Back Roads and Better Angels

A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy

By: Francis S. Barry

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

A year into his marriage and having never driven an RV, Frank and his wife Laurel set out from New York City in a Winnebago to drive the nation's first transcontinental route, the Lincoln Highway, which zigzags through small towns and big cities from Times Square to San Francisco.

Using the spirit of Abraham Lincoln to guide them across the land, they hope to see more clearly what holds the country together-and how we can keep it together, even amidst political divisions that have grown increasingly rancorous, bitter, and exhausting.

Along the way, Frank and Laurel meet Americans whose personal experiences help humanize the nation's divisions, and they encounter historical figures and events whose legacies are still shaping our sense of national identity and the struggles over it.

This unforgettable journey is full of what makes any great road trip memorable and enjoyable: music, conversation, and laughter. By the end, listeners will have a clearer picture of how we have arrived at a period that carries echoes of the Civil War era, and—using Lincoln as a guide—where the path forward lies.

©2024 Francis S. Barry (P)2024 Tantor

The importance of learning from our past to build a better future.

The connection between the present and the past of American history is excellent. I wish this book is read by Highschool’s students around the country to discuss the value of dialogue and civic engagement and some of the contributions of Lincoln to have a United States of America.

True nature of America and Americans.

A wonderful tale of traveling the country and finding out the roots of who we are today and our common bonds as Americans.

So many roads!

My only criticism of the book is that it has inspired me to buy a Winnebago, take a sabbatical and travel the backroads of the forgotten parts of our country. If it does not inspire you to do that, at the very least you’ll end the audiobook journey with a more optimistic ear. Of course, our country faces a lot of difficult, seemingly unsolvable issues at the moment. Nothing new really but Mr. Barry’s wisdom gives us a timely reminder that listening (really listening), tolerance, curiosity and the occasional H.W.B. prank can make all of our lives so much better. I look forward to Mr. Barry’s future endeavors and playlists!

Timely and Important Read

I listened to this book in the lead up to the 2024 election. The four years between the outset of the authors journey and current times served as the perfect lens to peer back in time to our shared (and imperfect) American history. We have learned a lot as a country, and yet we have repeated the mistakes of the past so consistently. So many great stories in this book and I was reminded of how important it is to look a little deeper for the truth instead of just 'reading the headline'. The book was dense with historical information but Barry always helped make the connections between then and now. Ultimately I found myself trying to be more open in my own views and conversations. The story of the actual cross-country trip was sweet and light-hearted. Highly recommend!

Lincoln in 2020

I really enjoyed Barry's journey along the Lincoln Highway from September 11, 2020 through Election Day. While we all know the turmoil didn't stop after November 7, 2020, I wished the book had ended there. Barry's voice was strong through the Lincoln and date parallels as he and his wife traveled during the still thick of the COVID pandemic. They found living and concrete memorials to Lincoln on their journey and shared the history of the Lincoln Highway. While there were elements of his southern sojourn that were interesting in the context of Lincoln and the pandemic, I felt it went on too long. I wonder if I might have felt differently about reliving January 6 at a different time