Be the Road

Be the Road follows the first half of a multi-year road trip of discovery across America from a Persian immigrant’s candid perspective. Starting in 2016, the man whom his students call Mr. B travels 189,000 miles, crisscrossing the United States. He sells his house and leaves the security of a teaching position in Virginia to observe the country firsthand. 

Mr. B’s journey in his faithful Volkswagen Passat, Griffin, seeks the unity from those tense months after 9/11. He looks for signs of how we can again achieve that solidarity, reminding us Americans are much more alike than different. 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. 

Readers gain insights into American hearts and heartland while traversing the author’s inner spirit of hope, trying to understand his home country. This book explores the American dream incarnating in the 21st century amid its complexities.

While the book addresses the nation’s challenges, it focuses on its strengths and values, published in 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. At its core, Be the Road is an immigrant’s gratitude for the opportunities he has found in America. The book inspires others to create a path to their dreams, make a positive impact on their communities, and travel to understand their country and the world. 

Original photographs are also included from Mr. B’s travels on the road.