Book 1 Post 2

I thoroughly enjoyed reading My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. The book was primarily written in the form of short stories about her experiences with people she had met on the road. The brief encounters kept me engaged while reading Steinem’s narrative. One of my favorite stories was about a boy who had experienced abuse in his early years. He was attending university and worked at the school’s hotel. He opened up to Steinem about his past and how his connections with others had allowed him to break free from the cycle of abuse. Stories like these are impactful and enforce that you never know someone’s past. It was also exciting to read about the variation within her experiences. For example, Steinem met a female taxi driver who had assumed jobs not usually taken by men, and in the same chapter, a racist taxi driver was screaming at pedestrians on the street. Each experience was unique and carried with it a lesson for the readers. 

As referenced above, my favorite chapter was “Why I Don’t Drive.” Since Steinem made it clear that she lived on the road, I assumed that she made most of her travels by driving herself. However, Steinem explains that cars can be lonely, and people miss out on valuable interactions. She then shares the stories cab drivers have shared with her over the years and the knowledge they carry. For example, soon after 9/11, a cab driver commented on how New Yorkers who were experiencing the loss of their loved ones would never want to inflict this grief on someone else. Thus, they opposed the war, while other states became outraged and voted to deploy troops in Iraq, even though the country was not involved in the attack. This was a perspective I had never heard before, and I know it will stay with me for a long time. When someone has experienced loss, they would never wish to inflict it against others. I think this sentiment is important to remember, and I hope others recognize this before voting for or supporting violence against others.

For me, the ending to Steinem’s book was bittersweet. I was sad that our time on the road was done, but I was happy that Steinem had finally established a home for herself. Although I have never lived on the road for an extended period of time, I believe it would be exhausting to never have a reliable place to return to. Steinem also explained that the road and a home are not mutually exclusive, a lesson both of her parents could have learned from. I hope to learn from Steinem and engage in conversations with my Lyft drivers, listen to other’s stories and explore whenever possible.