Book review: ‘Monster of a Land’
Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America by Lauren Hough. Pantheon, 2026. Hardcover, 336 pages.
Ready for a road trip? If you pick up a copy of Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America by Lauren Hough, you can travel without leaving home. In this follow-up to her bestselling essay collection, Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing, Lauren embarks on a cross-country journey in a refurbished van with her rescued dog Woody Guthrie for company.
Reminiscent of Travels With Charley, John Steinbeck’s 1962 book about his trip around America with his dog Charley, Lauren’s book is much more than a travelogue. It is a sometimes sharp, sometimes tender, but always astute observation of society and the people she and Woody meet along the way.
Many of these people, like Lauren, are those who live on the margins. Whether talking to a mechanic who fixes her van or to fellow travelers she encounters at campsites, the author understands that the real spirit of America lies in acceptance, empathy, and kindness.
If I kept a list of my favorite books so far this year, Monster of a Land would top it for Lauren’s writing, social commentary, and connection to her canine travel companion.
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