Be the Road

Be the Road is the first book of a series featuring a multi-year cultural travelogue from a Persian immigrant’s candid, yet appreciative perspective of today’s complex United States of America. Starting in the divisive year of 2016, the man whom his students call Mr. B travels 178,000 miles across America. He sells his house and leaves the security of a teaching position to observe the country firsthand. Readers join Mr. B across America in a quest to understand the nation during a time of transition and polarized politics, while reminding us how Americans are much more alike than different.

Mr. B’s journey in his faithful Volkswagen Passat, Griffin, seeks the magic that most of us remember from those tense months after 9/11. Americans felt united then, and Mr. B wonders how we can again achieve that crucial feeling. The stories from the road include conversations with Americans of diverse backgrounds, highlighting the contributions of prominent figures as well as ordinary people who shape the United States.

Be the Road examines the legacy of this country’s leadership, innovation, advances in human rights, and its beacon of hope. At the same time, it addresses controversial periods in American history—dispossessing of the lands of indigenous population, enslaving people, segregating school children, and implementing imperialism. While it discusses the nation’s challenges and imperfections, it focuses on our strengths, ideals, and values. 

At its core, Be the Road is a book about an immigrant’s gratitude for the opportunities he has found in America. His travels across the United States enable his American dream of becoming an author. This narrative goes beyond a list of what travelers should see; it delivers insights into each place’s culture, history, and essence. 

Mr. B aims to inspire others to follow their dreams and travel with greater purpose to learn more about the United States and our world. The book reminds readers of their responsibilities for freedoms and privileges, while encouraging civic engagement, and discovering Americans’ contributions to enhancing their communities.