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Running To: In Search of Home on the Open Road
Sometimes life falls apart. Sometimes it's worth running away; running to something, however, is far better.
Inspired by the likes of Donald Miller and John Steinbeck, Tom Zuniga hit the road in his Mitsubishi Galant, criss-crossing the continent for nearly a year, fleeing a crumbling life in southern California in search of "home" -- an illusive concept unrealized since his youth.
After publishing his first book of "messy memoirs," Tom received countless emails from readers around the world saying two things: "me too" and "come visit." He set out to meet as many of his readers as possible, and as he traveled he heard similar stories of loss, longing, and wrestling with issues of faith and sexuality.
Born and raised in a Christian bubble, Tom came face-to-face with Mormons, ponytailed cult members, and a Canadian nudist. He reunited with old classmates and campmates and stayed with total strangers on Couchsurfing. Somewhere along the course of 26,000 miles, he learned he's not as much of an introvert as previously thought.
Tom's travels took him from America to Canada, the cities to the prairies, the mountains to the oceans, and camping in solitude to intentional community. The longer he wandered, the more he pondered and sought out this concept of "home."
Perhaps true home couldn't be found this side of Eternity; or, perhaps it could.
Inspired by the likes of Donald Miller and John Steinbeck, Tom Zuniga hit the road in his Mitsubishi Galant, criss-crossing the continent for nearly a year, fleeing a crumbling life in southern California in search of "home" -- an illusive concept unrealized since his youth.
After publishing his first book of "messy memoirs," Tom received countless emails from readers around the world saying two things: "me too" and "come visit." He set out to meet as many of his readers as possible, and as he traveled he heard similar stories of loss, longing, and wrestling with issues of faith and sexuality.
Born and raised in a Christian bubble, Tom came face-to-face with Mormons, ponytailed cult members, and a Canadian nudist. He reunited with old classmates and campmates and stayed with total strangers on Couchsurfing. Somewhere along the course of 26,000 miles, he learned he's not as much of an introvert as previously thought.
Tom's travels took him from America to Canada, the cities to the prairies, the mountains to the oceans, and camping in solitude to intentional community. The longer he wandered, the more he pondered and sought out this concept of "home."
Perhaps true home couldn't be found this side of Eternity; or, perhaps it could.
338 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2017
About the author
Thomas Mark Zuniga
3 books8 followersThomas Mark Zuniga is the cofounder and editor of Your Other Brothers, a community navigating faith, homosexuality, and masculinity. Together. He hosts Your Other Brothers Podcast and blogs regularly at yourotherbrothers.com and thomasmarkz.com. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina when not wandering away for weeks at a time. His favorite place is the space where coffee and vulnerability meet.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 8, 2017
Changed my life!
June 24, 2019
Great memoir!
Really appreciated reading this travelogue from someone I’ve been following online for a number of years. Loved all of his stories, and I definitely want to travel some more, when time and money permit!!
Really appreciated reading this travelogue from someone I’ve been following online for a number of years. Loved all of his stories, and I definitely want to travel some more, when time and money permit!!
October 12, 2017
Move over, Jack Kerouac and John Steinbeck. Tom Zuniga has you beat by a mile. Thousands of miles.
"Running To: In Search of Home on the Open Road" is more than just a beautifully written travel book. Yes, you'll feel you're "on the road" with him, viewing through his eyes the wonders of our vast United States and parts of Canada. The cities, small towns, mountains and oceans.You'll discover wonderful places to eat, to stop and view the wonders most of us will never have a chance to see.
Beyond travel, however, this book is about connections and meeting the most fascinating people. Tom comes face-to-face with Mormons, ponytailed cult members, and a Canadian nudist. He reunites with old classmates and campmates and stays with total strangers on Couchsurfing. Somewhere along the course of 26,000 miles, he learns he’s not as much of an introvert as previously thought.
In his travels, Tom also tackles insights and questions about what constitutes home and belonging and also writes about his deep Christian faith in God:
"This God leading me today is the same of yesterday and a million prior yesterdays, an unpredictable yet predictable God with a pattern of telling His people to do the impossible. A God of Moseses setting millions free and Abrams wandering to new worlds. A God delighting in the impossible because the impossible proves Him true, and above all, good."
In his classic book "On the Road," Jack Kerouac writes: "And this was really the way that my whole road experience began, and the things that were to come are too fantastic not to tell."
Tom tells them well. And better. He is the Kerouac of his generation and you will want to savor every page of this book as you travel with him. In search of home. And perhaps finding it.
"Running To: In Search of Home on the Open Road" is more than just a beautifully written travel book. Yes, you'll feel you're "on the road" with him, viewing through his eyes the wonders of our vast United States and parts of Canada. The cities, small towns, mountains and oceans.You'll discover wonderful places to eat, to stop and view the wonders most of us will never have a chance to see.
Beyond travel, however, this book is about connections and meeting the most fascinating people. Tom comes face-to-face with Mormons, ponytailed cult members, and a Canadian nudist. He reunites with old classmates and campmates and stays with total strangers on Couchsurfing. Somewhere along the course of 26,000 miles, he learns he’s not as much of an introvert as previously thought.
In his travels, Tom also tackles insights and questions about what constitutes home and belonging and also writes about his deep Christian faith in God:
"This God leading me today is the same of yesterday and a million prior yesterdays, an unpredictable yet predictable God with a pattern of telling His people to do the impossible. A God of Moseses setting millions free and Abrams wandering to new worlds. A God delighting in the impossible because the impossible proves Him true, and above all, good."
In his classic book "On the Road," Jack Kerouac writes: "And this was really the way that my whole road experience began, and the things that were to come are too fantastic not to tell."
Tom tells them well. And better. He is the Kerouac of his generation and you will want to savor every page of this book as you travel with him. In search of home. And perhaps finding it.
June 22, 2026
This is an excellent book. The writer has some specific challenges that he is working through, but I feel like "the journey" is a greater part of the story. Come along on a cross-continent ride with the author and his faithful steed, Mitsy - a Mitsubishi Galant. You'll read about his multiple experiences, both with people and places, his growth over time, and how he seems to gradually become more comfortable with himself as a person.
The book has spiritual overtones, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but that's not the main message. How I wish I could have done something like this when I was a young man! It's a powerful journey and a powerful experience. Do yourself a favor, and get a copy today!
The book has spiritual overtones, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but that's not the main message. How I wish I could have done something like this when I was a young man! It's a powerful journey and a powerful experience. Do yourself a favor, and get a copy today!
November 21, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I loved reading about this young man's experiences as he travelled across the country. The places he went, the people he met, and most importantly the lessons of self discovery he describes. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews