This is a guide that every college student needs. "Roadtrip Nation" by Mike Marriner and Nathan Gebhard deals with The Big Question: What do you want to do with your life? As college students, we are actively seeking the answer to this question with an academic education. However, we are well aware that this will only get us so far. This book takes you farther, like, across-the-United-States farther. Composed of various interviews with CEO's, self-employed business people and artists, the book examines how to search for your own happy and successful career. Although you should be weary of any "guide to life," it is not one of those new-age, self-help books that tell you to meditate and the answers will come. The authors suggest getting off the couch and getting behind the wheel.

The authors began writing this book because they had no idea what they wanted to do. It is important to understand that this is more than just a book; it began and continues as a movement for our generation. Packing their bags at the end of junior year at Pepperdine, Gebhard and Marriner took off for a summer of stalking. They contacted all sorts of professionals before and during their trip, attempting to get an interview to hear how they found their calling first-hand. But they began with the intent to disprove something as well. That there is not one direct or easy path, and the parents and professors that steer you in this direction are, what they refer to as, "the noise."

In order to fight "the noise," you have to believe that "you can create roads that you'll be passionate about while also making a living." First of all, you cannot settle. This means going to law school or grad school just because you think you will be able to make money. Ben Younger, screen writer and director said, "I probably did it (law school) for lack of knowing what else to do." It also means that reading this book is not enough. You have to take a roadtrip. You have to talk to everyone you can that is happy and successful, but to find your road in life, you can only listen to yourself. Randy Komisar, a Virtual CEO they met with in California, said, "When you speak to someone who has all the trappings of success but are really unhappy, there's a common syndrome: They've crossed a lot of hurdles, but they weren't their own. They were someone else's hurdles."

Everyone interviewed had something inspirational to say. The most important were addressed to this specific time in our lives. Mike Egeck, the president of North Face suggests as many different jobs as possible, because every one will teach you something different about yourself. This goes along with talking to everyone you meet. Younger also said, "I'm all about asking other people what they do. And don't be afraid to ask them for things. They can always say no."

The book is driven by a major fear factor: Unhappiness for the rest of your life. This is why it is so important to begin exploring now. Younger talks about all of his unhappy friends, commenting on how they are locked down by a family before they ever figured out what they wanted to be as individuals. "You have to be happy before you commit to having a family and such a high level of giving to other people."

"Roadtrip Nation" is not just a careful of useful quotes from random folks; it also logs the adventures of the authors. Sidebars interrupt the interviews and documents at times when the trailer detached from the RV, or for a police search in New York City. There are pictures of the professionals in the RV, signing the ceiling. Marriner and Gebhard always explain how they found out about these people and booked interviews with them, as well as giving hints in the back about how to have your own roadtrip.

Mike Marriner and Nathan Gebhard will be on campus this Friday, talking with students and finishing a documentary. If you see a neon green RV, this is the gang that urges you to find the open road.