Overview

WINNER of the 2025 American Writing Awards for non-fiction, travel story!IAN BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST - Non-Fiction Adventure & TravelNetGalley Reviews: ""Heartland Highways has all the ingredients of a classic road narrative: humor, grit, cultural soul."" ""...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."" ""THE DEFINING ROAD TRIP AS AMERICA TURNS 250!"" Because what better way to celebrate than with a genuine, entertaining, soul-searching road trip through the actual country? It's John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and Jack Kerouac's On the Road, meets William Least Heat-Moon's Blue Highways, with fewer dogs and more coffee stops. John W. Butler's 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."" Heartland Highways is both a vivid travelogue and a narrative that reflects the America John discovers. ""Over 33,321 miles in my Airstream van, from sea to shining sea, I discovered that America's soul lives in the detours: in spontaneous adventures, in conversations with strangers, in the unplanned moments that stitch a country together."" NOT LOST. JUST A DETOURIST ""I called myself a 'detourist.' I wasn't chasing postcard moments. I was chasing whatever showed up when I didn't follow the rules. That meant small-town diners where conversations lasted longer than the pie. Empty highways that led to nowhere, which turned out to be exactly where I needed to be. Nights when the stars felt closer than the ground beneath my feet. And mornings when I woke up with more questions than answers, but somehow felt more alive for it. As America barrels toward the America250 celebrations on July 4, 2026, everyone is asking what this country really is-and what it still can be. To me, the answer wasn't in the news cycle. It wasn't in politics. It was in the accidental encounters: the cowboy in Texas who told me, ""This land teaches patience."" The waitress in Maine who reminded me, ""People are kinder than the internet says."" The forest in Montana that answered with silence so heavy it felt holy. What you'll find is a story about trading screens for scenes, and about discovering pieces of yourself in places you've never been. It's about America, the messy, sprawling, contradictory, beautiful idea that's somehow held together for two and a half centuries. And how you don't really see it on the main road. You see it in the detours. If you're looking for perfect pictures and travel tips, this book isn't for you. But if you've ever wondered what happens when you leave the map behind, if you're ready for a long, strange, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking ride, then buckle up. We're taking the scenic route on purpose. NOT LOST. JUST A DETOURIST! More at www.HeartlandHighways.com

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Reviews

""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 ""Join award-winning broadcast journalist 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 ""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 ""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., 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., NetGalley Review 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., NetGalley Review

""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 ""Join award-winning broadcast journalist 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 ""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 ""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., 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 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

Author Information

*** WINNER of the 2025 American Writing Awards for non-fiction travel story! ****** Book of the Year 2025 Awards Finalist for the Independent Author's Network in two categories: ""Non-Fiction: Adventure"" and ""Travel!"" ***John W. Butler is an award-winning author and broadcast journalist, an authentic voice with stories from the roads less traveled. ""John W. Butler is a storytelling road warrior with a country soul and a sharp wit-equal parts Texas radio charm and Maine forest mystery."" A Hopi tribesman he spent time with called him ""The Truth Seeker."" John began working in a TV newsroom at age fifteen. Continuing through college, he was on-air as a television news reporter and even did the weather, graduating with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and earning a Master's degree from SMU in Dallas. He's deeply embedded in the Texas media scene, serving on the Texas Association of Broadcasters board and as the past president of the Golden Mic Club. As president of Butler7media, he oversees podcasts and Texas-based radio stations that have garnered awards for broadcast excellence from the TAB and the Texas Broadcast News Association. John is an advocate for community service and has given over 2,000 hours to helping cancer patients in memory of his late wife.

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