Listen free for 30 days

  • Rolling Nowhere

  • Riding the Rails with America's Hoboes
  • Written by: Ted Conover
  • Narrated by: Ted Conover
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Rolling Nowhere cover art

Rolling Nowhere

Written by: Ted Conover
Narrated by: Ted Conover
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.00

Buy Now for $26.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

"I crouched quietly in the patch of tall weeds. Around me fell the shadow of the viaduct that carried a highway over the railroad yards. From the edge of the yards, I squinted as I watched the railroad cars being switched from track to track. Cars and trucks were rolling over the viaduct, but what occupied my attention was the dark, cool corridor underneath it, where I hoped to intercept my train."

Riding the rails, Ted Conover tasted the life of a tramp with companions like Pistol Pete, BB, and Sheba Sheila Sheils. From them he learned survival skills - how to "read" a freight train, scavenge for food and clothing, avoid the railroad "bulls." He was initiated into the customs of their unique, shadowy society - men and women bound together by a mutual bond of failure, camaraderie, and distrust.

Sixty-five freight trains, 12,000 miles, and 15 states later, Conover chronicles his impressions of their lives in this fascinating piece of first-hand reporting that becomes a thoughtful story of self-discovery.

©2001 Ted Conover (P)2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Rolling Nowhere

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • KP
  • 2020-03-07

10/10

I really loved this book. I listened to Newjack (his other book about being a guard at Sing Sing) a few months ago and loved that too. I love Ted’s approach to storytelling: a hybrid between journalism and anthropology.

Granted, there were some problematic elements of his approach and his story, in my judgement he did an excellent job of telling a balanced story and recognizing his hubris and fallibility in trying to “become a tramp.”

Also, loved the narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!