States of Mind

Can you find love in Love, Virginia? Is there inspiration in Inspiration, Arizona? Brad Herzog took stock of his Generation X lifestyle and didn't like what he discovered. So he and his wife emptied their bank accounts, packed everything into a Winnebago, and set a course for a fabled America they weren't sure existed.

What began as a literal search for the small places on the map became a figurative examination of the small places of the heart, a quest for virtues lost amid negativity and disillusionment. From Justice, West Virginia, where one-half the population descends from the Hatfields and McCoys, to Harmony, California, a town that's up for sale and can be yours for the right price, States Of Mind eloquently and intelligently brings into focus an American psyche often blurred by intersecting cultures — and is, ultimately, an unforgettable journey all its own.

Brad Herzog, a graduate of Cornell University, is a former newspaper reporter and a frequent contributor to various national magazines. His memorable appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, during which he discussed States Of Mind, made him an overnight sensation. Brad lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, Amy, who took the photos that appear in this book.