Way Off the Road

More about the book

In a quirky exploration of small-town America, celebrated CBS News correspondent Bill Geist introduces us to a cast of eccentric characters and their offbeat lifestyles. From a frozen dead guy in Colorado to a parade in Minnesota where spectators are on the move while the marchers stand still, each vignette captures the charm and oddity of rural life. Geist recounts tales of a mailman navigating the Grand Canyon on horseback, a cow-chip enthusiast in Oklahoma, and a Nebraska mayor who wears multiple hats, including bartender and cemetery caretaker. He shares humorous anecdotes, like the motel clerk in Kansas who recommends a gas station for dining based on its microwave availability. With a deadpan style, Geist highlights the quirks of individuals such as a ninety-three-year-old pilot-paperboy and a Colorado entrepreneur using a sewer vacuum to manage prairie dogs. Events like the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival and Sundown Days in Iowa showcase the unique celebrations that define these communities. Through his journey, Geist reveals the fascinating, hysterical, and often bizarre aspects of life in flyover America, reminding us that even the most unusual stories can be heartwarming and entertaining.