Getting There: An American Odyssey offers a singular perspective on the tumultuous period between the 1950s and the early twenty-first century through the personal experiences and reflections of a young student, academic historian, journalist, musician, and activist. Moving from the East and beyond to the Pacific Northwest, the memoir addresses the challenge of balancing the critical tools of teaching and scholarship with a populist approach to politics and creative expression that seeks to refurbish faith in the American Promise.