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Isaac Fitzgerald

@isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social
19K followers 240 following 662 posts

📝📚 Author of back-to-back instant NYT bestsellers Dirtbag, Massachusetts + American Rambler (+ others) 📺 Talking books on @todayshow 🥾 I walk. A lot.

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Katie Holten @katieholten.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I’m on my way to Harbor Springs, Michigan. See you tomorrow! My first event is with @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social. Can’t wait, we’ll be chatting about Wonder, Hope & the Joy of Discovery ✨
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boylankl.bsky.social @boylankl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
New book from @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social weaves the JA history with the author's. I grew up close to where JA traveled in western Ohio so it's fascinating to think that maybe I've set foot on a spot he did as well.
Photo of book "American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed" by Isaac Fitzgerald (New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts)
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Andy Adams @flakphoto.news · 22/09/2026
Wisco friends, please join us tomorrow night! 🍎📚 @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/events/ameri...
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Booze, Food, Travel @boozefoodtravel.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This is amazing. "a paperback is built for adventure"
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Laura Lippman @lauralippman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A lovely piece to read on the day I “rescued” a mass market edition of Knut Hamsun’s “Victoria” from the laundry room in a NYC apartment.
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Andy Adams @flakphoto.news · 07/09/2026
I started reading "American Rambler" this weekend—Do you know this book? It's perfect for walkers and people who love a good travel memoir. So far, so good! 📚 @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I have a certain set of skills.
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Subscribe to Radio Free America (link in bio) @kleinman.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I had a hard time explaining @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social's work without getting in trouble with my editors
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Subscribe to Radio Free America (link in bio) @kleinman.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Newsletter is out! Ken Martin's in his DNC bunker trying to change the plot. I have an idea for him: get ActBlue to kick The Groups off the platform link.heartlandsignal.com/v/443/b6619d...
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Geaux.outside @go-outside.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Dark & hopeful are hard to pull off but this one did just that. Bonus points for being a primer on Swedenborgianism. ✌🏽❤️🌲🌎 #booksky #read #books #nature
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Christy Admiraal @christyadmiraal.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Tearing up on the subway while finishing Isaac Fitzgerald's memoir/travelogue/history American Rambler, share if you agree
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
📚🏆
latimes.com
Comic Anthony Jeselnik is the internet's newest literary tastemaker — with this author inked near his heart
Known for dark one-liners and ruthless humor, comedian Anthony Jeselnik is surprisingly earnest about the solitary magic of great books. His love of literature has led to leading a book club with a de...
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Flattering company. 🙏🏻🍎
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Andy Adams @flakphoto.news · 15/07/2026
I'm looking forward to interviewing Isaac in Madison on September 23, 2026. Wisco book folks, save the date! www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/events/ameri...
wisconsinbookfestival.org
American Rambler: Walking The Trail Of Johnny Appleseed | Wisconsin Book Festival
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Cory @evilmam.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I repair rare books professionally and I've been asked 'wow do you worry if there's no future in that?' for 30 years and counting...
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I lived through the "books are dying" discourse of the mid-aughts.* I'll live through the "reading is dying" discourse of now. Reminder that book sales are up overall in 2026.** 😘
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Megan Dosher Hansen @megateer.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
We’ve landed in NOVA, and are spending some time exploring. Today, we went to Old Town Alexandria and discovered a new favorite bookstore, Old Town Books, where I finally picked up @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social’s American Rambler. ❤️
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Maggie Downing @maggiedowning.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
I’d been sitting on this book from @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social for a few months. It turns out that actually the perfect time for it is this America’s 250th weekend, and the perfect place is in my childhood home in Massachusetts.
The cover of American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald, with a driveway and lawn in the background [chapter title]SPRING * [page number]35

It's always a gamble, who gets remembered and who doesn't.
Whose story gets told correctly, and whose story is warped over time.
History is never definitively what happened—it's a human construct, with human biases, perspectives, and agendas. Like all things human, history is flawed, and forgetful, and at times overly optimistic.
Statues are erected, and statues are torn down. Memorials are built and then dismantled. Especially in a country as young as ours, and as big as ours—with such a lugubrious and contentious past— history isn't so much history as it is a never-ending narrative that is constantly being amended, erased, added to, and often ignored.
Still, ya gotta try. I'm glad people like Florence E. Wheeler do.
The sky is still threatening, but whatever precipitation is up there has managed to stay in the clouds. Nevertheless, the temperature continues to drop—I can feel the icy air cutting into my hands, and I regret not bringing gloves —as I walk away from the memorial and head farther west.
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Damn, didn’t know Pagliacci was in town.
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The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 15/06/2026
Our next Letter in the Mail comes from @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, author of American Rambler (@aaknopf.bsky.social). Subscribe to Letters in the Mail today to start receiving IRL letters written by IRL authors straight to your IRL mailbox: buff.ly/v10qgtO
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borrelli.bsky.social @borrelli.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Our annual summer book extravaganza - w/ @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social @kait.bsky.social @gemmacorrell.bsky.social @paultremblay.bsky.social @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social @colsonwhitehead.com @esglaude.bsky.social And way more www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/03/s...
chicagotribune.com
Summer books: Our 50 coolest books for your hottest months
What are you looking for in your summer reading? Chicago stories, books about music or celebrities, history lessons, or tawdry, trashy novels that are secretly good? Read on.
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Tonight! Come out, Houston! 🙌🏻🍎
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Blue Willow Bookshop @bluewillowbooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Tomorrow! Don't miss our event with New York Times bestselling author @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, celebrating his book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. 🍎 This book is fantastic, friends. Come by for a great conversation! buff.ly/fDbyv9M
A graphic promoting an event with Isaac Fitzgerald, celebrating his new book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00pm at Blue Willow Bookshop.
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Heidi Hanrahan @heidihanrahan.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
_American Rambler_ is really good, y'all. Fun, sad, moving, compelling, surprising...the best kind of ramble.
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Heidi Hanrahan @heidihanrahan.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
@isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social putting into words what I've thought myself: "That devotion is something that still perplexes me--unless it's a devotion to art, or my friends, or walking. But in a way, as I grow older, I'm beginning to realize that it may all be the same thing, and that's enough."
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Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Four writers walk into a wedding:
Nicholas Boggs, Saeed Jones, Marlon James and Isaac Fitzgerald all wearing black tuxes and holding champagne glasses.
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Blue Willow Bookshop @bluewillowbooks.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Next Wednesday! Join us for an event with New York Times bestselling author @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, celebrating his book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. 🍎 This book is fantastic, friends. Come by for a great conversation! buff.ly/ew11wtH
A graphic promoting an event with Isaac Fitzgerald, celebrating his new book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00pm at Blue Willow Bookshop.
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🎂 AMY FREAK 🦇 seeing MONSTA X TAEMIN TEN 💎🐥🐈‍⬛🧀🐈‍⬛🍉🏴‍☠️❎ @amedawg18.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Getting to listen to this (& Needy Generator, etc) on Star was, as always, incredibly special. Sharing stories of compacting trash while Dave tinkered by the power house or made tattoo magic with @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social. Just being there with this beauty. Miss you. #BrownBird #AmysMusicMayhem
youtu.be
Brown Bird "Run the Wire"
YouTube video by Mikael Kennedy
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Catch me and @jmooallem.bsky.social in Seattle this Thursday!
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Renita @thatgirlrenita.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Finished this by @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social last night. Loved it. Man knows how to tell a story. I also love the little glimpses into his friendships with @theferocity.bsky.social and @smashfizzle.bsky.social and I love reading about Fort Wayne through other people's eyes. (I grew up there.)
American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed by Isaac Fitzgerald
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Maddie Oatman @moatmanjourno.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
“As a child who grew up in a homeless shelter…Johnny Appleseed became a personal hero. A patron saint.” Following in his footsteps—across an America no longer made for walking—was no easy task, @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social discovered: www.motherjones.com/media/2026/0...
motherjones.com
Hunting for Johnny Appleseed in the backroads of America
The true story of John Chapman is much more complex—and booze-fueled—than the history books had led me to believe.
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 23/05/2026
Johnny Appleseed became @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social‘s patron saint. Almost everything he thought he knew about the folk hero was wrong:
motherjones.com
Hunting for Johnny Appleseed in the backroads of America
The true story of John Chapman is much more complex—and booze-fueled—than the history books had led me to believe.
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Jon Mooallem @jmooallem.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Emanuel Swedenborg’s conception of hell sounds like social media. (Quoted in @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social AMERICAN RAMBLER.)
Picture a community made up of people all totally in love with themselves, not caring about others unless they are allies, and you will see that their love is no different from that of thieves for each other. To the extent that they are acting in concert, they embrace each other and call each other friends; but once they stop coop-erating, once anyone resists their control, they attack and butcher each other. If their deeper natures—their minds—are probed, it will be clear that they are full of virulent hatred for each other, that at heart they ridicule anything fair and honest and even ridicule the Deity, tossing it aside as worthless. In
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Boston Globe Opinion @globeopinion.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
“One person read this book, and they just called it a great American bar crawl,” says @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social. Listen to the author discuss his newest book “American Rambler” on #SayMore:
bostonglobe.com
Isaac Fitzgerald and Johnny Appleseed are Massachusetts dirtbags - The Boston Globe
The bestselling author discusses his new book, “American Rambler,” which follows the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed from New England to Indiana.
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Blue Willow Bookshop @bluewillowbooks.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
We're SO excited to invite you to an event with New York Times bestselling author @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, celebrating his book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. 🍎 This book is fantastic, friends. Join us for a great conversation! buff.ly/ew11wtH
A graphic promoting an event with Isaac Fitzgerald, celebrating his new book, AMERICAN RAMBLER: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00pm at Blue Willow Bookshop.
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South Main Book Company @southmainbookco.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Congratulations!! Such an incredible book - you deserve a ton of praise 👏
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 Thank you, Indie Booksellers and @americanbookseller.bsky.social!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
"There’s always going to be times to live an adventurous life, but the definition of what adventure is can change." Read @ianmacallen.bsky.social's interview w/ @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social on "American Rambler" (@aaknopf.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/20/w...
chireviewofbooks.com
Walking In Search of Balance: A Conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald - Chicago Review of Books
I first met Isaac Fitzgerald at the Bell House in Brooklyn when The Rumpus was co-hosting a holiday party. I had just started writing for the site, and he had previously served as managing editor. A f...
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Aaron’s Books @aaronsbooks.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
What an amazing night we had with @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social! We talked about it the magic of small towns, progressive views of grammar, and, of course, Johnny Appleseed. If you have the chance to see Isaac along the rest of his national tour, do it! You won’t regret it.
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Ian MacAllen @ianmacallen.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
At the @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social, I spoke with @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social about American Rambler. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/20/w...
chireviewofbooks.com
Walking In Search of Balance: A Conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald - Chicago Review of Books
I first met Isaac Fitzgerald at the Bell House in Brooklyn when The Rumpus was co-hosting a holiday party. I had just started writing for the site, and he had previously served as managing editor. A f...
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Andy Downing @andydowning33.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
“I think I’ve had a fear of stability, and I’ve had an inability to admit to myself that I want stability. And let’s start there, but if we want to go one step deeper, to admit to myself that I deserve it,” said @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, in conversation w/ @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social tomorrow.
matternews.org
Isaac Fitzgerald finds himself on the trail of Johnny Appleseed – Matter News
The author will discuss his new book, ‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed,’ in conversation with the poet Maggie Smith at WOSU Ross Community Studio on Tuesday, May 19.
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Matter News @matternews.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
“I think I’ve had a fear of stability, and I’ve had an inability to admit to myself that I want stability. And let’s start there, but if we want to go one step deeper, to admit to myself that I deserve it,” said @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social, in conversation w/ @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social tomorrow.
matternews.org
Isaac Fitzgerald finds himself on the trail of Johnny Appleseed – Matter News
The author will discuss his new book, ‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed,’ in conversation with the poet Maggie Smith at WOSU Ross Community Studio on Tuesday, May 19.
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Jenn E. @lostinagoodbook.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
I took a little ramble off the beaten path today to pick up my copy of @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social ‘s new book. And this is why I always preorder from my local indie bookstore. I had a signed first edition waiting for me 🩷 Can’t wait to lace up my boots and dive in! @astoriabookshop.bsky.social
A hand holding a signed first edition of the book American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald in front of the 36th Avenue NYC subway stop sign.
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Brendan O'Meara @brendanomeara.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
What a joy to talk to @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social about his wonderful new #memoir American Rambler. I hope you'll check it out wherever you listen to podcasts!
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Jennifer Connors @connorsjennifer.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
I *finally* got around to American Rambler, and I need @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social to know that “The masculine urge to go out for a pack of cigarettes and never come back” is so good I am furious.
American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald
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Renita @thatgirlrenita.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Yay my library request came in! (Sorry Isaac, buying wasn't in the budget right now but I'm excited to read it) @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social
American Rambler - Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed by Isaac Fitzgerald
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Washington DC! Catch me at Politics & Prose, Union Market with Ben Smith talking American Rambler tonight! politics-prose.com/isaac-fitzge...
politics-prose.com
Isaac Fitzgerald — American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed - with Ben Smith — at Union Market
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Isaac Fitzgerald @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Gonna be on 1A this morning with Jenn White talking American Rambler. 11am! Tune in!
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