In 1972, after graduating from college, Jerry Steimel set out on a cross country road trip in a 1966 VW Beetle he called Zorba — named after the literary figure, Zorba the Greek. He aimed to break away from his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and explore America—the country sharply divided over the war in Vietnam. He also sought to gain a deeper understanding of himself and the path his life would take. The journey ended prematurely in a small Alabama town far from his goal of California. He returned home, had a life well-lived, but always with a lingering feeling he had some unfinished business. Forty-five years later, during the first year of the Trump Presidency, the country was again in conflict with itself. Steimel took his dream off the shelf, and in a 1973 VW bus began a new journey of self-discovery on the back roads of America. It was a dream deferred, but not forgotten.
FINALIST - 2021 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD
"This is a story about far more than one man's quixotic quest to recapture his youthful adventure; this is a philosophical and cultural exploration of multiple decades, while still being an entertaining and whimsical ride. There are thousands of people considering taking their lives on the road, making this a timely, amusing, and relatable read." - The Self Publishing Review Book Awards.
"To hear his story told in his own words is special as he has a real way with words and story-telling. When I started to read this at 9am, I couldn't put the book down and finished it eleven hours later." -Reviewed in Vintage Voice, The Vintage Volkswagen Club of America Newsletter