Customer Reviews
Hilarious - By: Courtney Mower, 23 Mar 2010 
I would recomend the actual book over the film any day becuase Daves writing is absorbing & heartwarming...Laughs aplenty & clear, consice & fluid writing make for a wonderful & enchanting read.
Worth it just to make you happy if your having a bad day
Good roadtrip description, with a bit of pre-corporate Americana archeology thrown in - By: AK, 18 Mar 2010 
Gorman's mission was simple, fly to the US West Coast, find a car & then subsequently cross the continent without using any corporate chains enroute, be it for petrol, food or lodging & then write / make a documentary about it. And primarily, find out, if it is still possible to do it.
Like a good roadtrip description should, it leaves you itching to hopin the car & replicate it - it's funny, he takes the not insignificant difficultiesin stride - especially considering the 1970s full size car with its associated reliability & fuel consumption - & does a great job of selling both the concept & the places he's been through. It works well enough bothin terms of being an entertaining read & a good travel guide to replicate the trip.
On top of that the mission - to avod corporate America leads Gorman on a trail of uncovering an older, more appealing version of the US & often it feels a bit like an archeological expedition following where he goes. It is one of the most convincing booksin terms of rousing the desire to see the US I have readin a long time - quite an achievement for a British author. I am yet to read Stephen Fry's Stephen Fryin America & until I do, this will stand as a benchmarkin this respect.
The Ford Torino's V8 rumble providing the finishing touch to it.
great challenge - By: J. Nelson, 11 Dec 2009 Trying to get across the uS with non-corporate companies for petrol is a challengein itself. Entertaining read.
A very good read! - By: Jordan Thomas, 05 Nov 2009 I admit it is not as good as Gormans previous books but it is still very good nonetheless, it becomes quite apparant that Gorman become passionate, almost obssessed with his task with many brick walls to go through threatening his target to meet the East Coast.
But what makes the book really good is the people he meets from Tree House Hotels to a (slightly dodgy) local Halloween School Party. You do really feel for the peoplein the Mom'n'Pop Garage Stations & cafe as there is more insight of the dedication these people have to the dying industry being eclipsed from the "The Man" My favourite moment his when Gorman & his director heads to Salt Lake City, I won't say why but its very funny & educational!
For those who want to watch the documentary movie as well, I suggest you watch that first because I was expecting a lot of thingsin the book to bein the movie but they weren't so it led to a bit of a dissapointment so its best to watch that then read the insight, I guess half of the book is what haven't been filmed as its purely the personal insight. Its quite obvious Gorman has matured from "Are You Dave Gorman?" & "Googlewhack" to this book & I highly reccomend it, I finished it within the week!. I just hope he writes another book soon...
One of the best American travelogues you'll read - By: Jl Adcock, 29 Oct 2009 I enjoyed the film of America Unchained, but surprisingly I thought the book was even better. Gorman's attempt to cross the States from coast to coastin a 1970's Ford Torino - using only independent accommodation & gas - is a pretty tall order, & becomes the obsessive reason for the undertaking at all other costs. Where the film picked out nuggets along the way, the book is a more warts & all approach to the journey, & all the better for it I think.
Gorman writes well, bringing places & people to lifein an entertaining & humorous way. Surprisingly for a travel book over 300 pages long, it doesn't feel like a hard read. If anything, the book ends almost too abruptly at journey's end, making me wonder whether there was a publishers deadline to meet, or - like the Torino - Dave ran out of steam towards the bitter end.
The book describes an America that is fast disappearing; wonderful, independent minded people who want to offer more than the big corporate blandness, but clearly it's a battle slowly being lost. Gorman is also quite a reflective & honest writer, which gives the book another dimension that is lackingin the film. His relationships with Stef & Andy (the two film makers he ends up working with on the trip)are an essential part of the book, & I don't think it would have been as interesting without them playing such a big partin the adventure that unfolds.
But perhaps most vividly of all, Gorman's honest, breezy, reflective style portrays himin as a real travelling companion, with strengths & flaws like the rest of us. You can't help feeling that to have done this roadtrip with him, he would have been great, entertaining, obsessed & irritating company all rolled into one. More depth here than you findin lots of travel books that accompany the film or TV series - recommended.
