Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car [Paperback]

L.J.K. Setright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

Stimulating, informative, provocative, and witty, Drive On! charts the international history of the car, decade by decade, examining how cars have adapted as a result of what society has demanded of them. While some chapters are devoted to quirky topics like “Where to Stop” and “What to Wear,” others look at the technological changes of the last century, from wooden wheels to computer control. Along the way, L.J.K. Setright, who is considered one of the world’s foremost and most forthright writers on the subject, offers fascinating divagations on everything from the origins of the word “dashboard” to the maximum speed of a raindrop.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Drive On! enthusiastically tosses tactoids, anecdotes, musings, and statements into a swift blast that effectively places automotive development.” -- Choice

“Compelling reading from start to finish. Each chapter is awash with opinion, fact, and above all, a fresh perspective… remarkable.” -- Classic Car Weekly

“This book draws together Setright’s elegant writing with the remarkable story of the development of the car.” -- The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Stimulating, informative, provocative, and witty, Drive On! charts the international history of the car, decade by decade, examining how cars have adapted as a result of what society has demanded of them. While some chapters are devoted to quirky topics like “Where to Stop” and “What to Wear,” others look at the technological changes of the last century, from wooden wheels to computer control. Along the way, L.J.K. Setright, who is considered one of the world’s foremost and most forthright writers on the subject, offers fascinating divagations on everything from the origins of the word “dashboard” to the maximum speed of a raindrop. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Granta UK (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862076987
• ISBN-13: 978-1862076983
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #586,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh take on a hot topic, August 18, 2005

By 

Greg N. Brown "Auto writer" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car (Hardcover)

As an automotive journalist, I've read my share of histories of the motorcar, but none captured my interest like Setright's fresh look at the interaction between car and society. Instead of opining on how the car has impacted on society, he writes about how society has transformed automotive technology and styling over the last 100 years. Be prepared for strong opinions and a decidedly Eurocentric point of view, but also enjoy a tale of heroes and charlatans and some of the best writing ever on the subject. It's also beautifully illustrated, and the layout is worthy of the best coffee tables. Give it to someone who thinks he knows the subject and watch how he keeps telling you about interesting stuff he reads in this great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, June 11, 2007

By 

Martin Berry (Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car (Hardcover)

Setright's book is a must read, not only for car enthusiasts, but also for anyone interested in the social history of the last 150 years. It is full of wit and insight, and is vastly entertaining and enlightening. This hardbook version stimulated me to read it all over again. It is every bit as good as I remembered it.

I have only one gripe. It was described as the illustrated edition, but has no more pictures in it than the paper back version I purchased a couple of years ago.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A car book for the dedicated fan, December 8, 2004

By 

Raymond Jepson "Mr-914" (montreal, qc, canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car (Paperback)

The good: Setright will teach most people more about cars and technology in this book, than one could learn from reading 100 others. He uses his unique skill to focus on what is truly important technology and to ignore the waste.

Setright's many opinions are worth as much as his technical details are. His impressions of things like all wheel steering and automatic transmissions are a true breath of fresh air.

The bad: Those who have read Setright will know his writing is top notch. This book though is sometimes repetitive and disorganized. It feels like he may have tried to be too broad for once.