Name: By motor to the Golden Gate by Emily Post
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
Author: Post, Emily, 1872-1960

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By motor to the Golden Gate by Emily Post

(3 User reviews) 995

By Evelyn Hall Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Mindfulness

Authors: Post, Emily, 1872-1960 Published By : Post, Emily, 1872-1960

Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever wondered what a cross-country road trip was like before highways, GPS, or even reliable maps? I just finished this wild book from 1916 by Emily Post (yes, the etiquette queen!) called 'By Motor to the Golden Gate.' Forget her rules for table settings—this is the true story of her insane, 2,500-mile adventure from New York to San Francisco in a massive touring car. The roads were often just dirt paths that turned to mud, bridges collapsed under them, and mechanics were nowhere to be found. It's less about the destination and more about the daily battle to get there. The real mystery isn't 'whodunit' but 'how on earth did they make it?' If you love stories of pure grit, unexpected humor, and seeing America through completely fresh eyes, you need to pick this up. It's an adventure that makes our modern road trips look like a walk in the park.

File: By motor to the Golden Gate by Emily Post

Before Emily Post became the undisputed authority on polite society, she was an adventurer with a serious case of wanderlust. In 1915, she, her son, and a small crew set off on what was then a nearly impossible journey: driving from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This book is her diary of that trip, written with a wit and eye for detail that will completely pull you in.

The Story

The plot is simple: go west. But the execution is anything but. Each chapter is a new obstacle. Their car, a massive 'touring car,' breaks down constantly. They get hopelessly stuck in Nebraska's infamous 'gumbo' mud, requiring a team of horses to pull them out. They navigate by asking farmers for directions and following telegraph lines. They sleep in primitive auto camps and endure everything from blinding dust storms to suspicious locals who had never seen a car before. It's a day-by-day account of problem-solving, sheer stubbornness, and the slow, beautiful unfolding of the American landscape at 20 miles per hour.

Why You Should Read It

I loved this book because it completely shatters the image of Emily Post as a stiff, rules-obsessed figure. Here, she's pragmatic, funny, and tough as nails. Her observations are sharp—she writes about the people and places with genuine curiosity, not judgment. You feel the camaraderie of her group and their shared determination. The book is also a fascinating, ground-level history lesson. It captures a moment when the automobile was changing everything, but the infrastructure hadn't caught up. You see a country on the cusp of modernity.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves adventure stories, American history, or just a good underdog tale. It's for road trip enthusiasts who want to appreciate how easy they have it, and for anyone who enjoys discovering the surprising sides of historical figures. It's not a dry travelogue; it's a lively, personal, and often hilarious account of one of the most ambitious vacations ever taken. If you need a break from fiction but want a narrative with real suspense and heart, this is your book.