FORTITUDE: My True Adventures Hitchhiking Across America in the ’70s

In the early 1970s, with nothing but a backpack, a thumb, and a restless spirit, Richard Giannetta set out across America in search of something more—freedom, adventure, and a life beyond conformity.

Fortitude is a raw and unforgettable memoir of hitchhiking across America during a time of cultural revolution—where long-haired drifters, truck drivers, hippies, and strangers became part of the journey. From back roads and truck stops to communes, concerts, and close calls, every mile tells a story.

This is more than a travel memoir—it’s a vivid look at the 1970s counterculture, when the rules were changing, the road was wide open, and the only way to find yourself was to keep moving forward.

Honest, fearless, and deeply personal, Fortitude captures the spirit of a generation that refused to stand still.

There are lives we live, and lives we pass by. This is one that stepped away—and never quite looked the same again.