"The road is gone, but it will hardly be forgotten—thanks, in part, to the author's labors. Since Mr. Krim delves into the historical at the expense of the breezy, some casual readers may find the amount of detail daunting, but others will be grateful for it. And the book will almost certainly be embraced by another group: future historians who seek a single-volume chronicle of the most famous stretch of highway in the U.S."
—Brock Yates,The Wall Street Journal

"Krim's book is a detailed examination of the making of an American icon in the context of its times. By drawing on a wealth of sources, Krim not only illuminates the complex symbolism of Route 66, but the complexities of the culture which the highway's mythic aura emerged, expanded, and evolved from generation to generation."
—from the J. B. Jackson Prize Committee

"For younger readers, Krim's history might assume too much familiarity with a road that was, for much of the last century, the route to the promised land of California. But for those who remember Bobby Troup's near-perfect rhyme pf. 'Winona' and 'Arizona,"Route 66 is a fascinating account of the real people and real events that built a fabled road in our minds."
—Eric Jones, Wilson Quarterly

"In Route 66: Iconography of the American Highway, Arthur Krim adroitly combines words and pictures to describe and explain how a highway stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles became the embodiment of American values and aspirations...Well-researched and clearly written, it effectively depicts the enduring association of Route 66 with adventure, escape, and a yearning to start life anew."
—Rudi Volti, Technology and Culture

"Krim persuasively makes his case as he studies oute 66's origins, realization, and transformation into cultural icon...Arthur Krim's comprehensive and thorough book makes a very fine contribution to the study of Route 66 and American culture. The book is cleanly written, and Krim's enthusiasm for his subject always keeps interesting what might otherwise risk becoming dry material."
—Paul Kucera, Steinbeck Studies

"One of the finest histories of the Mother Road...Route 66 is a must read for any Roadie wishing to learn how Route 66 became a national—if not world—icon. Krim has done an admirable job in covering details and history, while maintaining a writing style that allows the reader to move effortlessly and neer, for a moment, feel bogged down in a boring tome."
—Route 66 Magazine

"In this handsomely illustrated book, Arthur Krim provides a richly textured analysis of the place of Route 66 in the American consciousness...Krim has provided an excellent account of one long, thin line that has had an enormous impact on the American sense of place."
—David M. Wrobel, Pacific Historical Review

"The author superbly presents the history behind the facts and images of Route 66...With a highly readable narrative enriched by many good maps and excellent photographs, Krim effectively demonstrates why the words 'Route 66' are 'a generic symbol of the American road with great power both at home and abroad.' There is much of value to the cultural geographer and all others interested in American symbols...Arthur Krim provides a wonderful reminder of symbolic Route 66 to one who has traveled the highway and a marvelous introduction to anyone planning in doing so."
—David E. Kromm, Journal of Cultural Geography

"The fame of Route 66 is evidenced by the number of times these iconic double sixes show up in the titles of recently published road books. At least a half-dozen have appeared in the past decade alone. As yet another entry in the field, Krim is plowing well-tilled ground. But the angle of his approach is nonetheless insightful, a welcome departure from the many-pictured guidebooks that direct the reader down a well-worn path past all the usual 66 roadside sights. Krim's approach is decidedly historic and geographical, with at least as much text devoted to the cultural meaning and historic context of the route as to describe its physical evolution. He paints with a broad geographical brush, describing the route relative to the region and the nation, rather than the individual towns or businesses along the way. Illustrating this point, more than half of the twenty-seven maps in the book, some historic but many others drafted specifically for this volume, show some aspect of the route relative to either the entire United States or the western section it traverses.
          "Krim does a masterful job linking together the institutions, agents, and artifacts that both exploited the idea of Route 66 and affirmed it as a cultural icon. He takes us from the 1928 Bunion Derby marathon, through the depression photography of Dorothea Lange and the words and images of The Grapes of Wrath, to the mimetic sign used by Phillips 66 gasoline and the recent reuse of that sign to sell a line of K-Mart apparel...The remilling of the road's identity through these cultural spin-offs came to define the image of the western highway in the Americam psyche. This well-illustrated book will be appreciated by fans of Route 66, the American highway, and cultural geography in general."
—Kevin Patrick, The Geographical Review

"Krim examines the iconography of U.S. 66 first as an idea, then as a connection of physical spaces, and finally as an American symbol. In this J. B. Jackson Best Book in Cultural Geography, readers will have access to the origins of the mythology of the American road, the evolution of automobile travel, and the role Route 66 now plays in the larger mythology of the U.S. Krim is an independent writer, geographer, and architectural historian. He has published widely on the subject of Route 66."
—Eithne O'Leyne, Editor, ProtoView, Ringgold, Inc.

"Route 66 is a scholarly tour de force. It offers an insightful analysis of this famous highway, treated both as a geographical actuality and a cultural symbol. The book anchors Route 66 firmly in an understanding of American history and geography. Route 66 did not just happen but was rooted in centuries of human history. In this regard, no other book comes close to, establishing just what the road's 'roots' are. It should stand for years as the definitive voice regarding Route 66 and its physical and social origins."
—John A. Jakle, co-author of The Gas Station in America, The Motel in America, Fast Food: Restaurants in the Automobile Age, and Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture