Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy

by Francis S. Barry

Bringing together two of America’s unifying loves—road trips and Abraham Lincoln—a journalist takes readers on a thought-provoking journey into the soul of our country and shared history

A year into his marriage and having never driven an RV, Frank Barry and his wife Laurel set out from New York City in a Winnebago to drive the nation’s first transcontinental route, the so-called Lincoln Highway, which is just a series of local roads that zigzags from Times Square to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The idea was to use the spirit of Abraham Lincoln to guide them across the land, in hopes of seeing more clearly what holds the country together — and how we can keep it together, even amidst political divisions have grown increasingly rancorous, bitter, and exhausting.

Along the way, Frank and Laurel meet Americans who help readers see the nation’s divisions through a more personal perspectives — and encounter historical figures and events whose legacies are still shaping our sense of national identity and the struggles over it.

This unforgettable journey is full of what makes any great road trip memorable and music, conversation, and laughter. By the end, readers will have a clearer picture of how we have arrived at a period that carries echoes of the Civil War era, and—using Lincoln as a guide—where the path forward lies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, History, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Road Trip

576 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Sean Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of American history and any kind of roadtrip tale, this book about a cross-country journey married the two with a unique perspective on where we are as a nation. It occasionally has the educational feel of Ken Burns’ work, with the fun asides and light-hearted anecdotes that remind me of Bill Bryson out on the road.

There is a deep thoughtfulness in the writing, and you can almost hear Barry thinking as he speaks about the people and places he visits along his drive with his wife across the USA, from East to West and back again. The places and characters make you feel like you are there alongside them in their RV, and you come away feeling like you have a far greater appreciation of the foundations of our country than you did before. I vacillated often between optimism and pessimism as I read it.

There is much worthy history in the book, such that you get an understanding not only of what we are now, but how we got here. The journey to now as a nation is often deeply sad reading, but I came away knowing far more about the many pieces of our American story that are untold or otherwise willingly forgotten. I come back to the word perspective again, because one gets the sense that while we are in a tough jam now as a nation, we have surely made our way through tough ones before.

I am also envious of their roadtrip. It seems like the kind of thing one might only get to do in retirement, and yet they were able to seize the terrible season of COVID and make something wonderful and informative out of it. There were several times while reading it that I turned to my wife and said ‘We should do something like this.’ That usually indicates you’re in the middle of a great read.

[MG Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this book by Francis Barry, formerly chief speechwriter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and currently opinion columnist for Bloomberg.com.

First of all, he's a beautiful, lucid, clear-thinking writer. I found the book truly enjoyable to read and I felt improved and enlightened by the end. He keeps the reader engaged in the physical journey in a Winnebago that he and his wife, Laurel, took during the Covid pandemic from New York City to San Francisco on the Lincoln Highway (not a straight run across the country -- there are many twists and turns to this historic highway which was started in 1913 and which Barry calls "more of a vision than a road, its path never fixed") and then on to the southern United States, down to the Texas border, and the southern states above Florida, then back up the coast to complete the journey full circle back to New York.

But this book is no mere travelogue.

This book is a love letter to America about America for a more unified America, about who we are as a nation and a people. Barry presents some of our uncomfortable truths and some of our beautiful truths from our country's history so that we can bring them to mind today (in our age of partisan divides and difficult communication) and give big ideas about our country fresh consideration. Refreshingly, he's neither far left nor far right, so I never felt like he was pushing either super-liberal or ultra-conservative views. Instead, his writing is grounded in facts and details so that his arguments have teeth, and rather than a political red or blue tinge, they are tinted red, white, and blue. The man loves our country.

The premise for the journey and the question Barry poses to ordinary Americans across the country is "what binds us together as a nation"? And what better touchstone and recurring character is Lincoln himself to guide us on this journey and to "talk with" current day Americans. Through Lincoln's words and speeches, Barry navigates a tremendous breadth of American history, but not the kind of history I learned in school by memorizing dates and names. Barry's history of America throughout the journey is alive with details, ironies, and coincidences which bring the moments in time into an enlightening relief. I found myself saying, "what?! that happened??"

I'm not a history buff, and this book is both for the ordinary American and the history lover who will find fascination with the more esoteric details from our history that Barry unearths. Barry and his wife are just like the majority of us: people trying to figure out how to deal with our fraught political landscape. Barry takes us along as he's journeying and considering how we got here, and, most importantly, he helps us recognize that perhaps there is a positive way forward. He's got some excellent observations and astute ideas. I laughed aloud, I teared up...I felt more love and appreciation for our America than I had in a long time.

Happy reading!!! Well worth it.

(I created a Goodreads account just now because I thought so highly of this book! I always love reading Goodreads reviews, and this book pushed me to start contributing.)

[LA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went back and forth a lot on this, which is why I ultimately landed right in the middle. (Yes, I realize this is ironic, given my issues with the book.)

When I started journalism school in 2010, I held a firm belief that if you were getting criticism from both sides, you were right in the middle, and that was doing it right. Much of the country still thinks this is what journalism is supposed to be. Some people even think this is the only moral way to construct a belief system, as shown time and again in this book. But after a decade in the industry, I believe the most important service journalism provides is to examine the truth, and you can’t do that if you go into a story with the main idea already predetermined. “The truth is in the middle” IS a predetermined main idea, and it’s one this author is obsessively fixated on throughout the book.

The truth is often messy, complex and, yes, finding it may require an understanding of the full political spectrum. But it's not always found by learning about the most extreme viewpoints you can and figuring out what the middle point between them is. The ‘middle,’ especially politically, shifts over time. While the author doesn’t always seem to realize this, much of the content he covered got me thinking about how concerning ourselves with where the middle lies is not always the best use of our time, especially when we consider what future generations might think of our middle.

There were parts of the book where the author seemed to understand this, but there were parts where he was infuriatingly preoccupied with the middle. The example that stands out most in my mind is when he took his mask off even though he had not planned to because a source implied he would not be welcomed if he kept it on. The author explains that the reason he took off his mask was because they “kindly met us halfway” by staying on the porch.

This book took place in 2020. It is one thing to put himself (and the many, many people he was interacting with along the way) at risk for the sake of getting the story and doing his job, or even to point out that taking his mask off was low-risk because he was outdoors. It is another thing to frame masking as an example of a moral compromise of differing opinions. This scene happened before he was vaccinated and after scientists had made it clear that masks could lower someone’s chance of spreading disease. Decisions that could impact others' health should be about risk assessment, not political opinions.

Even without the major flaw of writing to a predetermined idea, this book managed to be incredibly repetitive and tried to cover too much ground — both figuratively and literally.

That said: It has its strong points. I learned a lot about history and geography. I gained a better understanding of Lincoln and of modern politicians who seek to follow in his footsteps. I encountered a few new perspectives I had not given thought to before.

I think this book has a ton of potential as a jumping off point for discussion in a college class. But I hope the next time the author sets out to write a journalistic book, he won’t pre-write his thesis.

[Rick Burcik · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the preface of this book, the author cites two prior books that laid the foundation for "Back Roads and Better Angels." They were Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas" (2007) and J.D. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy" (2018), both of which I have read. And I can assure that Mr. Barry's tome is far closer to Mr. Frank's tome rather than Mr. Vance's. Although Barry contends that he strived to be even handed, he actually wears his politics on his sleeve. As an aside, Barry is an excellent writer, and he uncovers countless interesting historical facts. Apparently, he is very well read. So, if you can get by his slanted world view this book is well woth your time reading.

[David Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this ride through history. Taking advantage (so to speak) of the pandemic, Barry and his wife explore not just the back roads (okay, the Lincoln Highway, much of which is actually back roads these days) but historical perspective from Lincoln intermeshed with insights into how we think (and don't think) today. The result is a travelogue, a history lesson, and a challenge for us to learn from both. Well done.

David J. Kent
Past President, Lincoln Group of DC
Author, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln's Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a journey, you will love this book! It is like riding with Studs Terkel and John Steinbeck, with Bob Dylan in charge of the radio. And if you have lost hope for our country, this book provides an Ole Faithful size gusher of what we can still achieve. Give this as a gift to someone who believes our best days are behind us…they will thank you!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person should read this book. It is not just a slice of Americana, but really a journey of life today and life as we knew it during the pandemic. As a student of history, I loved it! As an owner of an RV, it was totally relatable. As an American citizen, I found it enlightening.

[Daniel Michael]

Author Barry has an appealing writing style (as befits a speechwriter for Mayor Bloomberg of NYC), and a good sense of humor. He and his wife decided to travel the original two paths of the Lincoln Highway (created in 1913 and 1928)from Times Square to the Presidio in SF.

Most of the Lincoln Highway consists of an area Times Square through Jersey City and Newark, then south to PHI, thence the current path of US 30 from PHI to western Nebraska. Frank and Laurel Barry describe their adventures in the two NJ cities, then zip through the PHI area to Gettysburg. Not only do they travel the Lincoln Highway, but they also seem to find dozens of Lincoln statues and monuments along with places where Lincoln gave speeches. As they move into CO, UT, NV and CA, they wind up on US 50, which Tom Brokaw profiled, and a truck driver at a deposition once told me to drive that road from Sacramento to Reno for a real viewing treat.

Barry does show how corporatized America has harmed local businesses in the Rust Belt, and how old fashioned values like internal discipline, hard work and commitment to a community have been eroded, and have led to the breaking of bonds which used to sustain people through hard times.

Barry attended my father's alma mater Notre Dame ('48) fifty years later in the late 90s, and one can see the influence of the ND American Studies department of John McGreevey on Barry's thinking, as he is as obsessed with race as subcontinental Indian ethnics. Barry would have been better off reading David Hackett Fischer's superb new book African Founders, which is a far more balanced view of US racial history than some of the material he quotes.

Like too many speechwriters, Barry likes to quote song lyrics or snippets of poetry to make a point in a political speech, rather than to study a topic in the depth that great American historians like Fischer of Brandeis, Daniel Walker Howe of UCLA, Alan Taylor of UVA, and the late historians Perry Miller, Eugene Genovese, Henry Adams, and Kenneth Lynn have done.

Barry does sense Lincoln's great stress on voluntary self-improvement through reading, community involvement and voluntarism, part of the "Political Culture of American Whigs" which Howe wrote about fifty years ago. If Barry had closely read Howe's "What Hath God Wrought", a history of the US from 1815-1848, he would be able to connect self-improvement to Lincoln's speeches more directly.

Instead, Barry too often invokes Richard Hofstadter, a former Communist from Buffalo at Columbia, who is simply not in the class of a great American historian like Henry Adams, Perry Miller, the literary historian F.O. Matthiesen, or Fischer or Howe.

Hofstadter loves to dwell upon occasional instances in American history when his own politics were mocked, and doesn't have the detachment and immense learning of the men noted in this paragraph. They placed Lincoln in the context of the Republican from colonial times to the present much better than R.H. ever did.

Barry never addresses the question of why Trump even got elected, which can be attributed to nothing more than repeated failures of both the Democratic and Republican parties of the past forty years to address chronic problems facing the nation, such as adjustment to the post-Cold War period, immigration, the rise of PRC, and trade deals which benefit corporate elites at the expense of ordinary citizens. Barry does show real skill in voicing the concerns of those Americans along the Lincoln Highway who have been harmed by free trade which has benefited slave labor economies since the Cold War ended.

Barry is a native of Rochester NY who has only lived in South Bend, IND and NYC since he left his hometown, and his wonder over the cultural landscape of our Republic is most appealing. He winds up meeting with all sorts of individuals in Gettysburg, Pittsburgh Canton OH (is very hard on McKinley and Harding, whom he clearly knows little about), South Bend, and Chicago. The fact he relies upon scholars like H.W. Brands of U. of Texas, instead of Lewis Gould, Michael Burlingame (far superior to David Donald as a Lincoln biographer) and Allen Guelzo, shows he needed to attend a good graduate program after college.

Barry also does not grasp how part of the power of localism which caused so much harm in the Republican in the past, was based on how people formerly looked to their county and state governments for solutions than the federal government until the last century. He gives the typical ode to the C.C.C. and too often quotes Woody Guthrie, who wrote some good lyrics, but anyone who reads a biography of that troubled man knows he was not a good guide for living one's life.

Robert Penn Warren wrote in the Seventies that the New Deal seriously harmed American self-reliance (and Warren knew Ralph Waldo Emerson was too much of a secular dreamer), and Barry correctly notes that responsibilities in America are not stressed near as much as rights. He also scores the "handout" mentality, rather than government creating incentives to help citizens help themselves and their families.

Barry does show the hypocrisy of the LDS/Mormons on race, finally deciding in 1978 that blacks were valued human beings, and he also notes how Mormon polygamy flourished in Mexico (where Mitt Romney's father George was born), and other historians have shown how Mormons in AZ and NM continued to engage in polygamy, and even actress Laraine Day said same thing about her father. There is even an article written by a professor at Central Washington University showing a photo of Senator Jeff Flake (a chinless wonder and a fave of Barry and Joe Biden)'s great-great grandfather in prison stripes in AZ doing time for polygamy.

Barry has the usual lifetime Democrat's focus on Trump as the main problem confronting the Republic, rather than asking the question "Why do Americans keep electing him?"

Based on Trump carrying bellwether counties in the US in 2020, yet somehow losing the election, one has to wonder just what happened in 2020. Turnout rose in PA to 70% in due to mailed ballots. PA turnout averaged 49% in most years in PA during the second half of the 20th century and the first two decades of this century, except for JFK/Nixon in '60 and Trump/HRC in '16 rising to 60% turnout.

It is now known identity theft by some funded entities created significant voter fraud in recent elections in the swing states, and WI legislature wrote reports showing nursing home voting fraud, and entities crossing property tax records in counties with voting databases, have also shown funny business on a scale which would impress Tammany Hall, the Chicago Machine, Tom Pendergast of KC (who once presented two KC precincts as 21K plus for his candidate and 120 votes for his opponent), and the Latino machine Maury Maverick created in San Antonio.

Again, how did Trump win two presidential elections despite a incredibly hostile media and elite hatred verging on the pathological, and may very well have won three straight elections, the first President to do so other than FDR? Barry won't raise the question, he just keeps ranting on Trump. He properly belongs on op-ed pages with other Trump haters on our mainstream publications.

Barry describes the American landscape quite well in the West, showing the Platte River Valley as the Oregon Trail Main Street in Nebraska, seeing how the Union Pacific RR paralleled the Lincoln Highway in that area, and describes in great comical fashion his hunting ventures in Colorado, and his travels through Utah, and into the massive alkali pasture of Nevada.

It's a very good read of how diverse our continent already is, w/o gubmint programs mandating same, and he also comically reports how many ranchers have open range establishments, because the environmental regulations activated by closed ranches create incredible problems.

As a northeastern liberal, Barry has the usual inherent dislike for the bizarre Republic of Texas, and missed the opportunity to drive around Dallas and see Highland Park princesses driving pickup trucks with big wheels, and the raw materialism of what will soon be America's largest metropolis, DFW, which is projected to pass NYC as number one within a few decades.

Go buy this book and prepare to drive the Lincoln Highway with a Domer Dreamer and his engaging wife. So far, I have only driven the Lincoln from NYC to Chicago, and thence from Omaha to Columbus, NE, another town which the Barrys visited with profit.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the title of this book and headed off to my local library to check out a copy. They didn’t have it; I didn’t realize how new the book was, but the silver lining was that I learned that I could get a library card for a neighboring (larger) city that had a copy. In fact, I could get a card for any municipality in the entire state, not that I’d want to, but thank you, Iowa!

Let me start by saying that the average page count of books I read is about 350 so this one at 542 pages gave me pause, especially since I was on a time crunch to finish and return it before we departed on a trip. But with my shiny new library card in hand, I was committed. I was the first one to check out this book.

If you are a history buff, I have little doubt you will love this book, however, while I understand the historical background was necessary in the context of this book, I found myself bogged down in the voluminous amount of historical detail, but I learned a lot of history I didn’t know beforehand. One thing became alarmingly clear, however, in reading about many historical events I knew little or nothing about – that I was reminded of the quote, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” Still, when I got to the chapter about the insurrection on January 6 (that I watched transfixed on television the day after suffering a head injury), it was truly horrifying to be reminded of all that transpired, especially given how this year’s election is shaping up. In Chapter 48 (Aftermath), Barry writes of many threats to our nation over the years that we have survived “But never this: A commander in chief refusing to concede defeat. Dismissing voters and the College of Electors. Inciting militias and demonizing the law-abiding, Fomenting insurrection by legislators and citizens”.

Frank and Laurel, recently married and who never owned a car, buy a used RV in 2020 and seek to travel the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Franciso, arriving on Election Day. After they arrive, they realize they have no plan for what comes next. Do they return to their one-bedroom apartment in NYC, which is still locked down for Covid, or do they continue their explorations? My husband and I have traveled all over the country in the last seven years in our campervan, observing different cultural and regional norms. Many of our friends share our views and we engage in spirited conversations, and we occasionally engage people we meet in conversation to see how differently they may see issues. I was hoping that this book would have more emphasis on Frank and Laurel’s travels, mishaps and all, and the people they met up with. IMO, history is about 70% of the content with the remaining 30% dedicated to the stories of the friends and people they meet and some travel/RV tales, always asking these two questions: “What is your biggest fear or concern about the future of the country?” and “What binds us together as Americans?”. The couple’s political leanings are not a secret as explained in the Prelude, however, I believe Barry does a credible job of reporting conversations and interactions in an evenhanded and unvarnished manner.

Despite this reading like a history textbook for much of the book, my rating is four stars for the breadth of research into that history that Barry has included. Since I was on a time crunch as indicated earlier, I admit to skimming over some of the longer passages of history, even as I learned quite a bit along the way. I believe this would make a great book for college classes on history and government.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis S. Barry decided to buy a Winnebago during the pandemic and take off with his wife Laurel to follow the Lincoln Highway from New York City to San Francisco. He recounts their adventures in Back Roads and Better Angels- A Journey Into The Heart Of American Democracy.

Barry, a writer for Bloomberg News, previously served in Michael Bloomberg’s administration as chief speechwriter when Bloomberg was mayor of New York City. Dismayed by the rancor and political division he sees today in this country, he wanted to discover what people really thought about what was happening.

The fact that neither Barry nor his wife had ever driven a Winnebago didn’t damper their enthusiasm, and they had their fair share of mishaps (including a toilet pedal that continuously malfunctioned).

As they travel the country, they camp in KOAs and Walmart parking lots and meet up with people they know and those they don’t know. They stop at historic sites and find more places named Lincoln than you might think could possibly exist.

One learns a great deal about history that you’d never find in history books, particularly with regards to Native American people. Some of it is incredibly disturbing, and made me gasp at the callous inhumanity people inflicted on each other.

Barry ties the Lincoln Highway sites, as well as the state of the country today, to events and words spoken by Abraham Lincoln himself. He clearly studied our 16th President and gives him his due, showing Lincoln as the politician, man, and leader he truly was.

The one question Barry asks each person he meets is “What binds us together as Americans?”. The answers given are often profound, thought-provoking, and shine a light on where we are today as well as where we'd like to be.

Barry meets a politician in Nebraska who explains how the state legislature has the reputation as “one of the most civil and cooperative in the nation” because political parties are less relevant there. People work together in common cause to make government work better for all. Perhaps that is the most important export Nebraska has to share with the rest of the country.

Anyone who likes to read road trip stories and has an interest in history and Abraham Lincoln will get great pleasure and learn much from Back Roads and Better Angels. It is essential reading for all citizens, I give it my highest recommendation.

[William Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Barry’s Back Roads and Better Angels demonstrates an exceedingly rare talent for engagingly intertwining the realms of travelogue, history, Americana, and politics. The road trip narrative is funny and effortless, yet it challenges and informs as it gracefully moves through the heart of America as it is and as it was. The book weaves together personal experience, historical anecdotes, and political observations in a manner that few authors can match. I cannot believe how much I learned (and re-learned) about American history. Profound stories emerge from the nooks and crannies of our country in the service of exceptionally illuminating the major themes and issues that faced Americans of the past and face the citizenry today.

There are plenty of books on travel, history, and politics but this book introduces the reader to a clear and distinct voice in the genre. Barry’s conversations with a diverse group of Americans will challenge how you think about the myriad issues our country faces today. At times you will disagree with ideas presented, but the well-crafted storytelling invites you to do so agreeably. At times you will be brought to tears, but the engaging narrative reminds you that we have no choice but to face the challenges of the journey together. Indeed, this book gets pretty heavy, particularly in the later section, but it is very funny and has a tremendous soundtrack.

This book is a work of patriotism in the best sense. It strums those mystic chords of memory, much like the oratory of Barry’s muse, and summons the better angels of our nature.

[Susan Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beyond wonderful, beyond a typical recommendation based on normal parameters used to evaluate a book, and beyond my personal expectations when purchasing it. Of course it is well written. Of course it is insightful. Of course it is relevant, but it is also a book that has enlightened me in so many ways about freedom, democracy, and equality. Though I've always been one who attempts to see the "other side of the coin", I never went as deeply as the interviews and commentary went. I especially enjoyed tracking the RV adventures on Google Maps, knowing that Frances and Laurel were close to Great Basin National Park in Nevada where I'd been an artist in residency in 2020 ... same year! They were in Terlingua, close to where my husband and I once visited. They were in Charleston, a place I know very, very well ... like Arlington Cemetery ... and so many other places across the nation. The historic facts and myths and even the lies were eye-opening. The continued "What would Lincoln do?" and "What did Lincoln do?" questions (and answers) were brilliant. This is a book that cannot (or should not) be read quickly but savored. I will never forget the suggestion to (paraphrased) "Remember the parts of history/your own memory you'd rather forget" and "Forget the parts of history/your own memory you'd rather remember". History might generally have been written by the victors but Francis M. Barry has wisely uncovered "the rest of the story" ... Thank goodness!

[Barry Lemoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As bleak as things seem sometimes, this book reminds us of the strength and resilience of our people and our country. Back Roads and Better Angels is a great read, but more importantly an important one.

It tells the story of a young married couple's journey across America in a Winnebago using the spirit of Abraham Lincoln and the transcontinental Lincoln Highway as the guide and map for the excursion. The question posed across the journey - what holds our country together and how can we keep it together in such a divisive time.

The book is smart, funny, and enlightening, but also an encouraging reminder that whether it was the Civil War, Civil Rights, or the uncivil tone of social media today, there is still hope. After reading it, you will better understand how we got to where we are and by using Abraham Lincoln’s example, how we can unite and move forward.

Reading Better Angels is a journey worth taking - full of incredible settings, great characters, roundtrip mishaps, and unforgettable memories and ideas that linger long after you close the book. No matter if you lean left or right, red or blue, this is a good book for you as it shines some light onto the soul of our country. And right now, we could all use a little light and little hope right?\

Barry Lemoine

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this wonderful book together, my wife and I kept stopping each other to talk about it. We both loved the way Barry takes the reader on a trip—a classic all-American road trip—a tour not only of the country but also of its rich and complex history. He weaves US history and Lincoln and musical and literary references and personal experience and reflection together throughout with humor and erudition abounding.

Along the journey, the reader can enjoy amusing anecdotes about the author and his wife Laurel as they maneuver their Winnebago across the country and the interesting and colorful characters they meet in towns large and small along the way.
A particular joy for the reader is the incredible wealth of fascinating information and history precipitated by each place they visit.

The observations Barry makes regarding political, economic, and social concerns are sound, never descending to polemic while maintaining a tone of gentle persuasion grounded in fact and good sense.

We’re recommending it to everyone we know. I don’t want to be too grandiose, but this book is just what this country needs right now.

[Ben Balk · Rating 5 out of 5]

During these times of deep division and polarization, Barry delivers a timely book to help us reflect on what binds us our country together. He takes us on an enjoyable journey along the Lincoln Highway, but this book is much more than a road trip, it is a listening tour. With an open mind, Barry has insightful discussions with diverse folk in cities, towns and the hinterlands. Barry weaves these discussions, the sage words of Abraham Lincoln, and numerous historical nuggets into this book. Some of the more powerful chapters are on the return trip in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election and the lead-up to January 6th. Visits to the Borderlands and the Deep South offer fresh perspectives on the controversial topics of border security, immigration and race. Barry recognizes that many of today’s cultural and political disputes are not new but have been around in similar forms since before Lincoln’s time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will no doubt revisit sections to reinforce my faith in America as we enter another disruptive election cycle.

[Greg Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading this book, I bounced back and forth between really enjoying it and being mildly disappointed in it. It is part travelogue, part political commentary, and part history, with most of the pages dedicated to the history and commentary. That split is ultimately what ended up convincing me to give the book four stars instead of three—the travelogue itself is pretty boring, but the history parts especially are quite good. The commentary is hit or miss: sometimes it’s good and insightful, other times it’s cliché and lackluster. I had to give the author, Frank Barry, props for jumping head-first into some of the most controversial topics, especially surrounding race, during a time when conversations about such topics quickly turned heated. Barry ultimately delivers a level-headed and reasonable take on most of the issues he discusses, and his commitment to hearing out the perspective of others should be emulated. Just one more negative thing: the book was at least 100 pages too long.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely book; Barry is a good writer. I especially enjoyed the dives into the histories of the places they visited on their travels. I learned quite a bit (not all of it comfortable or comforting) of American history that we should all know more about.
Thing is, this book already feels like a sepia-saturated nostalgia trip. His premise was to somehow breach the political divisions in this nation by highlighting commonalities and "explaining" conservative thought (he doesn't spend any time explaining liberal thought, which is odd, but I digress. To think that liberal is the default is a bit clueless nowadays). If the 2024 election had turned out differently, I would have embraced this book and recommended it to all my friends. It is still worthy of a read, but it feels hopelessly naive now. Read it for the history, especially of Lincoln and the figures who touch him in surprising ways. Lincoln is still teaching us; I hope we are willing to learn.

[John Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of genuinely entertaining aspects of this book - Frank's humorous storytelling of the raw logistics of a married couple on a roadtrip, the clever weaving of American musical history into the re-telling of the events that inspired the music, and the carefully selected anecodotes from American social and political history that give context to our opinions and upbringings. But the essence of the story for me is a reminder that Democracy is fluid. Our mission as Americans is not to determine which set of ideas and values is right and cement those forever; but to use two dramatcially different expressions of American ideas to get to a deeper understading of what works and what is fair, and why both sides' perspectives are important. Every four years we get to step back and re-evaluate and adjust. And our highest goal as Americans is still Liberty and Justice for All.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read--entertaining, edifying and uplifting. I came to regard Francis and Laurel Barry's RV as a time-traveling mechanism, with each stop in their trip bringing us back and forth between the historical and present-day America. The historical notes and stories are riveting reminders that political, racial, economic and regional polarization are not 21st century inventions. As we head towards yet another contentious, momentous presidential election, rife with hyperbole about the perils facing the future of America, it's great to have a tactile reminder that we've been in dire-looking situations before. The path up and out starts with civility and respect for our fellow Americans--even those with whom we disagree.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative trip across America and back is a living history lesson about Abraham Lincoln and his critical importance to our nation. Throughout the journey, Francis Barry tries to understand what unites all Americans, and why our political dialogue is becoming violent, a topic I’m fascinated with as we live in this Cold Civil War. The author’s play-by-play during January 6th brings back memories I’d love to forget. I admire Mr. Barry for doing his best to see both sides of every issue, and I agree with him that neither political party has a monopoly on being righteous. Finally, history will remember that Trump was not a good American. And books like this are the perfect capture of what he has done to the United States of America.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francis S. Barry’s “Back Roads and Better Angels” is a contemplative look at America in Covid in the run-up to the heinous events of January 6th. Barry does a yeoman’s job of portraying the varying viewpoints of people he and his partner encounter as they crossed the Lincoln Highway. He masterfully builds tension as January 6th looms larger. I actually found this difficult to read. He genuinely tries to show the better of America but reading this now, with Tr*mp annointed as the High Priest of Cult45, one fears for what’s coming. Thanks to #netgalley and #steerforth for the opportunity to preview this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did exactly what I wish I could do - take the time to sort through the complex forces that have shaped America and Americans- and bring the reader to a better understanding of ourselves and our neighbors. It's overarching theme reminds me of David Brooks' new book, How to Know A Person, but it's vibe is that of exploring - diners and ranchers and local politicians. It's a road trip book and really readable; It would be a great read for a group of folks with different ideas because his goal is to listen, and in the process learn more about ourselves. (And the author's website even has a great playlist based on the music he brings into the book.)

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few notable books this year that have challenged me and broadened my perspective.

I think this one might end up at the top of that heap.

Blending personal with historic, with thoughtful editorial interspersed…at a moment when the tug to intolerance, in the name of tolerance, feels so strong, this journey through our country’s history appropriately shines a light on where our bonds can take us a step forward, as well as where there are (and have been) ever present risks for a path away from that arc toward justice.

I encourage others to take the journey. It’s a long book but worth it.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Barry's journey along the Lincoln Highway from September 11, 2020 through Election Day. While we all know the turmoil didn't stop after November 7, 2020, I wished the book had ended there. Barry's voice was strong through the Lincoln and date parallels as he and his wife traveled during the still thick of the COVID pandemic. They found living and concrete memorials to Lincoln on their journey and shared the history of the Lincoln Highway. While there were elements of his southern sojourn that were interesting in the context of Lincoln and the pandemic, I felt it went on too long. I wonder if I might have felt differently about reliving January 6 at a different time

[M Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I expected and found myself wishing I could be along for this road trip.  I really appreciated the points of view the author was able to represent through the people he met.  I heard perspectives on controversial issues like gun control and immigration that I had not considered before, and while I don't know that my stance has changed, it gave me a better understanding of where those I disagree with are coming from.  It's a long one, but did not seem it at all.  Definitely recommend!

Thanks to Librofm and Tantor Media for this complimentary audiobook. My thoughts are my own.

[Rebecca Hamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. It’s a heavy lift but worth the effort to build up civil citizenship muscle memory. This book opened my eyes, challenges my beliefs and provoked thought after thought. While listening I was inspired to buy a paper copy for notes, personal follow up and retention of the tremendous history that is intertwined with the current state of our union. There is an underlying message for finding and acknowledging our common interests while accepting the differences in how we maintain them. Highly recommend.

[Jack McNulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry's book was a delightful discovery. The word 'Journey' was my purchase trigger as my High School experience with the 'Odyssey' planted the seed on the Hero's quest and the power of a journey.
The blend of US history as found on Lincoln's highway with Lincoln's inspirations and all the rippling effects on where we are today as a community of former immigrants, albeit not all, weaves a compelling and engaging story.

You will not be disappointed as the insights are revealing. GBA.

[Meg Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Frank's book. It was easy to read, insightful, full of historical information, and fun. I interviewed Frank for the Pages & Voices podcast when he came back through Fort Wayne last month. It's really the reason I read his book, but I am so glad I did. Also, Frank is a very nice man. Down to earth and bright with the ability to write an approachable book that appeals to the masses.

[Claire McLoughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful ride through the country soundtracked by Gram Parsons, Kendrick Lamar, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash.
“Border walls are to Democrats what masks are to Republicans: objects of dismissal and derision because neither is capable of solving an entire problem, yet neither side wants to admit that each could play a constructive role- however flawed and limited_ in tackling a complex and difficult problem.”

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back Roads and Better Angels takes the reader along the Lincoln Highway and then through the Southwest and Old Confederacy, all the while uncovering our past and discovering our future. Great conversation abounds all under the backdrop of the 2020 election and all that unfolds after. Great read if you love history, travel logs, or Americana.