Customer Reviews

Autophobia: Love and Hate in the Automotive Age

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book isn't bad, just rather boring. I really wanted to like it, and in fact really enjoyed the first chapter or two, which covered the early history of the automobile. I think we all forget how controversial cars were and how many people opposed them - quite vigorously, in fact. Ladd does a good job of recycling old primary material that seems quite quaint and entertaining in this regard.

Unfortunately, that's about the only color in this book. The later chapters, which cover more recent events, are quite dull and very predictable. I was thinking this book would be something along the lines of Malcolm McDowell. You know, those books that cover some interesting aspect of society, throw in plenty of illustrative stories, are very well written, and really make you think. That's not this one unfortunately.

At the same time, I did learn a few things, the book does a good job of covering a lot of material, and some of it was entertaining. So, I really can't give it 1 star, like the other reviewers. You're probably better served, though, by some of the other books in this vein - Drive, Traffic, and so on.

If you've read Brian Ladd's Ghosts of Berlin, you know he is a historian of the highest caliber and a splendid writer. In Autophobia, Ladd doesn't disappoint. This original and slightly contrarian account of our century-long love-hate relationship with the automobile covers a tremendous amount of historical ground in an economical, entertaining read. Anchored by anecdotes ranging from the hilarious to the heartbreaking (including a priceless account of road-hog Toad and his fancy auto machine), Ladd offers insight into the current turn against the auto and into how modern life has become increasingly dependent and designed around cars, whether we drive them or not. An excellent book for our difficult times.

nothing new here...written in a very pedestrian style...there are many better books available on this topic...no new research offered...avoid this book!

Cars are responsible for urban sprawl and decay, rampant climate change, slavish dependence on foreign oil, and 30 million killed in auto accidents during the 20th century and 1.2 million/year since (no documentation). Yet, they also provide freedom and other benefits. Thus, we have a love-hate relationship.

That's it - 236 pages summarized in one, short paragraph. (I did like the cover photograph!)