What is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles about?

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is an adventure novel set in 1954 America that follows 18-year-old Emmett Watson and his 8-year-old brother Billy as their plan to drive to California gets derailed. Two fellow juvenile detention inmates, Duchess and Woolly, stow away and redirect them to New York City instead. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple perspectives, the story explores themes of brotherhood, moral responsibility, and the unpredictable nature of life's journey.

Who is Amor Towles and what are his other books?

Amor Towles is an American novelist born in 1964 who graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. After working over twenty years in investment banking, Towles became a full-time writer. His novels include Rules of Civility (2011), A Gentleman in Moscow (2016), The Lincoln Highway (2021), and the short story collection Table for Two (2024). His books have collectively sold over eight million copies and been translated into more than forty languages.

Who should read The Lincoln Highway?

The Lincoln Highway appeals to readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction, coming-of-age stories, and adventure narratives set in historical America. Fans of Amor Towles' previous works like A Gentleman in Moscow will appreciate his multi-layered storytelling and richly developed characters. This book suits readers interested in 1950s Americana, moral complexity, and stories exploring brotherhood, personal responsibility, and how unexpected detours shape our destinies. It's ideal for book clubs seeking discussion-worthy themes.

Is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles worth reading?

The Lincoln Highway is worth reading for its masterful storytelling, compelling characters, and exploration of post-war American culture. Amor Towles crafts a fast-paced yet reflective adventure with multiple narrative perspectives that reveal each character's motivations and moral struggles. The novel earned widespread critical acclaim, appeared on bestseller lists, and was recommended by both Bill Gates and President Barack Obama. Its blend of humor, heartbreak, and philosophical depth makes it a satisfying literary experience for diverse readers.

What happens in The Lincoln Highway plot summary?

The Lincoln Highway follows Emmett Watson's release from juvenile detention in June 1954, planning to move to California with his brother Billy. However, Duchess and Woolly hijack Emmett's car to reach New York and steal Woolly's $150,000 trust fund. Emmett and Billy pursue them by train, meeting Ulysses, a war veteran. At Woolly's family estate, Woolly commits suicide, Duchess attacks Emmett, and Billy cracks the safe. Emmett leaves Duchess in a leaky boat where he drowns, then heads to California with Billy and Sally.

Who are the main characters in The Lincoln Highway?

The Lincoln Highway features four central young men: * **Emmett Watson** (18), the protagonist recently released from juvenile detention * **Billy Watson** (8), Emmett's idealistic younger brother who loves adventure stories * **Duchess Hewett**, a charismatic but morally compromised schemer seeking to settle debts * **Woolly Martin**, a gentle, troubled soul from a wealthy family Supporting characters include **Sally Ransom**, a resourceful neighbor who helps the Watsons, and **Ulysses Dixon**, a Black WWII veteran and experienced rail traveler who guides them.

What are the major themes in The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles?

The Lincoln Highway explores themes of: * **brotherhood and family responsibility** through Emmett's devotion to Billy * **moral debt and consequences** as Duchess violently settles scores * **the journey versus the destination** as characters' plans constantly shift. The novel examines: * **class and social mobility** in 1950s America * **coming-of-age and self-discovery** * **the stories we tell ourselves** through Billy's beloved adventure book. Towles also addresses themes of: * **past versus future** * **fate and free will** * how **unexpected detours** shape character and destiny.

How does The Lincoln Highway end?

The Lincoln Highway concludes at Woolly's family estate where Woolly has committed suicide, unable to cope with his family's misunderstanding and his own unhappiness. After a violent confrontation between Emmett and Duchess, Billy successfully guesses the safe combination. Emmett places Duchess, who cannot swim, in a leaking boat with his share of money. Duchess drowns attempting to save the flying cash rather than return to shore. The novel ends with Emmett, Billy, and Sally heading to San Francisco to start their new life together.

Lincoln Highway

Amor Towles

4.22(319436 Reviews)

Overview of Lincoln Highway

Four young men, ten days, one epic journey across 1954 America. Amor Towles' #1 NYT bestseller captivated Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and a million readers with its masterful storytelling. What unexpected detours await on The Lincoln Highway?

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Chapter 1

A Journey of Redemption, Friendship, and Finding Home

Amor Towles' "The Lincoln Highway" has captivated readers worldwide since its 2021 release, becoming an instant New York Times bestseller and book club favorite. This sprawling American epic follows four boys on a cross-country adventure in June 1954, blending coming-of-age themes with profound explorations of fate, freedom, and family. The novel has garnered praise from literary critics for its richly developed characters and masterful storytelling, with The Washington Post calling it "an absorbing, exquisitely detailed, and ultimately moving collective portrait." Celebrity fans include Reese Witherspoon, who selected it for her book club, and Barack Obama, who featured it on his 2021 summer reading list. Let's embark on this unforgettable journey along America's first transcontinental highway.

Chapter 2

Four Boys, Ten Days, and an American Odyssey

In June 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson returns home to Nebraska after serving fifteen months at a juvenile work farm for involuntary manslaughter. With his father recently deceased and the family farm foreclosed, Emmett plans to pick up his eight-year-old brother Billy and head to Texas to start a new life. His carefully laid plans are immediately derailed when he discovers two escaped inmates from the work farm-the mischievous, theatrical Duchess and the sweet, eccentric Woolly-have stowed away in the warden's car trunk. Billy, a precocious boy obsessed with "Professor Abacus Abernathe's Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers, and Other Intrepid Travelers," reveals that their mother, who abandoned them years ago, has been sending postcards from San Francisco. He convinces Emmett they should follow the Lincoln Highway-America's first transcontinental road stretching from New York to California-to find her. Meanwhile, Duchess proposes a detour to retrieve Woolly's $150,000 inheritance hidden at his family's Adirondack camp in upstate New York. What follows is a ten-day odyssey filled with unexpected encounters, moral dilemmas, and life-altering decisions. While Emmett and Billy aim westward, Duchess's schemes pull them eastward instead. The boys' journey becomes a modern American epic, with each character pursuing their own definition of freedom, justice, and home.

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Chapter 3

The Weight of Family Legacies

Throughout the novel, each character grapples with the inheritance-both material and emotional-left by their parents. Emmett's father leaves him with two "legacies": a torn page from Emerson's Essays encouraging him to find his own path, and $3,000 in cash. This modest inheritance represents both opportunity and responsibility, as Emmett must use it to build a future for himself and Billy. Emmett's relationship with his father was complex. While he respected his father's integrity and work ethic, he also witnessed the man's inability to adapt to changing circumstances, leading to the loss of their farm. This fuels Emmett's determination to be different-more practical, forward-thinking, and successful. His plan to buy, renovate, and sell houses in booming California shows his desire to break the cycle of financial struggle. For Woolly Martin, family legacy is a burden. Born into the wealthy Wolcott family, he struggles with expectations that feel impossible to meet. His trust fund of $150,000-controlled by his disapproving brother-in-law-represents both freedom and constraint. Woolly's eccentric personality and possible neurodivergence make him ill-suited for the rigid structures of boarding schools and conventional society. His desire to retrieve his inheritance is less about the money itself and more about claiming autonomy from family expectations. Duchess carries the most complicated legacy. His father, Harrison Hewett, a Shakespearean actor fallen on hard times, abandoned him at a Catholic orphanage after framing him for theft. This betrayal shapes Duchess's worldview-he believes in a moral ledger where debts must be paid and accounts balanced. His quest to find his father in Syracuse reveals his deep need for resolution and recognition, even as he follows in his father's footsteps through deception and manipulation. Billy, despite his youth, carries the emotional burden of their mother's abandonment. His determination to find her in San Francisco, guided by her postcards, shows his need for maternal connection. Unlike the others, Billy approaches his legacy with optimism and imagination, believing in happy endings like those in his beloved book of adventures.

Chapter 4

The Moral Compass of Duchess

Of all the characters, Duchess presents the most complex moral framework. A charismatic troublemaker with a theatrical flair inherited from his actor father, Duchess operates according to his own ethical code centered on what he calls "the Chains of Wrongdoing" and "balancing accounts." He believes every debt must be paid, every wrong avenged, and every moral ledger balanced-though his calculations often serve his own interests. Duchess's morality becomes evident in his confrontation with Jake Snyder, who attacks Emmett for the accidental death of Jake's relative Jimmy. While Emmett stoically accepts the beating as payment for his debt, Duchess later ambushes the cowboy who goaded Jake into the fight. In Duchess's view, the cowboy had no right to interfere in this moral transaction, so he delivers justice with a two-by-four to the head, walking away with "serenity in his step." This pattern repeats throughout the novel. Duchess steals Emmett's car and money, justifying it as compensation for perceived wrongs. He confronts Townhouse, a fellow inmate from Salina, proposing a mathematical settlement of their mutual debts: Townhouse should hit him three times-"eight minus five"-to balance their accounts. After taking the punches, Duchess rises bloodied but satisfied, their moral ledger now clean. However, Duchess's ethical system is fundamentally flawed by self-deception. He reimagines his own history, claiming his mother died of tuberculosis when she actually abandoned him, and that his father left him at an orphanage when in reality he framed him for theft. These fabrications allow Duchess to see himself as a victim seeking justice rather than confronting his own capacity for wrongdoing. The irony of Duchess's character lies in his name-he claims it comes from being born in Dutchess County, but we learn it originated from his father's drunken habit of theatrically announcing "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the Duchess of Alba" (or Kent, or Tripoli). This false origin story symbolizes how Duchess has constructed an identity based on self-serving narratives rather than truth.

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Chapter 5

The Wisdom of Children: Billy's Heroic Perspective

Eight-year-old Billy Watson emerges as the novel's moral center, viewing the world through the lens of heroic adventures from his beloved "Compendium of Heroes." His perspective is simultaneously childlike and profound, often cutting through adult complexities to reveal simple truths. Billy's obsession with Professor Abernathe's book shapes his understanding of their journey. He recognizes elements from classic hero tales in their own adventure-the call to action (finding their mother), companions joining the quest (Duchess and Woolly), and helpers appearing at crucial moments (like Ulysses). When Billy meets the actual Professor Abernathe at the Empire State Building, it represents the collision of imagination and reality, validating Billy's worldview. One of Billy's most insightful concepts is "Xenos"-the Greek word meaning stranger, guest, and friend. Billy explains this as the unnoticed figure who "always shows up at just the right time in just the right place to play his essential role." This understanding proves crucial when Billy secretly follows Emmett to Woolly's family camp, arriving at the perfect moment to distract Duchess during a dangerous confrontation. Billy also demonstrates wisdom beyond his years in his interactions with adults. When Principal Huxley insists students participate in nuclear attack drills, Billy refuses, citing Professor Abernathe's teaching that "a hero never turns his back on danger." This principled stance, though naive, contains a kernel of truth about facing fears rather than hiding from them. His collection of silver dollars-needing just five more to complete the set-symbolizes his methodical approach to life. Each coin represents a piece of American history, and Billy's careful cataloging shows his appreciation for legacy and continuity. When Pastor John attempts to steal this collection on the train, it represents not just theft of valuables but an assault on Billy's ordered worldview. Throughout their journey, Billy maintains unwavering faith in finding their mother, despite growing evidence that she may not want to be found. This optimism, while potentially setting him up for heartbreak, provides the emotional engine driving their adventure forward.

Chapter 6

The American Landscape as Character

The Lincoln Highway itself becomes a character in the novel, representing both America's past and its possible futures. Established in 1913 as the nation's first transcontinental highway, it stretches nearly 3,400 miles from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. For the characters, this road symbolizes different possibilities: escape, adventure, reunion, or a fresh start. Towles contrasts rural and urban America through the boys' journey from Nebraska to New York and their planned return westward. In Nebraska, we see the decline of family farms like the Watsons', while research at the library reveals California's explosive population growth-projected to increase by five million people in the 1950s alone. This eastward-then-westward movement mirrors America's own development, with the characters literally and figuratively retracing the nation's expansion. The novel's 1954 setting places it at a pivotal moment in American history-after World War II but before the cultural revolutions of the 1960s. The country stands on the cusp of tremendous change, with the interstate highway system about to transform travel, suburbs expanding, and traditional social structures beginning to shift. Characters like Sally Ransom recognize this change, noting that Ma Belle's establishment is declining "not because of the war, but because of the suburbs." Different settings reveal different Americas: the fading small towns of Nebraska; the elegant but restrictive upper-class world of the Wolcotts; the gritty tenements and flophouses of New York; and the promise of California's boom. Each landscape shapes the characters' options and outlooks, from Emmett's practical assessment of California's growth potential to Woolly's discomfort with his family's rigid traditions. The contrast between the boys' modes of travel-Emmett's practical Studebaker versus Woolly's luxury Cadillac-further highlights America's class divisions. When Emmett's car is repainted bright yellow "like a hornet" by the Gonzalez brothers, it symbolizes transformation and adaptation, qualities essential for success in the rapidly changing postwar America.

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Chapter 7

The Search for Home and Identity

At its heart, "The Lincoln Highway" explores what it means to find home-both physically and emotionally. Each character searches for belonging in different ways, revealing the universal human need for connection and place. For Emmett, home is less about location than security and opportunity. Having lost his family farm, he seeks to create a new foundation for himself and Billy. His plan to flip houses in California reveals his practical approach to homemaking-building literal homes for others while establishing financial security for himself and his brother. When Sally asks to join their journey to San Francisco, Emmett awkwardly explains that he and Billy need "a fresh start together. Just the two of us," revealing his fear of new attachments after so much loss. Billy's concept of home centers on family reunion. His dream house in San Francisco-which Woolly helps him design with "a covered porch for rainy afternoons, a study, a great room with a fireplace, a secret hiding place under the stairs"-represents his hope of recreating a complete family with his mother. This fantasy sustains him despite mounting evidence that their mother left deliberately and may not welcome their arrival. For Woolly, home exists primarily in memory and imagination. His family's Adirondack camp represents his happiest times, before boarding schools and social expectations complicated his life. When Emmett finally reaches this camp, he understands why it held "such a privileged position in Woolly's imagination"-the high-ceilinged living room with Arts and Crafts furniture creates a space that is "cozy yet generous," embodying the balance Woolly seeks in life. Duchess has perhaps the most complicated relationship with home. Raised in hotels and flophouses by his itinerant actor father, he never experienced domestic stability. His search for his father in Syracuse reveals his desperate need for connection, even to someone who betrayed him. When examining the family photographs at the Wolcott camp, Duchess finds something "profoundly enviable" about them-not their wealth or happiness, but their sense of continuity and belonging across generations. The novel's most poignant exploration of home comes through Ulysses, a Black veteran who has been riding the rails for eight years searching for his wife and child. After Billy reads him the story of his namesake-the Greek hero Odysseus who wandered for ten years trying to return home-Ulysses realizes he might find redemption by actively seeking his family rather than condemning himself to eternal wandering.

Chapter 8

The Power of Stories and Self-Invention

Throughout the novel, characters use stories to make sense of their experiences, reinvent themselves, and connect with others. The power of narrative-both the stories we tell others and those we tell ourselves-emerges as a central theme. Billy's beloved "Compendium of Heroes" provides a framework for understanding their journey. When Emmett suggests Billy could start writing their current adventure in the book's blank "You" chapter, Billy explains he can't yet because, like Homer's Iliad which begins "in medias res," he needs to know where the middle of their adventure is before he can start writing it down. This meta-commentary on storytelling reflects the novel's own structure, which begins in the middle of the characters' lives. Duchess constantly reinvents his past through storytelling, creating versions that cast him in a more favorable light. He claims his mother died of tuberculosis (rather than abandoning him) and that his father left him at an orphanage (rather than framing him for theft). These fabrications allow him to maintain his self-image as someone wronged rather than someone who wrongs others. Woolly's relationship with stories is more literal-he struggles with reading due to possible dyslexia or other neurodivergence. When discussing "The Count of Monte Cristo" with Billy, Woolly appreciates how Professor Abernathe's eight-page version delivers excitement "lickety-split" compared to the thousand-page original his sister once read him. For Woolly, condensed stories provide access to a world that might otherwise overwhelm him. The novel also explores how stories connect people across time and circumstance. When Billy reads to Ulysses about the Great Ulysses's odyssey, it creates a profound moment of recognition that helps the veteran reconsider his own journey. Similarly, when Duchess performs Macbeth's "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" soliloquy for Billy, he creates a connection to his father's theatrical tradition while simultaneously terrifying the boy with the Scottish play's darkness. Professor Abernathe himself represents the power of storytelling to inspire and guide. When the boys finally meet him in his Empire State Building office, he embodies the authority of narrative-the elderly man in a seersucker suit writing by lamplight, surrounded by books, creating adventures that shape young minds like Billy's.

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Chapter 9

Chance, Fate, and the Unexpected Journey

"The Lincoln Highway" explores the tension between carefully laid plans and the unpredictable interventions of chance. The novel begins with Emmett's methodical preparation to drive west to Texas, only to have this plan immediately derailed by Duchess and Woolly's appearance. This pattern of disruption and adaptation continues throughout the story, raising questions about how much control we truly have over our lives. The accidental death that sent Emmett to the work farm exemplifies this theme. When Jimmy Snyder taunted Emmett about holding Billy's hand and insulted their father, Emmett struck him with one clean punch. The blow itself wasn't fatal-it was Jimmy stumbling backward and hitting his head on a cinderblock that caused his death, what the warden called "the ugly side of chance." This random element transformed a moment of justified anger into a tragedy with lasting consequences. Woolly's perspective on chance differs from the others. He longs for what he calls "a one-of-a-kind kind of day" to break free from the repetitive routines of boarding schools and work farms that prepare boys for corporate lives like his brother-in-law's, where dinner is expected precisely at 7:30 after catching the 6:14 train. For Woolly, unexpected detours represent liberation rather than inconvenience. The novel also examines how chance encounters can change lives. When Pastor John attempts to rob Billy on the train, the timely intervention of Ulysses saves him. When Emmett needs information about train routes, he happens upon a wheelchair-bound veteran panhandler with twenty-five years of railroad experience. These moments suggest a pattern beyond mere coincidence-what Billy might identify as the work of "Xenos," the stranger who appears at just the right moment. Sally Ransom offers perhaps the novel's most explicit meditation on chance and choice through her reflection on "our will to move." Contrasting biblical wanderers and literary heroes with men like her father who choose to stay put, she concludes that the desire to settle down might stem not from American virtues but from "vices like gluttony, sloth, and greed." This suggests that embracing the unexpected journey-rather than clinging to comfortable routine-might be the more virtuous path. The boys' eastward journey when they intended to go west becomes a metaphor for life's unexpected directions. By novel's end, they have traveled thousands of miles without reaching their intended destination, yet each has undergone profound transformation. This suggests that the value of a journey might lie not in reaching the planned destination but in the unexpected discoveries along the way.

Chapter 10

The Bonds of Brotherhood and Chosen Family

At its emotional core, "The Lincoln Highway" examines different forms of brotherhood-both biological and chosen. The relationship between Emmett and Billy forms the novel's foundation, while bonds between the other characters create a complex web of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption. Emmett's devotion to Billy drives his every decision. After losing both parents and their family home, Emmett becomes both brother and parent to Billy, shouldering tremendous responsibility at just eighteen. His protective instinct sometimes leads him to shield Billy from harsh realities, as when he hesitates to tell him the truth about their mother's abandonment. This protection extends to physical defense-when Pastor John threatens Billy on the train, Emmett's rage is boundless. The contrast between the Watson brothers' relationship and Duchess's experience highlights the novel's exploration of family bonds. Duchess, abandoned by his father and raised partly in an orphanage, envies the Watson brothers' connection. When he observes Emmett's room-spartan and prepared for departure-he recognizes it as "the room of someone who's been preparing to leave with nothing but a kit bag for a very long time," yet understands that Emmett would never leave without Billy. Woolly's relationship with his sisters reveals another dimension of sibling bonds. His older sister Sarah protects him from their brother-in-law Dennis's judgment, while his sister Kaitlin maintains emotional distance. When Woolly discovers his childhood bedroom is being converted to a nursery, it symbolizes his displacement within his biological family. Yet he finds brotherhood with Duchess and the Watson boys, who accept his eccentricities without trying to "fix" him. The novel also explores chosen brotherhood through the connections formed between the four main characters. Despite their differences in background, temperament, and goals, they create a temporary family during their journey. When Duchess prepares an elaborate Italian dinner at the Whitneys' home, complete with "Fettuccine Mio Amore" that Billy helped prepare, they briefly achieve the warmth of family communion before Dennis's return shatters the moment. Perhaps the most poignant brotherhood forms between Billy and Ulysses. Despite vast differences in age and experience, they connect through storytelling and mutual recognition. When Billy reads to Ulysses about the Great Ulysses's odyssey, he helps the veteran reimagine his own journey home. In return, Ulysses protects Billy from Pastor John and shares carefully edited war stories that acknowledge Billy's maturity while preserving his innocence. Through these varied relationships, Towles suggests that brotherhood transcends biology-it can be chosen, created, and maintained through acts of loyalty, protection, and understanding. Even as the characters' paths diverge, the connections they've formed continue to shape their journeys and identities.

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Chapter 11

Redemption, Justice, and Second Chances

"The Lincoln Highway" presents a nuanced exploration of redemption and justice through characters seeking second chances after profound mistakes or misfortunes. Each character's approach to atonement reveals different understandings of moral responsibility and forgiveness. Emmett's journey begins with his release from the work farm, having served his sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Yet legal punishment doesn't end his moral reckoning-when confronted by Jake Snyder, Jimmy's relative, Emmett refuses to defend himself. He stands stoically accepting blows, believing this physical punishment completes a necessary cycle of justice. Sheriff Petersen offers Emmett wisdom about finding balance after trauma-neither continuing to fight battles that are over nor surrendering one's manhood entirely. Duchess's concept of justice centers on his "Chains of Wrongdoing" philosophy, where every debt must be paid and every account balanced. His vigilante approach leads him to attack the cowboy who goaded Jake into fighting Emmett and to arrange a mathematical settlement with Townhouse (three punches to balance eight lashes minus five cookies). While Duchess presents this system as justice, it often serves as rationalization for revenge or self-interest. Woolly seeks redemption from family expectations rather than moral failings. His attempt to retrieve his inheritance represents a bid for autonomy and self-determination after years of being judged "temperamentally unfit" by his brother-in-law. For Woolly, a second chance means freedom from the structures that have constrained him-boarding schools, work farms, and family disapproval. The most profound redemption arc belongs to Ulysses, who has spent eight years riding the rails in self-imposed exile after returning from war to find his wife and child gone. When he tells Billy about his "encounter with the king of the winds"-a parable about seeking shelter from a tornado-he reveals his understanding of divine abandonment as a call to rely on one's own strength. After hearing Billy read about his mythological namesake's journey home, Ulysses realizes he might find redemption by actively seeking his family rather than wandering in perpetual penance. The novel suggests that true redemption comes not through balancing moral ledgers (as Duchess believes) or accepting punishment (as Emmett does), but through forward movement and renewed purpose. When Emmett researches California's population growth at the library, he's looking not just for practical information but for confirmation that second chances exist-that one can build a new life after profound loss and mistake.

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Key Themes in Lincoln Highway

american road trip
moral debt
family abandonment
juvenile justice
brotherly bonds

Quotes from Lincoln Highway

His quest to find his father reveals his deep need for resolution.
Billy approaches his legacy with optimism and imagination.
Duchess operates according to his own ethical code.
Billy emerges as the novel's moral center.
His perspective is simultaneously childlike and profound.

Characters in Lincoln Highway

Emmett WatsonAn eighteen-year-old seeking a new life
Billy WatsonEmmett’s precocious eight-year-old brother
DuchessA charismatic and theatrical escaped inmate
Woolly MartinA sweet, eccentric boy from a wealthy family

About the Author

Amor Towles is the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway and a master of historical fiction known for richly detailed narratives and memorable characters. Born in 1964 in Boston, Towles graduated from Yale College and earned an MA in English from Stanford University before working in investment banking for over twenty years.

The Lincoln Highway is a sweeping historical novel set in 1950s America that explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the American Dream through the cross-country journey of four young men.

Towles first gained literary acclaim with Rules of Civility (2011) and A Gentleman in Moscow (2016), both New York Times bestsellers. His novels have collectively sold more than eight million copies and been translated into over forty languages. The Lincoln Highway debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and both Bill Gates and President Barack Obama have featured his books on their annual reading recommendation lists.

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

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Chapter 10

Lincoln Highway

OverviewOverview of Lincoln Highway

One book. Many ways to hear it.

A Journey of Redemption, Friendship, and Finding Home

Four Boys, Ten Days, and an American Odyssey

See every word as you hear it

The Weight of Family Legacies

The Moral Compass of Duchess

Get more out of Lincoln Highway

The Wisdom of Children: Billy's Heroic Perspective

The American Landscape as Character

See every word as you hear it

The Search for Home and Identity

The Power of Stories and Self-Invention

Get more out of Lincoln Highway

Chance, Fate, and the Unexpected Journey

The Bonds of Brotherhood and Chosen Family

See every word as you hear it

Redemption, Justice, and Second Chances

You made it to the end of Lincoln Highway

Key Themes in Lincoln Highway

Quotes from Lincoln Highway

Characters in Lincoln Highway

About the Author

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1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

A Journey of Redemption, Friendship, and Finding Home

Four Boys, Ten Days, and an American Odyssey

See every word as you hear it

The Weight of Family Legacies

The Moral Compass of Duchess

Get more out of Lincoln Highway

The Wisdom of Children: Billy's Heroic Perspective

The American Landscape as Character

See every word as you hear it

The Search for Home and Identity

The Power of Stories and Self-Invention

Get more out of Lincoln Highway

Chance, Fate, and the Unexpected Journey

The Bonds of Brotherhood and Chosen Family

See every word as you hear it

Redemption, Justice, and Second Chances

You made it to the end of Lincoln Highway

Users also liked

Discover more

Overview of Lincoln Highway