In search of the real america or in need of escape the author sets out to circle the country in a van staying only on the state and local roads the ones that appear blue on his maps. Hailed as a masterpiece of american travel writing blue highways is an unforgettable journey along our nations backroads. Blue highways a journey into america is a 1982 travel memoir by american writer william least heat moon an autobiographical account of a mans search for an authentic identity in the less visited places of the united states heat moons memoir was hailed as an immensely appealing performance by kirkus reviews