On September 11, 2020, Frank Barry and his wife, Laurel, set out from New York City in a Winnebago to drive the nation’s first transcontinental route, the Lincoln Highway, with the aim of reaching San Francisco by Election Day. When the election result remained contested, they traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border and through the old Confederacy, as a new rebellion gathered momentum.

Over seven months and 10,000 miles, Frank spoke with many people of different political stripes about what holds America together. And in this book, he digs deep into the landscape to reveal more of the answer, peeling back the myths that shape our identity, delving into race and religion, examining how we have overcome the gravest threats to democracy, and sparing neither major political party from criticism. The journey includes a stop in South Bend, Indiana, where Frank interviewed Rev. John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, about the Irish-American experience and what lessons it holds for today.

Francis S. Barry is a columnist and editorial board member at Bloomberg News. He has worked as a speechwriter to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, including as chief speechwriter for Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign, and while working in New York's City Hall, he spearheaded various government reform initiatives. He holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame and New York University and lives with his wife, Laurel, in New York City.