Roadside Americans

Jack Reid is a scholar of American culture. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Weaves together anecdote, interviews and historical record to present a nuanced look not just at hitchhiking's ebb and flow but the socioeconomic and political reasons behind the shift in public thinking and behavior."-Arizona Daily Sun "An essential look at history that isn't often examined. . . . A decent, even delightful, read that's perfect for trippers, former hippies, and history buffs. If you're armchair traveling this summer, it gets a thumbs up."-Terri Schlichenmeyer, Bookworm Sez "Taking a more particularized approach . . . Reid, an independent cultural scholar, explores hitchhiking in the US. He highlights the heydays of the phenomenon from the 1920s to the 1980s, emphasizing that hitchhiking always maintained various proponents, opponents, and practitioners. . . . Roadside Americans provides a thoughtful and at times intriguing examination of a once storied, if controversial, cultural practice."-CHOICE "The first comprehensive scholarly history of hitchhiking in the United States, Jack Reid's Roadside Americans is an important work. well written . . . and highly accessible."-H-Environment