What do you think?
Rate this book
1968: My American Odyssey
Armed with a battered copy of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, Maggie Cobbett crossed the USA by Greyhound bus during the chaotic summer of 1968. The distances were vast, her budget minimal, and anything seemed possible. From camp counselling in the Catskills to bagels for breakfast in the Bronx, her first sojourn in the States had it all.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2025
2 people are currently reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2026
A snapshot of a fast-changing world
This is a lovely book that took me back to a year when the world was fresh and exciting, and America was the place to be. As a teenager at the time, I recognise the atmosphere, the music, clothes, emotions and ambitions of a time of change and improvement. Maggie’s odyssey was brave, but I knew of others who spent their summers working in the USA camp system, and still do.
I was a few years younger, but I would have loved to make the trip. There are times of danger, times of fun and excitement, and she takes them all on with Yorkshire stoicism and pluck. As a Leeds girl, she is honest, revealing and willing to risk travelling without luxury or money. She meets charming people, frightening folk and those willing to welcome and assist a young woman in their country. After reading about her Greyhound bus travel, the image of the time failed to meet the reality of the on-board toilet facilities, short gas station stops, or dangerous bus stations.
I am amazed at Maggie Cobbett’s recollection after so many years, but the read is as fresh as if it were yesterday. I highly recommend 1968 – An American Odyssey to anyone who is interested in the USA at the time of a revolutionary music and cultural explosion.
This is a lovely book that took me back to a year when the world was fresh and exciting, and America was the place to be. As a teenager at the time, I recognise the atmosphere, the music, clothes, emotions and ambitions of a time of change and improvement. Maggie’s odyssey was brave, but I knew of others who spent their summers working in the USA camp system, and still do.
I was a few years younger, but I would have loved to make the trip. There are times of danger, times of fun and excitement, and she takes them all on with Yorkshire stoicism and pluck. As a Leeds girl, she is honest, revealing and willing to risk travelling without luxury or money. She meets charming people, frightening folk and those willing to welcome and assist a young woman in their country. After reading about her Greyhound bus travel, the image of the time failed to meet the reality of the on-board toilet facilities, short gas station stops, or dangerous bus stations.
I am amazed at Maggie Cobbett’s recollection after so many years, but the read is as fresh as if it were yesterday. I highly recommend 1968 – An American Odyssey to anyone who is interested in the USA at the time of a revolutionary music and cultural explosion.
December 14, 2025
Interesting read on life in America compared to now and in 1980 when I visited. It made me think about how things change and attitudes differ then move on, continuing to evolve all the time.
November 7, 2025
Having visited America several times since 1999, I was interested in reading Maggie's account of her 1968 trip. It didn't disappoint. Although many things have changed over the years, the experiences she shared had a lot of common ground with our own road trips over there. Her descriptions of places we have seen brought back good memories. I also enjoyed reminders of the 1960s, when America seemed a far off land, known to me only through the media of television. I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Maggie's work.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews