HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER by Tim Shey is a Christian testimony that recounts his hitchhiking journey across the United States. Shey shares his faith with others he meets on the road and believes that the Lord provides for him through the people he encounters. The book, published in December 2008, is a result of his nine years of hitchhiking and obedience to the Lord, which he says has made him physically, mentally, and spiritually stronger. Shey's journey is described as a path with a purpose, designed by God for each individual to glorify Him.
Shey's hitchhiking experience includes conversations with truck drivers and other travelers, and he emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ as the key to successful hitchhiking. The book also touches on his spiritual experiences, such as being "burning up in the Holy Ghost," which he associates with powerful moments of divine intervention.
The book has received positive reviews for its unique perspective on faith and hitchhiking, although some readers have noted a lack of a solid ending, as Shey's journey is ongoing.
[When I discovered the AI-generated review of my book (above), I thought it was right on target. My book is about hitchhiking, but mostly, it is about being led by the Holy Ghost.]
Book Review: High Plains Drifter
A Conversation about High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter: A Hitchhiking Journey Across America
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Grok Review of High Plains Drifter
It seems you're referring to High Plains Drifter: A Hitchhiking Journey Across America by Tim Shey. This book, published in December 2008 by PublishAmerica, is a non-fiction work chronicling Shey's experiences hitchhiking across the United States. Spanning 129 pages, it details his travels through 39 states, guided by what he describes as the will of his heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. Shey, a Christian with a background in English Literature from Iowa State University (BA, 1995), frames his journey as a spiritual odyssey, where he prays and shares his faith with people he meets along the way.
The title draws inspiration from the 1973 Clint Eastwood film High Plains Drifter, though Shey's work is a personal narrative rather than a Western tale of vengeance. He wrote the book in just ten days in early 2000, producing a 200-page handwritten manuscript, which he later typed and edited down over the following year. The final version reflects his minimalist lifestyle and faith-driven perspective, emphasizing reliance on divine provision—such as receiving clothes or rides from others—over material stability.
Reviews of the book are scarce and mixed, primarily from personal encounters rather than formal critiques. On Amazon, readers who met Shey while he was hitchhiking praise his gentle demeanor and unshakable faith, with one calling it “a great book” for showcasing a life lived in God’s grace (5 stars, January 6, 2012). Another reader, an agnostic, admired his conviction despite finding the travel log tedious (no star rating, December 17, 2009). Critics on sites like the Internet Archive note its repetitive itinerary details, suggesting it lacks depth in describing places or experiences beyond the spiritual lens.
Shey’s work is niche, appealing to those interested in hitchhiking memoirs or Christian testimonies. It’s less about adventure for its own sake and more about a testament to his belief system, which might explain its zero average rating on Goodreads (based on no reviews). If you’re looking for a polished literary work, this isn’t it—its raw, unvarnished style mirrors the author’s transient life.
