television

I was buying Peter's new book, LOOKING FOR ALASKA, when I decided to read the reviews on amazon.com for some of his other books.

After reading a couple by some people with limited vision I had to write one for his classic A WALK ACROSS AMERICA. This amazing book has been a best seller since 1979, it has sold a couple million copies.

The reason is that it obviously communicates extremely effectively and to all ages, all backgrounds, just read the reviews.

I know because I used to own one of the most successful bookstores in the midwest. I had autoworkers from GM buying it, professorts at MSU, students at MSU, high school students from town, Grandmothers in reading groups, grown-up hippies, stock traders in their suits.

The most powerful and effective communication is done, whether by writing or painting or music or religion even, simply.
The Rolling Stones write and perform songs that reach out and grab all. Great artists, religious leaders, writers do the same.

Peter Jenkins has done this with A WALK ACROSS AMERICA.

Remember Peter is 21 years old when beginning this now famous, yet solitary journey. His book is written from a young persons perspective, yet the masses feel it, love it, and keep buying and buying it.

What a rare book this is. The readers have spoken. And now I have had my turn. Peace.

I once read an article in National Geographic, I believe 1978. I told my mother how inspiring it was. I was an outdoorsy type, and to hear of a young man in 1973 who gave up everything for a trip to try and understand the disillusion he had of his generation, his life and the bad taste so many expressed of his own country. My life had changed from this article, It was soon after this my mother found the book in the library and brought it home. I read it 3 times, each time it was just and good. It felt as though I was walking right there along side of him, I felt the pain, the joy and the intriguing moments of his life, the moments exploring and meeting new people. He had a special love for his best friend he called Cooper "Coops" a half Husky/Alaskan Malemute dog who had actually kept him alive during a spell of the flu on a cold mountaintop. Cooper died midway through the book, Peter expressed very well his loss and I cried as well, he explained his emptiness afterwards and I felt his pain.

Peter Jenkins has written several other books since and I've read them all but this one will always hold a special place in my heart.

Absolutely one of the best reads that I've ever encountered. Of course, throughout this book, I continued to hopelessly imagine myself taking this journey along with Peter. Its just a down to earth, true speaking, journey across the eastern US. I wish I could have been there to experience it too. Great read!