John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead

This book investigates the myth of John Henry through the perspectives of a number of characters poised on the cusp of the information age. When the US Post Office decides to release a John Henry stamp, a number of New York freelancers and a Maryland stamp collector converge on the town of Hinton, West Virginia for the first annual John Henry Days festival. As the story plays out, it's not just the question of John Henry against the steam engine, but modern man against computers, and the grueling cycle of digital promotion that plays out. This book spends a lot of time thoughtfully considering what it means to read a book. Another excellent and thoughtful book.