A search for meaning leads two men into the wilds of America in "a nonpareil road novel that winds up packing a real emotional punch" (T.C. Boyle, author of World's End).

Disaffected surfer Luke Andersen doesn't see much point to life. Besides catching waves and driving part-time for a black car service, it's all becoming one big blur of blah. Then, on his birthday, he's given a long-haul job taking a client from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas, ruining his plans for what might have actually been a good time.

But when he reaches Vegas, his mysterious fare—the almost-senior citizen Charles Gearhart—tells Luke to keep going. And what should have been a day trip becomes a meandering journey, with Gearhart directing Luke through the western badlands of the United States.

The deeper Luke gets into the journey, the more intrigued he is by his passenger, who constantly imparts wisdom to help his wayward driver grow up. And the farther they go, the closer both Luke and Charles come to asking the questions they never knew they had—and finding the answers they both need in a "captivating" tale of trials, triumphs, and following the right road (Santa Barbara Independent).