This is a story of the 1970s. Of a road trip in a wood-paneled station wagon with the kids in the way-back singing along to the Steve Miller Band. Of brothers waking up early on Saturday mornings for five consecutive hours of cartoons. Of growing up in a magical era populated by Bic pens Mr. Clean and Scrubbing Bubbles lightsabers and those oh-so-coveted Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes. And of a father -- one of 3M's greatest and last eight-track salesmen -- traveling across the country on the brand-new Boeing 747 providing for his family but wanting nothing more than to get home.

In Sting-Ray Afternoons Steve Rushin paints an utterly nostalgic psychedelically vibrant portrait of a decade overflowing with technological evolution cultural revolution as well as brotherly sisterly and parental love.

"Funny elegiac... a remarkably sunny coming-of-age story about growing up in a Midwest world." -- NPR