Thomas Hoving recounts his decision to pursue art history graduate school after military service, rejecting his father's demand that he join the family business and attend business school instead. He describes a cross-country road trip with his wife Nancy and their dog Whiskey, including a failed gambling attempt in Las Vegas and mechanical troubles in Missouri.
This memoir excerpt matters because Hoving went on to become one of the most influential figures in the art world—director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art—and his early career choices shaped his path. The personal narrative offers insight into the formation of a major museum leader's character and values.