most about reading travel narratives is the chance to vicariously experience things that I simply would not do myself. There are certain places that I don’t expect to ever visit, and styles of travel that I consider too uncomfortable or inconvenient for me to bother with, but I still can share these because others are willing to go there and do that, and then write about it. In this case, exploring the Australian Outback by hitchhiking is certainly not something that I’m ever going to do (though I would be interested in visiting some of the places described). Fortunately, Horwitz has done so and provided this entertaining record of his adventure.Aside from the descriptions of the Outback and those that call it home, this is also a glimpse into the culture of one of the most sparsely populated regions in the world. This narrative isn’t as funny as the one presented by Bill Bryson (“In a Sunburned Country”), but it provides a broader look at the people of Australia, one that is both entertaining and educational.Two things about this account stand out, both of which may (or may not) have changed since this account was written almost thirty years ago. The first is the incredible amount of alcohol consumed by those Horwitz meets along the way, and the related levels of intoxicated driving he describes. Even in an area as sparsely populated as the Outback, it seems like a recipe for carnage on the roads. In addition, the descriptions of the race relations here are noteworthy. The attitudes expressed here may not have been typical, but are disturbing nonetheless. It would be interesting to have a more contemporary account to compare to this one, to see whether either of these issues has changed since the mid-1980s.This book is both a travel narrative and a bit of a time machine, providing us with a glimpse into the character of rural Australia during the 1980s. While it is certainly entertaining, it is also a useful instrument for evaluating the changes in that culture over time. And for those of us who simply haven’t got the nerve to hitchhike through the Outback, this is the next best thing.
—Andrew
This is probably my least favorite of his books. Not because of the writing. Hitchiking through the Australian outback with Tony was eye opening. Australia is definitely on my bucket list of placed I'd like to visit but all the drinking and driving he experiences makes me want to avoid the rustic interior. No wonder he gives it the title, "One for the Road," as most of the people he travels with guzzle beer constantly to stay hydrated as they traverse the highways and byways of the outback. Crazy! And the racism - wow! I hope things have changed for the better in 25 years.I have noted not just in this book but essentially in all of his books (that I have read) that his approach to getting the true vibe of a place is to visit all the local pubs or bars. One can certainly get the feel for a certain segment of the population, but the whole? I don't think so. I would say it depends on the town in question and what it is one is really trying to learn about the area. The bottom line is I'm glad I read it, but all the pub-crawling drunkenness and racism is depressing.
—Shanna
This is another of Tony Horwitz's fabulous books. In it he chronicles his adventures and insights while hitch-hiking across the great expanses of nothingness of Australia. It's an excellent read especially if (like myself) you know next to nothing of the Australian outback. I do however, wish to take one annoyingly petty exception: On page 117 (Kindle location 2066) Horwitz makes mention of some of the words of the Eagles song, "Take It Easy", giving credit to Jackson Browne as the writer. That is only half true as it was a collaborative work of Browne and Glen Frey of the Eagles. Although Browne is known to have sung the song at a concert or two, it was of course Glen Frey as lead vocalist of the Eagles that made the song famous as an iconic signature to the sound of American rock in the 70's.As I said, it's an annoyingly petty observation but let's give credit where credit is due. Otherwise it's a fine book full of humor and adventure and I can hardly wait to get back to it.
—Larry Vanzalen
