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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
"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
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
Reviews
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." - A.S. (London Review)
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"With a unique blend of humor, insight, and poignant reflection, he allows readers to see America through the eyes of a true 'detourist,' someone who embraces the unexpected and finds beauty in the unplanned."
- Canton Herald
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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." A.S. (GoodReads Review)
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"Heartland Highways has all the ingredients of a classic road narrative: humor, grit, cultural soul."
- C.S. (Reader Review)
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"It's John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley ... On the Road by Jack Kerouac ... and William Least Heat-Moon's Blue Highways, with fewer dogs and more coffee stops. John W. Butler is an authentic voice." - C.T. (Reader Review)
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A Hopi tribesman he spent time with called him "The Truth Seeker."
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"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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