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States of Confusion: My 19,000-Mile Detour to Find Direction
Rather than deal with the problems he was facing as a recent college grad, Paul Jury decided to leave them in his rearview mirror. He might not have known the direction his life was headed, but he knew the route he was taking to hit all forty-eight contiguous states on one epic road trip.
Filled with plenty of adventure and the unforeseen obstacle (or twelve), States of Confusion puts you in shotgun to see where the road takes Paul. All he knows--after crashing on the beer-soaked couch of his younger brother's frat--is that there's no going back.
Filled with plenty of adventure and the unforeseen obstacle (or twelve), States of Confusion puts you in shotgun to see where the road takes Paul. All he knows--after crashing on the beer-soaked couch of his younger brother's frat--is that there's no going back.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2011
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289 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 21, 2012
Part of me really enjoyed this book, and the rest of me wanted to slap the shit out of Paul for the entire thing. It's not even really his fault that I wanted to slap him, its just that I get totally annoyed when people believe that they are alone in what they are feeling. Like no one in the history of ever has been where you are, feeling what you are feeling. Seriously? There have been billions of people over thousands of years and you think you are the first person to ever feel this way?
I know he's young when he sets out on this road trip, but he's not that fucking young. And honestly, he's not the first person to take a trip to try and find himself, either. I wouldn't be so pissed off if he hadn't seemed so smug through the book, so oblivious to the universality of what he was feeling and so convinced that he was doing something truly unique.
That being said, I actually enjoyed his story. Paul gets into a bunch of weird little circumstances and escapes mostly unscathed. I laughed many times at the shit show his road trip becomes and was horrified along with him as well. In fact, I was hooked when I got to the story about his keys in the snakey water...all I could do was shudder and be happy I wasn't there.
The story itself is funny, amusing, and just the right amount of adventure. Its an easy read and an engaging one. The pov of the author is irritating, but that could just be me. In any case, its an entertaining and quick read.
I know he's young when he sets out on this road trip, but he's not that fucking young. And honestly, he's not the first person to take a trip to try and find himself, either. I wouldn't be so pissed off if he hadn't seemed so smug through the book, so oblivious to the universality of what he was feeling and so convinced that he was doing something truly unique.
That being said, I actually enjoyed his story. Paul gets into a bunch of weird little circumstances and escapes mostly unscathed. I laughed many times at the shit show his road trip becomes and was horrified along with him as well. In fact, I was hooked when I got to the story about his keys in the snakey water...all I could do was shudder and be happy I wasn't there.
The story itself is funny, amusing, and just the right amount of adventure. Its an easy read and an engaging one. The pov of the author is irritating, but that could just be me. In any case, its an entertaining and quick read.
July 4, 2017
Disappointed. As a road trip lover, I would've liked to hear more about the places Jury visited and less about his internal struggles.
June 5, 2012
Was I this annoyingly self centered when I was 23? Yeah, I probably was.
Some funny stories about a man who takes off to find himself when he can't figure out what to do for his life. I felt sorry for his long suffering girlfriend.
Some funny stories about a man who takes off to find himself when he can't figure out what to do for his life. I felt sorry for his long suffering girlfriend.
May 14, 2018
Three-line review: Seriously, there needs to be some sort of law that keeps 20-something guys from writing books about their "journeys" to find themselves in the world. Every single one is self-centered and selfish, laced with privilege and a female character who ultimately takes the fall. This book fits right into that category, only it's a bit worse because Jury races through the U.S. on four wheels without experiencing anything meaningful and spewing car exhaust into the atmosphere as he goes.
October 6, 2021
It took 10 years
I remember originally when this book came out. 13 year old me had wanted it so badly after seeing the youtube video that was made to advertised it. I bought it, but never read it. I’m glad I waited the 10 years so that 23 year old Danielle could relate to it… minus the 19,000 miles I haven’t done. I promise Missouri is better though… kind of.
I remember originally when this book came out. 13 year old me had wanted it so badly after seeing the youtube video that was made to advertised it. I bought it, but never read it. I’m glad I waited the 10 years so that 23 year old Danielle could relate to it… minus the 19,000 miles I haven’t done. I promise Missouri is better though… kind of.
August 18, 2015
Another college graduate with a degree that doesn't result in an instant awesome job. Sigh. Why do parents let their kids major in things like film studies and rack up the college debt? I'm telling you the same thing that I tell my daughter--if she's majoring in something that makes no money, she will go to community college. Only. If she wants to be a lawyer or doctor or engineer, I'll fork over the big bucks for a high dollar school like Rose Hulman a few miles away or Illinois. But I'm not paying huge bucks for her to major in English. It's not going to happen.
Okay, rant over. Paul is a recent college grad and isn't sure if he wants his law school attending girlfriend and her place in Chicago. And so he decides to wander around the country, eating PB&J, and trying to find purpose in his life. He really is the kind of man I don't like--never happy, always complaining, and wondering why he can't find a $80,000 job he loves after majoring in film.
Sigh. Entitlement, folks.
On the other hand, this book was an easy read and Paul grows up a little on his trip. I'm sure his blog posts were enjoyable as he tried to find the positive in each day of his trip. It does seem like he spent way too much driving instead of living though--this isn't the kind of traveling I ever want to do.
Okay, rant over. Paul is a recent college grad and isn't sure if he wants his law school attending girlfriend and her place in Chicago. And so he decides to wander around the country, eating PB&J, and trying to find purpose in his life. He really is the kind of man I don't like--never happy, always complaining, and wondering why he can't find a $80,000 job he loves after majoring in film.
Sigh. Entitlement, folks.
On the other hand, this book was an easy read and Paul grows up a little on his trip. I'm sure his blog posts were enjoyable as he tried to find the positive in each day of his trip. It does seem like he spent way too much driving instead of living though--this isn't the kind of traveling I ever want to do.
Read
August 2, 2011A friend sent me the author's "50 States in 2 Minutes" YouTube video a few months back, and I wanted the book immediately, though I was afraid to order it. Surely it wouldn't live up to expectations. How could it? But I kept going back, day after day, looking at the video, noticing new things each time, laughing, visiting the author's website. Finally, I broke down, crossed my fingers, and ordered the book.
Was it perfect? No. As with most small publishers, I kept wanting to redline the copy and send it back. But once I got over my "this-is-a-published-novel-didn't-anyone-proofread-the-damned-thing" fit, it became just another thing to laugh at. In fact, the worse the error, the funnier it became. Worst error - putting a map of Indiana at the head of the Illinois chapter, and vice versa.
I blew through this book in three days, laughing all the way.
Some of my favorite bits: his parting words to Missouri, Johnny Green and Illinois, meeting the Rogue Historian at Gettysburg, the nonexistent Montauk-to-Connecticut bridge, Connecticut cops, the Alabama fishermen, the not-so-surprise but still satisfying ending.
Definitely a keeper, one I'll pull out again whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Was it perfect? No. As with most small publishers, I kept wanting to redline the copy and send it back. But once I got over my "this-is-a-published-novel-didn't-anyone-proofread-the-damned-thing" fit, it became just another thing to laugh at. In fact, the worse the error, the funnier it became. Worst error - putting a map of Indiana at the head of the Illinois chapter, and vice versa.
I blew through this book in three days, laughing all the way.
Some of my favorite bits: his parting words to Missouri, Johnny Green and Illinois, meeting the Rogue Historian at Gettysburg, the nonexistent Montauk-to-Connecticut bridge, Connecticut cops, the Alabama fishermen, the not-so-surprise but still satisfying ending.
Definitely a keeper, one I'll pull out again whenever I need a pick-me-up.
January 14, 2012
My cousin-in-law is currently trying to get to all 50 states in 50 weeks without a car so I read this in homage to him.
As for the book, it is not going to win any literary awards but I truly enjoyed it and definitely got the urge to just hit the road. However, I don't know if I could do it following the first three rules the author set for himself--no highways, no going back and no speeding. But I would enjoy rule #4--do something interesting in every state.
This book reminded me to occasionally take the time to get off the beaten path and that life's best adventures don't happen according to your plan, they are just tossed in along the road of life, if you are willing to be open to them. I knew this when I was younger but had forgotten it along the way. I am grateful to the author for reminding me.
As for the book, it is not going to win any literary awards but I truly enjoyed it and definitely got the urge to just hit the road. However, I don't know if I could do it following the first three rules the author set for himself--no highways, no going back and no speeding. But I would enjoy rule #4--do something interesting in every state.
This book reminded me to occasionally take the time to get off the beaten path and that life's best adventures don't happen according to your plan, they are just tossed in along the road of life, if you are willing to be open to them. I knew this when I was younger but had forgotten it along the way. I am grateful to the author for reminding me.
April 4, 2013
I liked this. He's 23 and he can't decide what to do with his life so he takes a road trip through all 50 states. This book is his collection of adventures in each state.
It's a quick read - few chapters are longer than four pages (on the Kindle app on an iPad, but still... ) He makes some very astute (for a 23-year-old) observations about himself and life on the road.
Some parts are just mildly interesting and others are quite interesting. I got a little anxious, like he was, worrying about how he was going up make it. Toward the end he accepts quite a lot about himself, his life and the trip.
There are parts where I laughed out loud and caused the occupants of the airplane seats all around me to crane their heads over their seats to see what was going on.
It's a quick read - few chapters are longer than four pages (on the Kindle app on an iPad, but still... ) He makes some very astute (for a 23-year-old) observations about himself and life on the road.
Some parts are just mildly interesting and others are quite interesting. I got a little anxious, like he was, worrying about how he was going up make it. Toward the end he accepts quite a lot about himself, his life and the trip.
There are parts where I laughed out loud and caused the occupants of the airplane seats all around me to crane their heads over their seats to see what was going on.
June 2, 2012
I got this free on my kindle. A young man drives attempts to drive through 48 states (not Alaska and Hawaii) in 48 days. In order to do this, he just barely drives over the border of many states. He tries to get a story out of each state.
At times it was very funny and the situations he gets into are humorous. He spends a little too much time talking about his personal life and his cars (especially his cars!). I would have liked to hear more about the states, even if it is just scenery or gas station attendants. It was free, though, so I can not complain as it was definitely worth my time and money. (I see it is now set at $9.99)
At times it was very funny and the situations he gets into are humorous. He spends a little too much time talking about his personal life and his cars (especially his cars!). I would have liked to hear more about the states, even if it is just scenery or gas station attendants. It was free, though, so I can not complain as it was definitely worth my time and money. (I see it is now set at $9.99)
July 29, 2014
I actually found this book by perusing YouTube (something I never do) on a Friday night. We found a video called "Stereotypes of all 50 states in 2 minutes," and it was actually smart and funny. Upon discovering it was an ad by Jury for his book, I was intrigued.
The book turned out to be just as smart and funny as the video...Jury decides to embark on a 48-continental-states road trip in 48 days. It's at least as nuts as it sounds. But really, it's a true coming-of-age sort of story, without all the sappiness. Jury meets some interesting (real!) people, has some weird adventures, but mostly, he reminds me of myself in college. I couldn't put it down.
The book turned out to be just as smart and funny as the video...Jury decides to embark on a 48-continental-states road trip in 48 days. It's at least as nuts as it sounds. But really, it's a true coming-of-age sort of story, without all the sappiness. Jury meets some interesting (real!) people, has some weird adventures, but mostly, he reminds me of myself in college. I couldn't put it down.
July 18, 2011
I enjoyed this book, and I'm ready to go on a trip of my own. Okay, I was ready to go on a trip before I read this book, but this book is making it hard to resist.
The book was funny, but he didn't seem to like many places, and of course I'm upset that his impression of Missouri was based on some rural place in Southeast Missouri. That's like rating a restaurant by its dumpster. The only other criticism I have of the book is that I felt the narrative line tying everything together seemed forced and influenced by hindsight.
The book was funny, but he didn't seem to like many places, and of course I'm upset that his impression of Missouri was based on some rural place in Southeast Missouri. That's like rating a restaurant by its dumpster. The only other criticism I have of the book is that I felt the narrative line tying everything together seemed forced and influenced by hindsight.
June 17, 2011
The opening of this book was very strong, and throughout it had some very funny antedotes, lines and comments, but I also felt it was, for my taste, a little too introspective. I would have liked to hear more about what happened around him, rather than in him. I realize that the point of his travels was to figure out himself, and by doing so he may not have had a lot of other stranger encounters.
Overall a good book though.
Overall a good book though.
July 19, 2011
Highly recommend this book! I got it as a graduation present for my nephew, but ended up reading the whole thing before I gave it to him. Ended up buying a few copies for other relatives.
Touching and hilarious - Jury does a great job of putting into words sentiments that so many of us have during transitional times in our life, and he does it with humor and vulnerability.
Hilarious, great book!
Touching and hilarious - Jury does a great job of putting into words sentiments that so many of us have during transitional times in our life, and he does it with humor and vulnerability.
Hilarious, great book!
June 25, 2012
Oh, to be 23 and think a trip to 48 states in 48 days will result in the answers to steer the next direction of your life! Maybe it did this for the author. Some funny moments, but not enough for me to recommend the book highly. Although not the point of his trip, had he spent a bit more time in some places, it may have held more interest- to this reader at least. Hope the author actually found his way as a result of his trip!
July 16, 2012
This book definitely inspired me to take a road trip but perhaps not necessarily one where I plan to tackle 48 states in 48 days. Still amazing that the author accomplished that even in 52 days. This book is a handy guidebook of do's and don'ts for a cross country road trip: DO make sure you have AAA as well as a credit card for emergencies and DON'T try to save money by sleeping in your car on the side of any road are just a few of the many lessons in this book.
July 16, 2012
I read this on my kindle and had to groan at an obvious error. The map outline of Indiana and Illinois were on the wrong chapters (swapped). Maybe most people don't care, but as a (wonderfully-so-useful) Geography degree it made my eyes roll.
But, I finished this book feeling like I understood this guy. I went through a gypsy-like period after I left college and was underemployed. My difference was that I picked to stay with the girl.
A good quick read.
But, I finished this book feeling like I understood this guy. I went through a gypsy-like period after I left college and was underemployed. My difference was that I picked to stay with the girl.
A good quick read.
July 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book--a painfully honest, hilarious read...a sort of updated and happier Blue Highways. Jury's ramblings through the side byways were brave, as he sets out to see the country and find himself. Highly recommended for those in high school and college.
August 13, 2012
oh man, i loved this book. i laughed a lot while reading it, which is always good, and i feel like i'd be friends with this author -- his writing is very personable. i loved how the book was divided into states, and the chapter about the Waffles was so funny, i read it twice :D
October 5, 2012
Since we are on a cross-country adventure of our own (currently in Denver -- nice city), Courtney astutely recommended that I read this book. I'm in the middle of it. It's cute and I frequently laugh out loud.
September 15, 2012
Jury's witticisms and quip-y writing style gently poke the right nerve to make for an insightful, true-to-life account of the dullness and panic that is job-searching and finding direction after college. A hilarious read--perfect for a pick-me-up if you too are in his situation.
December 17, 2012
Laugh out loud funny in parts. This is a tale of a college graduate trying to find his way in the world by embarking on a 48 state journey in 48 days. Written in a witty enough way to keep my attention.
April 30, 2014
Quite fun! Having myself been to 37 of the 48 states he visits, I was expecting to enjoy this book, and I did. Pleasantly written, with just enough of his personal life to keep things engaging (but not enough to be annoying). A few entertaining exploits. Entirely satisfactory, and just plain fun.
May 21, 2012
I'll round up because I know his parents :) this was an enjoyable read ala Bill Bryson. 3.5
June 18, 2011
It's a great quick book to read. A roadtrip to end all roadtrips. Plus, my friend wrote it, super excited for him!! Everyone please read it if you have the chance.
September 28, 2011
Very entertaining, a quick read.
November 28, 2011
An entertaining book of a young man's search for answers, on many different levels.
April 6, 2013
Quick read about a 48 state road trip... Something I hope to do at some point in the future. Frequent laugh out loud parts for me, which is always good. :)
January 17, 2013
Laugh out loud funny book, really enjoyed it.
March 4, 2013
Roadtrip stories = good. Probably reflecting my own love of the open road and desire to travel more than I do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews