The book starts with the author as a child at Four Corners, posing for the photo of being in four states, then "four corners" becomes a metaphor for being everywhere and nowhere.

More personal journey than travelogue, more memoir than ethnography, it was an interesting read. At first two warring ideas held back my enjoyment: the stupidity of putting one's self to such risk clashed with my enjoyment of adventure and survival. But gradually I got more in tune with the inner struggle and could be more sympathetic and appreciate Salak's learning. And we did see peoples and places along the way.