On the flip side: in 1935–36, two famous Soviet humorists, Ilf and Petrov, did a road trip around the US and chronicled their experiences in "Odnoetazhnaya Amer

On the flip side: in 1935–36, two famous Soviet humorists, Ilf and Petrov, did a road trip around the US and chronicled their experiences in "Odnoetazhnaya Amerika", or "Little Golden America" in translation. Vignettes from the book include encounters with Henry Ford, Upton Sinclair, Ernest Hemingway, and even FDR; amused descriptions of a rodeo, wrestling match, and football game; several captivating conversations with hitchhikers on topics ranging from health care to racism to religion; a visit to the Hoover Dam and a chat with one of the little-known and undecorated head engineers; awe-inspiring looks at the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest; and a ferry ride between the still under-construction Golden Gate and the Bay bridges. (More in my Goodreads review[1].) It's a fascinating, fantastic book, and especially stunning in how so much of the authors' bemused commentary on American culture remains completely relevant to this day — though I feel much of the charm and humor is lost in Charles Malamuth's translation. [1]: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2114423486 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2114423486