--- title: "‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ with Isaac Fitzgerald | Jeselnik Book Club | Podcast | Anthony Jeselnik Book Club" description: "Anthony Jeselnik discusses his new book club with author Isaac Fitzgerald, exploring Fitzgerald's journey following in the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed and the case for nonfiction, on the Jeselnik Book Club podcast." canonical_url: "https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-with-isaac-fitzgerald-jes" locale: en meta: "og:description": "Anthony Jeselnik discusses his new book club with author Isaac Fitzgerald, exploring Fitzgerald's journey following in the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed and the case for nonfiction, on the Jeselnik Book Club podcast." "og:image": "https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/_og/d/c_Club%2Ckicker_~UG9kY2FzdCDCtyAyMSBPY3QgMjAyNg%2Ctitle_~4oCYQW1lcmljYW4gUmFtYmxlcjogV2Fsa2luZyB0aGUgVHJhaWwgb2YgSm9obm55IEFwcGxlc2VlZOKAmSB3aXRoIElzYWFjIEZpdHpnZXJhbGQgfCBKZXNlbG5payBCb29rIENsdWI%2Csubtitle_Jeselnik%2BBook%2BClub%2Bon%2BThe%2BRinger%2Cimage_~aHR0cHM6Ly9pLnl0aW1nLmNvbS92aS9KU1R4VTZMb2lvQS9tYXhyZXMxLmpwZw%2CimageKind_frame%2Cp_Ii9wb2RjYXN0L2FtZXJpY2FuLXJhbWJsZXItd2Fsa2luZy10aGUtdHJhaWwtb2Ytam9obm55LWFwcGxlc2VlZC13aXRoLWlzYWFjLWZpdHpnZXJhbGQtamVzIg%2Cs_QzeDiiAGm9_0zqNi.png" "og:image:height": "600" "og:image:type": image/png "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ with Isaac Fitzgerald | Jeselnik Book Club | Podcast | Anthony Jeselnik Book Club" "twitter:image": "https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/_og/d/c_Club%2Ckicker_~UG9kY2FzdCDCtyAyMSBPY3QgMjAyNg%2Ctitle_~4oCYQW1lcmljYW4gUmFtYmxlcjogV2Fsa2luZyB0aGUgVHJhaWwgb2YgSm9obm55IEFwcGxlc2VlZOKAmSB3aXRoIElzYWFjIEZpdHpnZXJhbGQgfCBKZXNlbG5payBCb29rIENsdWI%2Csubtitle_Jeselnik%2BBook%2BClub%2Bon%2BThe%2BRinger%2Cimage_~aHR0cHM6Ly9pLnl0aW1nLmNvbS92aS9KU1R4VTZMb2lvQS9tYXhyZXMxLmpwZw%2CimageKind_frame%2Cp_Ii9wb2RjYXN0L2FtZXJpY2FuLXJhbWJsZXItd2Fsa2luZy10aGUtdHJhaWwtb2Ytam9obm55LWFwcGxlc2VlZC13aXRoLWlzYWFjLWZpdHpnZXJhbGQtamVzIg%2Cs_QzeDiiAGm9_0zqNi.png" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/llms.txt) [Anthony Jeselnik Book Club](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/) [All episodes](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast) [ Books](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books) [Sign in](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/login) Episode21 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 33 min # ‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ with Isaac Fitzgerald | Jeselnik Book Club Anthony Jeselnik is joined by author Isaac Fitzgerald to discuss his new memoir, American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. They explore Fitzgerald's journey, separating legend from fact, and the case for nonfiction. The conversation also delves into Fitzgerald's previous work, including his essay collection Dirtbag, Massachusetts, which Jeselnik had previously recommended to his friends and audience. Fitzgerald shares his thoughts on writing, nonfiction, and the literary world, and the two discuss the importance of reading and the value of putting words in your head. The episode is a thought-provoking and entertaining conversation about books, writing, and the power of storytelling. [**YouTube **](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSTxU6LoioA) [** Spotify **](https://open.spotify.com/show/5RiFPPlQkJo0feqlUYuknp) [** Apple Podcasts **](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jeselnik-book-club/id6813196901) Books mentioned - [![Dirtbag, Massachusetts cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-dirtbag-massachusetts-1792586303706.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/dirtbag-massachusetts) [Dirtbag, Massachusetts](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/dirtbag-massachusetts) Isaac Fitzgerald [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dirtbag%2C%20Massachusetts%20Isaac%20Fitzgerald&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781639731640) - [![Antkind cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-antkind-1792586306636.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/antkind) [Antkind](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/antkind) Charlie Kaufman [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Antkind%20Charlie%20Kaufman&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780008319496) - [![American Rambler cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-american-rambler-1792586310293.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-rambler) [American Rambler](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-rambler) James Inda McClendon [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=American%20Rambler%20James%20Inda%20McClendon&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9798426488915) - [![One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-1792586313369.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest) [One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest) Ken Kesey [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=One%20Flew%20Over%20the%20Cuckoo's%20Nest%20Ken%20Kesey&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9788306005691) - [![Maggie Brown and Others cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-maggie-brown-and-others-1792587599066.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/maggie-brown-and-others) [Maggie Brown and Others](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/maggie-brown-and-others) Peter Orner [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Maggie%20Brown%20and%20Others%20Peter%20Orner&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780316516136) - [![On the Road cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-on-the-road-1792586316899.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/on-the-road) [On the Road](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/on-the-road) Jack Kerouac [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=On%20the%20Road%20Jack%20Kerouac&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9798588774130) - [![Jurassic Park cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-jurassic-park-1792586319516.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/jurassic-park) [Jurassic Park](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/jurassic-park) Michael Crichton [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jurassic%20Park%20Michael%20Crichton&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9787806578551) - [![Also a Poet cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-also-a-poet-1792586322206.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/also-a-poet) [Also a Poet](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/also-a-poet) Ada Calhoun [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Also%20a%20Poet%20Ada%20Calhoun&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780802159786) - [![Finnegan's Wake cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-finnegan-s-wake-1792587733864.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/finnegan-s-wake) [Finnegan's Wake](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/finnegan-s-wake) James Joyce [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Finnegan%27s%20Wake%20James%20Joyce&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780571217359) - [![American Psycho cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-american-psycho-1792586326542.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-psycho) [American Psycho](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-psycho) Bret Easton Ellis [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=American%20Psycho%20Bret%20Easton%20Ellis&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781529077155) - [![Gone with the Wind cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-gone-with-the-wind-1792586328200.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/gone-with-the-wind) [Gone with the Wind](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/gone-with-the-wind) Margaret Mitchell [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Gone%20with%20the%20Wind%20Margaret%20Mitchell&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9789578477186) - [![Fight Club cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-fight-club-1792586329749.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/fight-club) [Fight Club](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/fight-club) Chuck Palahniuk [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Fight%20Club%20Chuck%20Palahniuk&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9789876581523) - [![A Million Little Pieces cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-a-million-little-pieces-1792586332409.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/a-million-little-pieces) [A Million Little Pieces](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/a-million-little-pieces) James Frey [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A%20Million%20Little%20Pieces%20James%20Frey&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781848542358) - [![The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-1792586338536.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich) [The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich) William L. Shirer [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The%20Rise%20and%20Fall%20of%20the%20Third%20Reich%20William%20L.%20Shirer&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780449204955) - [![Mouse cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-mouse-1792586341603.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/mouse) [Mouse](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/mouse) Beverly Cleary [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mouse%20Beverly%20Cleary&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781484439975) - [![Wolf in White Van cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-wolf-in-white-van-1792586344428.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/wolf-in-white-van) [Wolf in White Van](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/wolf-in-white-van) John Darnielle [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Wolf%20in%20White%20Van%20John%20Darnielle&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781783781102) - [![The Glass Hotel cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/the-glass-hotel-1788256766997.png)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-glass-hotel) [The Glass Hotel](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-glass-hotel) Emily St. John Mandel [Club pick →](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-glass-hotel) - [![Sea of Tranquility cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-sea-of-tranquility-1792586347471.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/sea-of-tranquility) [Sea of Tranquility](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/sea-of-tranquility) Emily St. John Mandel [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sea%20of%20Tranquility%20Emily%20St.%20John%20Mandel&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781529083507) - [![Exit Party cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-exit-party-1792586350083.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/exit-party) [Exit Party](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/exit-party) [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Exit%20Party&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781035081295) - [![Station 11 cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-station-11-1792586351551.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/station-eleven) [Station 11](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/station-eleven) Emily St. John Mandel [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Station%2011%20Emily%20St.%20John%20Mandel&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9788361386742) - [![The Beastang cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-the-beastang-1792587959451.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-beastang) [The Beastang](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-beastang) Paul Murray [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The%20Beastang%20Paul%20Murray&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780241353967) - [![The Sellout cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-the-sellout-1792586354561.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-sellout) [The Sellout](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-sellout) Paul Beatty [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The%20Sellout%20Paul%20Beatty&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9781786071477) - [![The Trees cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/the-trees-1790772789068.png)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-trees) [The Trees](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-trees) Percival Everett [Club pick →](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/the-trees) - [![American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed cover](https://cdn.anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/covers/mentioned-american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-1792598532568.jpg)](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed) [American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/books/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed) Isaac Fitzgerald [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=American%20Rambler%3A%20Walking%20the%20Trail%20of%20Johnny%20Appleseed%20Isaac%20Fitzgerald&i=stripbooks&tag=jrvprecommend-20) [Bookshop](https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14925/9780593537800) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Join the Anthony Jeselnik Book Club. Dark comedy meets literature.","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Anthony Jeselnik Book Club","url":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/","publisher":{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#identity"},"workTranslation":[]},{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-with-isaac-fitzgerald-jes#webpage","@type":"WebPage","description":"Anthony Jeselnik discusses his new book club with author Isaac Fitzgerald, exploring Fitzgerald's journey following in the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed and the case for nonfiction, on the Jeselnik Book Club podcast.","name":"‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ with Isaac Fitzgerald | Jeselnik Book Club | Podcast","url":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-with-isaac-fitzgerald-jes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#website"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-with-isaac-fitzgerald-jes"]}]},{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","description":"Join the Anthony Jeselnik Book Club. Dark comedy meets literature.","name":"Anthony Jeselnik Book Club","url":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/"},{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/podcast/american-rambler-walking-the-trail-of-johnny-appleseed-with-isaac-fitzgerald-jes#/schema/podcast-episode/1","@type":"PodcastEpisode","datePublished":"2026-10-21T11:00:00.000Z","description":"Anthony Jeselnik discusses his new book club with author Isaac Fitzgerald, exploring Fitzgerald's journey following in the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed and the case for nonfiction, on the Jeselnik Book Club podcast.","name":"‘American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed’ with Isaac Fitzgerald | Jeselnik Book Club","timeRequired":"PT93M","associatedMedia":{"@type":"MediaObject","contentUrl":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT9321270960.mp3"},"image":{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#/schema/image/1"},"partOfSeries":{"@type":"PodcastSeries","name":"Jeselnik Book Club","url":"https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/jeselnik-book-club"}},{"@id":"https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/#/schema/image/1","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JSTxU6LoioA/maxresdefault.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JSTxU6LoioA/maxresdefault.jpg"}]} ``` ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://anthonyjeselnikbookclub.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.