Winnebago Nation: The RV in American Culture

by James B. Twitchell

In Winnebago Nation , popular critic James B. Twitchell takes a light-hearted look at the culture and industry behind the yearning to spend the night in one's car. For the young the roadtrip is a coming-of-age ceremony; for those later in life it is the realization of a lifelong desire to be spontaneous, nomadic, and free. Informed by his own experiences on the road, Twitchell recounts the RV's origins and evolution over the twentieth century; its rise, fall, and rebirth as a cultural icon; its growing mechanical complexity as it evolved from an estate wagon to a converted bus to a mobile home; and its role in bolstering and challenging conceptions of American identity.

Mechanical yet dreamy, independent yet needful, solitary yet clubby, adventurous yet homebound, life in a mobile home is a distillation of the American character and an important embodiment of American exceptionalism, (Richie Rich and Hobo Hank spend time in essentially the same rig at the same campground, albeit for different reasons and in different levels of comfort.) The frontier may be tapped out but we still yearn for the exploratory life. Twitchell concludes with his thoughts on the future of RV communities and the possibility of mobile cities becoming a real part of the American landscape.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

James B. Twitchell is an American author and former professor of English, known for his work on advertising, consumer culture, and popular media. He earned his BA, MA, and PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A tenured professor at the University of Florida, Twitchell resigned in 2008 following allegations of plagiarism. Despite this, he remains recognized for his engaging writing style and provocative insights into American cultural and consumer behavior.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Great research....great information. Learned a lot about the RV in American culture. Writing is a little choppy and disjointed. Sadly, James Twitchell chose to share peoples' strong negative opinions of the RV culture towards the very end of the book, leaving the reader feeling "ho hum" about something that they have a sweet affection towards. While I don't think that should have been left out, I think it could have been strategically placed in another part of the book.

There are very few information books written about the history of RVing. This one is worth reading if you have an interest in the subject. James was also generous to share some other reading suggestions in his acknowledgments.

[Katerina Tadenev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading about the history of RVs I had a hunch that any discipline, if studied in great detail, can teach a person the macro summary of the world at large because each kurnell invariably nudges some other event in the world. After finishing this book I believe this to be true. I have learned about American consumerism after WW2 as mirrored by the styles, manufacturing processes and functions of the RV in the US.

Like any good book, the Winnebago Nation, answers the greater “so what?”, in this case by reminding the reader of a childhood dream. The RV in the larger sense correlates to our human journey, outside of time or America: both the young and the old are excited to be free. Kids live in a world of possibilities and the older folks live in a world where possibilities ones desired failed to provide the happiness that they expected. Both groups seek experience over permanence.

In a world where a wifi connection is the umbilical cord to the outside world, does it really matter how large our living space is? If we can be on the move in relative comfort with “work from home jobs”, it would be a waste to have a permanent home that screams to be renovated, cleaned, surrounded by a garden and resold for a higher value. Many people are weekend servants to their large homes or they are paying a fortune in rent to the metropolis landlords. This book demonstrates that there is another way.

[Caitlin Nikolai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would never have thought to look for a history/anthropology book on RVs, but overall it was an interesting read. I especially loved learning about the earliest cars and how people tried to convert them to sleeping quarters.

The chapters were terribly long, though (there are five chapters in the whole book) and the paragraphs inside those chapters were also long.

But overall I enjoyed it. And I learned a lot. (Keep in mind I knew almost nothing to begin with.)

I know this book isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy unique history, travel, or RVs, you'll probably enjoy it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by RVs and campers since I can remember. I loved the photos and the social commentary about the RV community. The author talks about why people purchase a RV to untether themselves from their community/life only to form tight bonds with the RV communities. He talked with a man that wanted to purchase a different brand of RV, however, his partner didn't want to give up their friends at the RV meet up that they go to every year for their RV brand. fascinating.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, but tiny print.

[Biblio Files (takingadayoff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're American, chances are you have a road trip or two under your belt. Usually they take place in a car, but quite a few are undertaken with larger vehicles -- trailers, minivans, or campers. And then there's the RV, the recreational vehicle formerly known as the motor home, epitomized by the Winnebago.

James Twitchell, a retired English professor, has written a deceptively short social history of the RV. Expecting to zip through the 150+ pages of text in a day or two, I found it took me a week to take my time with it, looking up references and making lists of books and movies to find. There are plenty of illustrations as well, photographs and old ads and illustrations.

As an enthusiastic Winnebago owner himself, Twitchell gives us some history of the RV, which is as old as the automobile itself, even older if you want to include covered wagons and such. As soon as Model T's hit the streets, owners were converting them to campers and hitching trailers to them. The national park system and the highway system owe a lot to the American urge to take it with us.

Twitchell also looks at changing attitudes toward RVs. As the contraptions got bigger, RVing went from being seen as a symbol of romantic vagabonding to the symbol of in-your-face, gas-guzzling, "yes I do think I own the whole road" overconsumption.

Twitchell remains firmly on the side of the RVers, and has no sympathy for arugula-eating jumbo-jet flying critics.

As a fan of road trips, but one who prefers small cars and big hotels to monster RVs, I recommend the book whole-heartedly.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the American take-your-home on the road culture. At last. Thoughtful, informed, provides some history of evolution of major brands, and erudite even though he doesn't quite catch up with the little vintage travel trailer craze among (mostly) women. Neither doesn't he include the anchored-in-place resorts and hotels around the world which use vintage motorhomes/RVs and travel trailers as their accommodations. Nevertheless this one is a keeper for the leisure nomads belly button fluff examination collection. I will definitely reread it and ponder some of his findings such as that those who step into full time rv-ing immediately seek out community - and consumer community at that, joining clubs and gathering around their brand. It can account for why I am so irritated by the cute, saccharine vintage travel trailer glamping gushyness: just not my tribe.

[Meganators · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting! 3.5. I'd give it 4 stars, but I disagree with some of his assumptions about men and women (not a major part of the book). The most interesting parts have to do with the hilarious ads for car camping from the early 1900s. And now I know why the k was put in kamping for KOA. K for kitschy!

[Kelly Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best summary of RV culture in America I've read. Twitchell eschews the typical portrayal of the RV'er as a destitute, bum, or lost soul, and even touches upon the new wave of Digital Nomads who find the mobile lifestyle to be a great alternative to the typical daily grind.

[Rey Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything (and more than) you wanted to know about RV's and RV'ing. Who knew? The Bakken gets mention along with Slab Town and other roosting spots for ne'er do wells. Go Dakota!

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the book states in the title it is a study of the RV in American culture. Although the author is an academic the book is dry and more observation than analysis.