Nomad Marya Hornbacher shares Five Things She's Learned about America.
View the next in our new series of messages, ideas, and inspiration – shared directly from Americans we admire.
Five Things I’ve Learned began with the aim of learning directly from people we long admired. Find out what they think most important to share, we believed, and we’d learn and be inspired by their example.
This summer, we’re doing something more: soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences give shape to the issues that continue to shape America and November’s upcoming national election.
Today, Marya Hornbacher shares Five Things She’s Learned About America.
Marya is an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author. She currently writes for the San Francisco Chronicle, reporting from swing states during the runup to the election. Shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, she’s has spent a prolific quarter century writing and teaching across genres. Now, she’s tossed all that experience into a truck and a camper to focus more on questions than answers.
Don’t miss Going Solo at the End of the World – Marya’s great, ongoing, firsthand report direct from the road, which provides regular written and video updates from her solo travels across America.
Five Things I’ve Learned About America
“I’m Marya Hornbacher. I’m a writer, vagrant, and bestselling author who has gone rogue. I’m also a full-time nomad.”
There is no single, composite America.
“Every place I visit has its own mythology of America, and no two of those myths are the same.”
Americans share more than our history and geography would suggest.
“I have a lot more in common with other Americans than I ever would have thought.”
Everyone's America is uniquely and urgently personal.
“America has taught me that It isn’t actually outside of me. It’s not somewhere else. It’s right here. Right now. I’m it.”
We must each confront for ourselves the grief of our shared history.
“The country built on stolen land by peoples whose labors and lives were also stolen will never recover, I don’t think, from its grief. And it probably shouldn’t try.”
We can’t afford despair.
“There’s only so much time, and in that time all of us have our task.”
MORE ABOUT MARYA
Marya Hornbacher is an award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and the recipient of a host of awards for her work. Shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, Marya has spent a prolific quarter century writing and teaching across genres. Now she’s tossed all that experience into a truck and a camper to focus more on questions than answers. She also writes for the San Francisco Chronicle, currently reporting from swing states during the runup to the election.
Get involved with this writer, road-tripper, vagrant, erstwhile pugilist, and aspiring crone. Learn more and subscribe to Going Solo at the End of the World, her firsthand report from the American road on Substack.
MORE ABOUT FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT AMERICA
Five Things I’ve Learned about America presents live, personal conversations with leading thinkers, organizers, and advocates for our democracy. In tandem, we’re soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences are equally inspiring and instructive.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the kind and enthusiastic response we’ve received to this new series. If you’ve just recently discovered us, please check out recent reflections about America from people we admire including including Tony Alcaraz, Yvette Benavides, Francisco Guajardo, Tina Hedin, Megan Matson, Jeannine Ouellette, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Greg Sandow, Brooke Warner, Oliver Wasow, and Jamie Whalen.
And check out our free conversation series presented in partnership with Resolute Square, featuring 90-minute sessions with Americans we admire including Alan Light, Jennifer Mercieca, Beto O'Rourke, Trygve Olson, and Stuart Stevens.
Marya, I just love the way your mind works! And the virtuosity with which you express yourself.
Tremendous as always, Marya. I’m constantly both inspired and amazed by the way you write and speak, the strength those words contain.