FORGE?: A Walk Across America

by Robert Bonora

Join Rob and Anthony, two college graduates on their walk across the United States in the summer of 2010. It is filled with doubt, humor, perseverance, and a hungry curiosity for self-discovery. Their four month journey took them from San Diego, California, to their hometown of Nutley, New Jersey. This is a story of charity, but more importantly, a story of friendship, family, and the kindness of strangers. They battle extreme weather, excrutiating pain, and utter unpreparedness as they navigate their way home. Their ultimate triumph was due to their personal resolves. This is an entertaining book from start to finish with characters and a story we can all get behind.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2021

Reviews

[Lulu Cannici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book, in so many segments, I felt I was walking along with Rob and Ant. The descriptive nature of Bonora’s plight across the country was depictive, expressive, and detailed without being turgid or redundant. The balance and repartee between these two boys was funny, whimsical and done in such a good humor. The generosity that Rob received from the people he met across this country was inspiring and heartening. My favorite parts occur when absolute strangers met them and offered them kindnesses, cordiality, and graciousness. Being from the northeast part of the country, as the boys are, I don’t know if I would have been so amiable in seeing these two boys walking up to my home in the middle of nowhere. Seeing what people across the country did for them, made me reexamine my approach to meeting strangers and hope I can be as magnanimous as people were to Rob and Ant. Some of the small places that the boys ventured in to as they walked across the country has me rethinking how a journey can be. Engaging with small towns, meeting the locals, and reaching out to people along the way is a lesson we can all learn from this book. A wonderful, quick, motivational and exhilarating book.

[Mike Mcgrady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forge on Rob

I'm an easy sell for this genre. walking across America. I guess that I would like to do this myself. But never will, so thank you for sharing your story , Rob. I also enjoyed Rob's companion book detailing the equipment and planning.