Seldom Seen: A Journey Into the Great Plains

By Patrick Dobson

Book Overview

In May 1995, with nothing but a backpack and a vague sense of disquiet, Patrick Dobson left his home and a steady if deadening job in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the next two and a half months he made his way to Helena, Montana, letting chance encounters guide him to a deeper sense of who he was and where he was going. His chronicle of this journey charts his experiences with the seldom-seen people of the small towns, the far-flung outposts, and the Great Plains that make up "our America." Beginning as a seeker, Dobson becomes a faithful recorder of other people's search for contentment, introducing us to a firefighter with a farm at the end of the world, a fiery Christian conservative, a man sharing a van with a crowd of cats, a former circus carny who's found the secret to living life, and a homeless Native American offering a special and enduring gift. Ridden out of a hostile Kansas town, sniffed by bears, confronted by bison and recalcitrant moose, Dobson cannot help but see how land, sky, weather, and a world of circumstances influence people. Against the majestic sweep of the open plains and endless horizon, his story is one of hope and desperation, richness and simplicity--a portrait of who we are in the heartland of America.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803216165
• ISBN13: 9780803216167
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A compelling adventure

I liked this book so much I didn't want it to end, so I read it again. Patrick Dobson manages to capture landscape and characters with just a few specific words. With no long boring descriptions, he shows the land he travels and the fascinating people he meets. He made the trip from Kansas City to Helena, but I have a feeling the small towns and people he encountered are representative of many places, not just in the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised to see young men from around the country following Dobson's footsteps and setting out themselves. If I were much younger and male, I'd go myself.

I could use a journey of self-discovery

I see many parallels between my existence and the one portrayed in Seldom Seen, minus the trek through the Great Plains, and the self-discovery part. I guess that leaves me with the daily grind of a job and the dumb, plodding pursuit of trying to create wealth. I felt drawn to the idea of a journey, and I respect the author's courage to undertake it. I found myself laughing out loud at times, and a bit anxious at others. The descriptions caused me to create my own images, which were almost palpable. I felt like these were places I had been before. The author goes beyond narration and unabashedly shares intimate details of his thoughts and feelings. Loved it.

Journey of Discovery

Not since I read Kerouac have I wanted to pack my bag and hit the road. Dobson's walking adventure isn't just about walking from KC MO via Nebraska, Wyoming and on to Helena Montana - it's about the funny, strange and generous people he discovers on this journey but most importantly the re discovering of himself. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has 'hit the road' or wanted to. Be careful though as by books end you may find yourself kissing your love ones goodbye and setting off yourself. Pack this book if you do! Now where did I put my backpack?