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Just in time for America’s 250th birthday—because what better way to celebrate than with a genuine, entertaining, soul-searching road trip through the actual country? HEARTLAND HIGHWAYS: In Search of America.
John W. Butler, an award-winning broadcaster, is an authentic voice with stories from the roads less traveled, the diners more deliciously greasy, and the people more real than anything you’ll see on cable news. It’s John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley meets William Least Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways, with fewer dogs and more coffee stops.
His 33,321-mile road trip redefines the "Heartland," embracing the places and stories from sea to shining sea. “I go in search of the real America beyond the scare-you-to-death news headlines. Embracing the pace of a wanderer -- not a tourist. I was a "detourist." I didn't follow itineraries. Followed hunches and locals saying, "It's just 15 minutes that way-you can't miss it." Spoiler: I missed it. But what I found instead was better.”
Read this book. It’ll make you laugh, think, and maybe stop yelling at the news for a minute.
"John W. Butler is a storytelling road warrior with a country soul and a sharp wit—equal parts Texas radio charm and Maine forest mystery." HEARTLAND HIGHWAYS: IN SEARCH OF AMERICA is a heartfelt journey of 33,321 miles into the soul of the country. He redefines the "Heartland," embracing stories from sea to shining sea. A Hopi tribesman he spent time with called him “The Truth Seeker.”
"I go in search of the real America," Butler says, "beyond the scare-you-to-death news headlines. Embracing the pace of a wanderer -- not a tourist. I was a "detourist." I didn't follow itineraries. Followed hunches and locals saying, "It's just 15 minutes that way-you can't miss it." Spoiler: I missed it. But what I found instead was better."
My 33,321-mile road trip from sea to shining sea became less about destinations and more about detours, a series of accidental adventures, spontaneous diner stops, and unplanned human connections that made this sprawling, chaotic, and beautiful country feel a little more like home. If you're looking for perfect pictures or practical advice, turn back now. But if you're here for the long, strange ride - hop in. Let's take the scenic route on purpose.
John W. Butler began working in a TV newsroom at age fifteen. Throughout high school, he tested his creative flair by producing two prime-time documentaries, spinning tracks as a radio DJ, and hosting a weekly radio interview show. John worked his way through college on-air as a television news reporter and even did the weather, graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and earning a Master’s degree from SMU in Dallas. He's deeply embedded in the Texas media scene, serving on the Texas Association of Broadcasters board and as the past president of the Golden Mic Club. As president of Butler7media, his Texas-based radio stations have garnered awards for broadcast excellence from the TAB and Texas Broadcast News Association. He is a nominee for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
John is a tireless advocate of community service. He has lent his voice to record books for the sight-impaired and disabled and has dedicated over 2,000 hours to support cancer patients in memory of his late wife. As a devoted single dad to his son and daughter, he is now affectionately known as “Papa John” to his five grandchildren. Based in Dallas, John thrives on travel, exploring by foot, car, train, bike, and boat. He is still working on his golf skills in the never-ending quest for a hole-in-one, but he spends more time in the rough than on the green.
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