In the Rearview Mirror

In the summer of 1961, two 18-year-old boys from Cleveland set out on an audacious cross-country adventure. With little more than $40 each and a thirst for new experiences, Lee Livingston and his best friend “Dango” embarked on a journey that would shape their lives forever.

From the misty forests of Sequoia to the neon lights of Las Vegas, from freight-hopping through New Mexico to sharing beers with unlikely companions, Lee and Dango’s trip captures America on the brink of momentous change. As they thumb rides in muscle cars, befriend truckers and families, and push the boundaries of their sheltered upbringings, the boys hurtle towards adulthood with reckless abandon.

But this is more than just a nostalgic tale of youthful hijinks. Interweaving their road trip with poignant flashbacks and flash-forwards, Livingston explores the complexities of male friendship, the passage of time, and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. As an older and wiser narrator, he grapples with the tragic fate that would befall his friend and reflects on how those pivotal weeks in 1961 echo through the decades.

By turns hilarious, moving, and profound, “In the Rearview Mirror” is both an engrossing time capsule of pre-Vietnam America and a bittersweet meditation on youth, loss, and the journeys that define us. Hop in, roll down the windows, and hit the road for an unforgettable ride.