John R Henderson

Hick At Heart John R Henderson

When he was twenty-three, John R. Henderson left his small hometown in Missouri for big city life, where he found a sharp disconnect between his rural upbringing and urban expectations. He would spend years adjusting to his new life, adapting his expectations to match his new environment. "Hick at Heart: In an Urban World is both a commentary on small town life and a memoir about the urbanization of America. Henderson explores the assumptions small town living imbued in him about masculinity, self-reliance, religion, and relationships, examining which of these legacies survived the transition to city life and which changed as he grew accustomed to his urban world. Part reminiscence, part sociological biography, "Hick at Heart" bridges the chasm lying between rural and urban lifestyles. In doing so, Henderson offers insight into two very different visions of America-all from the viewpoint of someone who values them both.