I love books like this because they take us back to the era of roadside America, a time which provides some of my happiest childhood memories. While many of the kitschy delights of that era are gone, some still exist and guide books like this one make them easier to find, along with a whole lot of U.S. history.

While not as well known as its famous cousin Route 66, US 80, once known as "The Broadway of America," covers nearly 400 miles of Arizona and California. Travelers will go past burned-out gas stations, neon-lit tourist courts and abandoned automobiles dotting a land of changing contour and immense historical importance.

Included in this invaluable guide, a must for all highway lovers, are an ample selection of maps, illustrations and photos, both original and historic. If you have a hankering to "hit the road" and discover a lost part of America, be sure to take along Eric J. Finley's great guide book for reference.