Charles Kuralt's "America"

I recently picked up a non-fiction book to read, and enjoyed it so much, even though it was not for one of my book clubs, I decided to make a conscious effort to read more non-fiction.  So, low and behold, the last time I was in the library, I was walking to the back, and randomly went down a row of non-fiction book shelves, and saw Charles Kuralt.  On my way back to the front of the library, I made a point to go down the same row, and I picked up Charles Kuralt's America.

For those of you who do not know who Charles Kuralt http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/325153/Charles-Kuralt was, we was a television reporter who worked for CBS, and was most frequently seen on the Sunday Morning show. His segment was entitled "On the Road with Charles Kuralt" because he would travel around the country in a recreational vehicle, long before they were really, really common, and do interesting stories about America.

The book I read, Charles Kuralt's America http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/68402-1, was written by him after he retired. He spent a year traveling to various spots in the country, spending more or less a month in each spot.  I have to say, it was a most enjoyable book.  He went to several places I have been to:  the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, the Appalachians of North Carolina, the coast of Maine, Vermont, New York City.  And they way he talked about the other places, and the people he met, lead me to believe that I would enjoy those places as much as he did, because the places I had been were described by him so winningly.  Even New York City. He commented that New Yorkers do not live in New York city, they live in their own little village or area of New York City.  When my niece lived in Brooklyn, she described it very much that way, which made it seem much more pleasant, like home.

What he did was more than reporting on a location, or describing the sights or writing about people. When he did was report on the location and the people, and the character of both, personalizing it so the beauty, uniqueness, the spirit and heart of his subjects reached out and touched us through the airwaves.  His manner was gently, unassuming, charming.  He was a mild mannered person. This came through in his reports. But he was very insightful, had depth of character and depth of understanding and caring for the people about whom he reported. He did not exploit people or places in his reports.  I sometimes think he held back, maybe just a little, to help preserve the uniqueness of fragile places.  He could afford to do that. His stories were not about "scoops" but they were about the heart and soul of this country.  And he did capture that, time and time again.

This was truly a very enjoyable book.  I know I will read more by Charles Kuralt.  He was, and still is, a national treasure.