In his latest book, William T. Vollmann explores the idea of freedom using the “criminally American” activity of riding freight trains. While the author and his cohorts ride freights recreationally and never claim to be hobos, he does meet a number of hobos during his travels, and their experience supplies a good part of the book. Vollmann provides interesting insight into freedom, both his and that of people who have less choice in the matter of riding freight trains. He neither romanticizes nor demonizes his or anyone else’s (mis)adventures, but merely relates them in a highly readable manner that makes one question just how free any of us really are. With echoes of Hemingway, Kerouac and London (among others), Riding Toward Everywhere is a book for anyone who believes that the journey is the destination.

-- Chris Fanning