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A Great American Road Trip taking the Detours!
Let’s take a detour off the main road —just to see what we’ve been missing.“Heartland Highways has all the ingredients of a classic road narrative: humor, grit, cultural soul.” - C.S. (Reviewer)
"I loved this book ... this is just good travel writing that feels like he sat down at the end of the day, wrote what he did that day, and then edited it all when he finally finished travelling." - J.D. (NetGalley Review)
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THIS STORY IS A TRAIL of moments, of small-town diner stops, of strangers who spoke truth in passing, of silence in a snowy forest, of trading screens for scenes, of nights where the stars felt closer than the ground beneath me. It's about getting lost on purpose, chasing questions, finding pieces of yourself in places you've never been.
“It does no harm just once in a while to acknowledge that the whole country isn't in flames, that there are people in the country besides politicians, entertainers, and criminals.” —Charles Kuralt
"Heartland Highways an entertaining and enlightening journey filled with humor, adventure, and meaningful encounters."
"Read this book: It’ll make you laugh, think, and maybe stop yelling at the news for a minute."
"A MUST-READ
AS AMERICA TURNS 250"
In Heartland Highways: In Search of America, award-winning broadcast personality, author, and self-proclaimed “Detourist” John W. Butler takes you on a soulful road trip through diners, backroads, small towns, and big cities—without YOU ever leaving your sofa. We'll take the detours together.
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Reviewers are saying: "... delivers an adventure for body and soul. Seasoned journalistic writing, keen observation, careful listening, and wisdom acquired by living life’s ups and downs bring the reader into the passenger seat for a trip across America.”
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"...hugely touching and insightful. I really enjoyed my time with him, genuinely feeling that I was sharing this extended trip ... I’ll reflect on his story for quite some time."
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"John set out on a short road trip, then became a "DETOURIST"
for 33,321 miles across America. Just finished it ... love it!"
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"... such a refreshing and much-needed book ... feels like both a love letter to America and a gentle reminder that there’s still humor, beauty, and shared humanity"
“A road trip for the soul — without leaving your sofa.”
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Just in time for America’s 250th birthday—because what better way to celebrate than with a genuine, entertaining, soul-searching road trip through the actual country?
John W. Butler, an author, award-winning broadcaster, and podcaster, is an authentic voice with stories from the roads less traveled, the diners more deliciously cozy, and the people more real than anything you’ll see on cable news. It’s destined to become a classic along with On The Road by Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, and William Least Heat-Moon’s Blue Highways, with fewer dogs and more coffee stops.
His 33,321-mile road trip redefines the "Heartland," embracing the places and stories from sea to shining sea. “I go in search of the real America beyond the scare-you-to-death news headlines. Embracing the pace of a wanderer -- not a tourist. I was a "detourist." I didn't follow an itinerary. Followed hunches and locals saying, "It's just 15 minutes that way-you can't miss it." Spoiler: I missed it. But what I found instead was better.”
John Butler intended to make a quick sweep across America to check its pulse, but his trip turned into an unexpectedly inspiring loop-de-loop of 33,321 miles. Awaken your inner wanderlust as you embark with the author, a disillusioned Texas radio personality, who swaps his broadcast desk for a rambling journey through small towns, vibrant cities, and sprawling countryside in search of our country’s heart and maybe even its soul.
Ditching the convenience of his Dallas home and ease of air travel, this curious writer outfits an Airstream Sprinter van he named ARGO after the first steamship to intentionally circumnavigate the earth. If he’s to find the essence of America, he’ll do so not through staged, grab-and-go interviews or sound bites but via deep dives into normal lives—at the pace they’re lived and where our neighbors eat, shop, bowl, worship, watch their home high school team, and enjoy first light or the setting sun.
Amidst his immersive trip, this inquisitive road warrior encounters everyday Americans crafting solutions, fostering community, and living engaged lives that challenge the stereotypes often portrayed in the media. Along the way, Butler wrestles with his own mortality and past, encounters unexpected potholes and detours, spends a good bit of time in repair shops and down-on-your-luck motels, shares close encounters with a menagerie of wildlife and a host of colorful people living disparately but sharing a few commonalities—the least of which is the dirt beneath their feet, the home they yet call the good ol’ U.S. of A.
From the birch forests of Maine to the palmed Hollywood Hills, from the challenging Mexican border to the gilded Canadian Rockies, ride along on this singular adventure and--perhaps for the first time--allow yourself to fall in love with the real America--the folks with big hearts and warm souls who open their doors and arms to a total stranger for one reason: to learn through his discoveries that which yet unites us. He follows his itchy feet to discover America one story at a time—and learn a fair bit about himself along the way.
Spending time with the Hopi in Arizona
First Reviews
“Heartland Highways has all the ingredients of a classic road narrative: humor, grit, cultural soul.”
— Cynthia S., Reviewer
"Heartland Highways is not just a book, it’s a journey, and I believe it has the power to inspire thousands of readers to look at America, and themselves, with fresh eyes.” -- George P., Reviewer
"Join award-winning broadcaster John W. Butler on an unforgettable 33,321-mile journey across America in Heartland Highways. Experience the beauty of spontaneous detours, the warmth of everyday encounters, and the heart of a nation that is so much more than what you see on the news. This is not just a book; it’s an invitation to rediscover what it means to be American."
-- Van Zandt News
“A delightfully descriptive book that will hold your attention to the very end, laughing and visualizing the places traveled. I felt like I was along for the ride, taking in the beautiful scenery and meeting genuine people along the way.” — Sara L., Advanced Reader
"Whether by armchair or as a companion to a driver’s seat, John Butler’s Heartland Highways: in Search of America, delivers an adventure for body and soul. Seasoned journalistic writing, keen observation, careful listening, and wisdom acquired by living life’s ups and downs bring the reader into the passenger seat for a trip across America. By accompanying the author in often unexplored corners of real America, the reader experiences their own story of America, sometimes new, sometimes forgotten, to remind us of how goodness can be found in unexpected places. The journey invites us to take the detours, whether on the road or in our minds, to live fully and to grow our spirits and connections to what really matters." -- Charlotte K, Ph.D., Reviewer
"I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tales of travel or who simply wants to connect with a man who has worked his way through a life that has delivered significant highs and lows. John, it seems, has dealt with this extremely well. I’m sure I’ll reflect on his story for quite some time. John is a man of faith, and it’s clearly helped him deal with the real challenges he‘s faced in his life. He’s open and honest about some dark and difficult moments in his life. I found this to be hugely touching and insightful. I really enjoyed my time with him, genuinely feeling that I was sharing this extended trip." -- Andrew S., London Reviewer
What drew me into Heartland Highways: In Search of America is how it captures both the grit and grace of the country through 33,321 miles of detours, diners, and unplanned conversations. Your storytelling has that rare blend of humor, reflection, and authenticity that makes readers feel like they’re in the passenger seat sharing greasy coffee, missing turns, and discovering truths worth keeping.
The themes resonate far beyond U.S. borders. In the U.K. and Canada, where readers often crave authentic Americana travel writing, your book carries the same spirit that made Travels with Charley timeless. In Europe, audiences are hungry for firsthand narratives that cut past the polarized headlines to reveal the people themselves. -- Tessa W., Reviewer
"Heartland Highways: In Search of America is such a refreshing and much-needed book. Your 33,321-mile journey feels like both a love letter to America and a gentle reminder that there’s still humor, beauty, and shared humanity across every town, city, and back road. I love how you weave cultural observation, personal memoir, and those delightful “detourist” moments that make readers laugh while also reflecting on what unites us as a nation. It’s soulful, entertaining, and filled with the kind of authenticity that readers long for."
-- Bernadette M., Reviewer
