When published, Travels with Charley was hailed as a great work of travel writing. In recent years it has been determined that Steinbeck made a lot of the stories up. Still the first 2/3 of the book are interesting and entertaining. His relationship with Charley and the quality of the writing are the best things about the book.

Brief but poignant travelogue about America in 1960. Poetically written with language that elevates and uplifts. Steinbeck is prophetic in many of his observations.