Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition

A very explicit and historical book for anyone traveling on Route 66; sightseeing, interesting restaurants, and shops can be found. Good pictures of interesting places to visit.

I've driven the route from Chicago to Santa Monica, and I loved the trip and hope to make it again soon. One trip on the Mother Road, and it becomes part of you. You find yourself driven to learn more and more about this cross-section of the United States, and you end up reading lots of books. This book is the best of them all. Author Michael Wallis is an excellent researcher, and a good author, and his books are a delight to read. - I've also read his book on the Lincoln Highway and another on the Donner Party and their winter crossing of the Sierra. Read this book, drive the highway, and then read the book again. You won't regret it.

Good photos and info. Helped me plan a trip.

This is a great book for just kicking back and taking a virtual ride on Rt. 66. I, myself, have never been down the road as I am an East Coaster and never yet made the western trek to California. However, I always dreamed of doing such in a RV and now I know for sure what road to take. While I have heard of Rt. 66 before, I (never prior to reading this book) knew much about the road. What got me started on Rt. 66. was the fairly recent Disney movie "Cars" (of which I highly recommend seeing). The movie touched upon what Rt. 66 means to America and it's past and also the effects of the Interstate system and I-40 on Rt. 66. The author of the book, Michael Wallis, has a cameo in "Cars" as the voice of the police car. So it was quite obvious to me that if Mr. Wallis' knowledge is good enough for Disney...Well, this made my decision very clear on what Rt. 66 book to purchase. Wallis's knowledge of the road is fantastic and expansive. He takes you from the road's beginnings both literally and historically. You go through each state and further to each town along the route, explaining in detail how the roads beginnings were to how they are today. After reaching California, Wallis then has a dedicated chapter on how a recent movement is presently undergoing to restore Rt. 66. highlighting those business's that remain and new and old attractions to visit. As other reviews pointed out, this book does create a very vivid image in one's mind that does allow you to virtually go down Rt. 66. It is a great 'primer' for those who want to brush up on thier Rt.66 history and also gives you a good idea of places to visit once you plan a trip on the historic road. Created in sections by state, you can either choose to go through the book front to back as I have or choose to reach each state in more detail. Everything is here. The only gripe I would have with the book is that while it is an excellent historical document on Rt. 66, I was hoping that key places would be easier to find and laid out more like a reference book. This way I could easily look up attractions in each state and see how they were and how they are now. I am assuming I would get this wish by buying Russ Olsen's "Route 66: Then and Now" book. As for traveling, I know I would want a quick reference. If you are traveling Route 66, using this book as a reference will have you fumbling through pages. So this book is best read BEFORE one takes on the trip. For the road trip itself I was recommended "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" by Drew Knowles and also the "EZ66 guide for travlers" by Jerry McClanahan. (I have still yet to read these). From what I gathered by other reviewers these two books supplemented with Wallis's book would give anyone everything they would need to know about Rt. 66. So bottom line, for overall history and just about everything you need to know about Rt 66. while taking a virtual tour of the road, well, this is it. This is where this book shines. A fantastic book best read from cover to cover. However for a quick reference to take on an actual Rt. 66 road trip, that is where this book falls short. There are probably better sources for that task. Overall a great buy for the price and it would make a great addition to anyone's American history library and it would also make a great coffee table book (especially if they made a hardcover edition).

I bought this as a replacement for one that got wet and sent it to the author to have autographed. He did and sent it back promptly

and thought it'd be good to read B4 we plan the trip !.... Very well done with original photos and people involved with businesses and travel, restaurants of the times and many were still in business.... The story should be good reading for most anyone...

Having traveled Route 66 several times this is a great book chock full of memories. Thank you so much !

Great book with info on quirky stops all along the way. Good history info presented in as fun and interesting.

This is a really nice detailed book about the history of Route 66. It's packed with pictures and details about destinations on the route. I'm planning a trip to drive Route 66 and wanted a bit more than just a map, I wanted to know a little more about the history before heading there and this was ideal. It's nice to dip into to read a little more every now then.

All you need to taste the old Mother Road. Some things have changed since the year the book was published, but the important thing is the meaning of what we admire. Great

ピクサーのカーズを見て、この本があの物語の発想の元であると聞き、購入。 幻の道路などと言われているルート６６について、その誕生から繁栄、そして州間ハイウェイが出来てすたれてしまい、 また、ルート６６の人間的な価値に気づいた人々による復興、と歴史をたどりながら、この、シカゴから サンタモニカまでの道沿いのさまざまな町、名所についても、そもそもの歴史から網羅し、そこにあるレストランやモーテル、 ガソリンスタンド、骨とう品店、お土産物屋さん、博物館など、本当に詳しく紹介されています。 表面的なガイドブックではなく、どういう風な事情で人々が動いて、道路や町や店が出来て行ったか、について 言及されているので、そもそも何もない土地に道路や鉄道が通り、そこに店や宿が出来て、 交易がはじまり、町が出来て行った、アメリカの土地の発展の基本を読み取ることが出来ます。 広大な土地で、人々は本当にたくましいです。 大体アメリカの地名は、もともとの先住民たちのつけた名前か、そこで何かを成し遂げた人の名前が 付けられている、ということもわかりました。 さて、最初に開拓者たちを結ぶ道路としてできたルート６６が車産業の発展によって、 また、アメリカの社会の景気によって旅行者が増え、どんどんにぎやかになり、 第２次世界大戦で、軍によって頻繁に使われたものの、 戦争でヨーロッパに行ってアウトバーンを目にした軍人だったアイゼンハワーが 戦後大統領になって、米国内にアウトバーンみたいな立派な無駄のない道路を作りたい、と思って、 州間ハイウェイが出来て、ルート６６はすたれてしまい、道路沿いの店やモーテルも寂れてしまったのですが、 州間ハイウェイ沿いの店はチェーン店が多く個性が少ないのに比べ、 ルート６６の店は１軒１軒人々の個性と心と労力が詰まったものとして運営されており、 その価値に気づいた人々が、またルート６６を復興させている、というのは、素晴らしいことです。 そして、そのことが国内で提唱されるようになってから、復興のための法案も通ったのです。 やっぱり、いくら合理的なアメリカ人たちといえども、人の個性から発する温かさ、努力の誠実さには、 かけがえのない素晴らしさを感じる、という事ですね。 この本はルート６６の７５周年記念の改訂版ですが、初めて出版されたころに、人々の気持ちを ルート６６に向けることにも貢献したようです。しかし、巻末の参考文献リストを見ると、 他にも本当にたくさんの本がルート６６やそれに関連するアメリカ文化について書かれ出版されて 居ることがわかります。 この道路の歴史を作っている個人の人々の紹介コラムもあり、写真もいろいろあり、 ルート６６についての、素晴らしい労作と言えると思います。

Perfect

Fascinating history of Route 66. The best parts are the old photographs and personal memories from those interviewed. I'd take a star off for the inconvenient shape of the book (far too wide and floppy to hold comfortably) but I suppose it was necessary to display the photographs in detail.