| If you're looking for some great travel writing, Donald | | | | This is travel writing at its best. It's not just about |
| Miller's "Through Painted Deserts" might just be the | | | | location or destinations, but it's about the people they |
| book that you're looking for. Donald Miller is a very | | | | meet and the problems along the way. It's that first |
| talented writer who has carved out an interesting | | | | night at a rest stop where you look at a clear starry |
| niche for himself. He's a "Christian" writer whose | | | | sky and feel the forest around you, only to realize |
| books tend to be more spiritual in nature, more | | | | the next morning the forest is a few scattered trees |
| reflecting than preachy, leading to a book that is | | | | and you're still by the Interstate. |
| heavy on all the questions of the universe and tends | | | | This work is about asking questions. In a world |
| to find more fans among readers who love travel | | | | obsessed with how: (how can I make money, how |
| writing and philosophy than the heavily religious | | | | can I get a girl, how can I get a better job) Donald |
| Christian readers. | | | | says he thinks, if not obsesses about the "Why." |
| This book turns out to be Miller's first, though it was | | | | Why was it so necessary to take this trip? Why |
| not the first published. He decides part way through | | | | does the universe exist? Why do we worry about |
| college that he needs a road trip. He dreams about | | | | the how questions? Why? |
| that huge road trip that every college male dreams | | | | This leads to an incredible story about the open road, |
| about, but while other friends hem and haw, he and | | | | about the beauty of traveling with only a vague |
| a hippie friend name Paul get serious and decide to | | | | destination and itinerary, of realizing how much of |
| go through with it. He hates everyone's dumbing it | | | | what you learned is learning the "structure" everyone |
| down to "Don needs to find himself," and Don willing | | | | "has to" live, and what breaking away from that |
| gives up his comfort, his job, the best living situation | | | | means. This book is about freedom, about |
| he's ever had, and a mutual break up with his girl | | | | questioning faith and yourself, about bonding, about |
| friend in order to take the trip he knows he has to | | | | travel, and about living instead of existing. |
| have. | | | | |