Book 1 Post 2

Daniel Leung 

Book: My Life on the Road 

Why I Read It 

I was drawn to this book because of the exciting idea of living on the road. Being free and having the ability to explore new places, people, and cultures seems so fascinating. It’s completely different from the stationary life that I live and as a result, it excites me. I hope to one day go on a road trip or go backpacking, and I wondered if I could take some inspiration from this book. The second reason I was drawn to this book was the author. Gloria Steinem is a prominent figure, and I wanted to learn more about her life. What inspired her political activism? How did she become the person that she is and what events in her formative years developed her character and strengthened her resolve? This book effectively combined two great things that interested me, which made it impossible for me to say no. 

What Struck Me the Most and Key Takeaways 

I was struck by how personal the book became. In some portions of the book, Steinem pours out her emotions to the reader. Sharing the immense regret and guilt that she had for not staying with her father during his last days alive was brutal to read.  Her transparency and honesty in sharing her emotions made me want to learn more from her. One of the main things I learned from the book is to look for and embrace change. Seek out ways to grow and discover how I can continue to learn and develop. I shouldn’t be okay with stagnating and remaining the same. I need to ask questions and find possible avenues to expand my perspective. Often times I feel like I am bogged down and trudging down a boring path. Perhaps by implementing the lessons that Steinem is advocating for, I can improve my life. 

Parts I Liked and the Not As Good Parts 

Overall, I liked the way that there were multiple stories all put together. It reminded me of a collage or a scrapbook, a collection that was filled with exciting memories from different times in Steinem’s life. Although the stories didn’t all connect with each other from chapter to chapter like a typical book, I enjoyed this format. I also liked the way that Steinem phrased her thoughts. For example, my favorite part was the end when she says “my father did not have to trade dying alone for the joys of the road. My mother did not have to give up a journey of her own to have a home. Neither do I. Neither do you.” (Steinem 2015) I thought that this concluding sentence was very poetic and impactful. It leaves the reader with a sense of empowerment while also wrapping up the entire book. It is very well done. 

However, I thought there were some things the book could have improved on. I wish there was a section at the end of the book that compiled the key takeaways and lessons learned in her life. I also would have appreciated a section at the end that summarized how readers could explicitly apply these lessons in their own lives. These sections could have been included following the afterword. I feel like it would have helped the reader come out of the book with a greater sense of purpose and understanding about what they could do to change their life.