Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Fascinating. Would read an updated version in a heartbeat. Half listened, half read in print. Both are great.
Parts were definitely interesting but overall it was only okay on an enjoyment level. On a learning something level? Probably a bit higher. I definitely thought of the geometry of parking and comparisons of parking place strategies when I went to the mall yesterday. Watching a mother and daughter have a screaming argument in the car next to me at the stop light really reinforced his analogy of a travelling living room. I tried to think of all 50 potential accidents at an intersection, and still am not particularly close - is it per lane? Overall interesting, and worth listening to, but more a 'make myself finish' than a 'can't wait to get back to this'.
An interesting look at traffic and its relation to our lives on the road.
My only reservation about this book is the age, he does a great job of demonstrating how all of these things change with trends decade by decade so it should have an update with everything we know now about self driving cars.
informative
medium-paced
This should, and I am entirely serious, be required reading for everyone who drives.
Audiobook. Yes, I started in March and it went back to the library before I finished.
There are some really interesting scientific studies and theories in here. Lots of conversation pieces and stuff to ponder while out on the road. Very dry though. Very. Had to trudge my way through parts. But the latter half is worth it.
You suck at driving.
That's the message I walked away from with this book. And it was a message that made me sit up and pay attention. Non-fiction is something I read sparingly. Something about long spans of data makes my mind drift off, so I'll realize I've read an entire page without actually absorbing anything. The fact that this book hooked me was rather surprising. A big part of it is the fact that Vanderbilt keeps the topics so pertinent to the nature of how we actually drive. It's an entire novel that seems to be addressing how you, yes YOU drive.
The entire thing is chocked full of data indicating that safe, efficient vehicular transportation involves reasoning counter-intuitive to how most people handle their time spent [b:on the road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21E8H3D1JSL._SL75_.jpg|3355573].
It points out that roundabouts are statistically vastly safer than intersections, which is annoying to anyone whose dealt with the wacky things. It indicates that safety features and excessive street signs are either worthless or lull us into dangerous over confidence. It observes that driving is a massively complex act with an amazing number of points of failure that we treat as a casual, forgettable part of our day.
There were so many interesting facts in this book that I felt like I should be taking notes. At some point I'll probably have to reread this book just to pick up on the finer points I missed.
My only complaint is that Vanderbilt often points out a name given to a phenomenon, then never references it again. He'll say something like "This is what we call the 'Black Swan' effect." The "Black Swan" effect was never brought back into the conversation. Don't try to make me remember specialized terms if it's not relevant to the rest of the discussion! It seems more like he mentions the terms because they amuse him.
Otherwise, a highly readable book with a value that can't be overlooked in our vehicularly choked age.
That's the message I walked away from with this book. And it was a message that made me sit up and pay attention. Non-fiction is something I read sparingly. Something about long spans of data makes my mind drift off, so I'll realize I've read an entire page without actually absorbing anything. The fact that this book hooked me was rather surprising. A big part of it is the fact that Vanderbilt keeps the topics so pertinent to the nature of how we actually drive. It's an entire novel that seems to be addressing how you, yes YOU drive.
The entire thing is chocked full of data indicating that safe, efficient vehicular transportation involves reasoning counter-intuitive to how most people handle their time spent [b:on the road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21E8H3D1JSL._SL75_.jpg|3355573].
It points out that roundabouts are statistically vastly safer than intersections, which is annoying to anyone whose dealt with the wacky things. It indicates that safety features and excessive street signs are either worthless or lull us into dangerous over confidence. It observes that driving is a massively complex act with an amazing number of points of failure that we treat as a casual, forgettable part of our day.
There were so many interesting facts in this book that I felt like I should be taking notes. At some point I'll probably have to reread this book just to pick up on the finer points I missed.
My only complaint is that Vanderbilt often points out a name given to a phenomenon, then never references it again. He'll say something like "This is what we call the 'Black Swan' effect." The "Black Swan" effect was never brought back into the conversation. Don't try to make me remember specialized terms if it's not relevant to the rest of the discussion! It seems more like he mentions the terms because they amuse him.
Otherwise, a highly readable book with a value that can't be overlooked in our vehicularly choked age.