Customer Reviews

Route 66 (Enthusiast Color)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yes, these are the words of this author in this book. Extremely disappointed, but giving it a star for the photography. The author seems to have gone into this project with profound stereotyping and prejudice propaganda of the people he would meet throughout the Midwest. That is the only way I could explain the things he writes about.

As you move along through the book, there are more references to the people in these historical, meaningful old route 66 towns and cities that devalue and degrade them. He would have you believe that you are going to encounter people curbside "selling Nazi flags" along the way. Never mind the wonderful shops, native crafts, and exceptional people you will meet. Even bringing up Timothy McVeigh (Please check this books own index here on Amazon to verify this.), who I'm pretty sure no one that is purchasing a book on Route 66 is even remotely interested in. He even takes a shot at their Christian religion by calling a cross on the side of the road commercialism.

This is just a sad little book with a big "chip on the shoulder" agenda. Not the book you are looking for.

Route 66, by Tim Steil, is a trip in present, but a journey back in time. There was a day and age when Route 66 was the heartbeat of the Western half of the United States. Unlike its predecessor the Lincoln Highway, Route 66 was modern road made offering fast travel from Chicago to Los Angeles for both automobiles and trucks. Because of the limitations of vehicles of the 1930's through the early 1960's, the road was lined with repair shops, cafes, motels and scenic wonders that range from simple statues or absurd monuments.

More than any other highway, Route 66 has a history and an allure that never ceases to draw the adventurous to it. These days traveling on Route 66 is sort of like visiting a huge living museum of automobile Americana. Steil, aided by photographer Jim Luning, take the journey and give their vision to this long familiar story. The nice part about this book is that MBI, the publisher, chose to offer it as part of the inexpensive Enthusiast Color Series rather than an expensive coffee table book. You can easily take this book with you for easy reading along the way and without taking up too much space at lunch counter. This was a good choice on their part and is sure to make give this book a long sales life.

The author is accurate in his descriptions and the photographer's keen eye caught quite a few features of Route 66 that have not appeared in other publications. Truckers are big part of this story, in fact the famous Dixie Truckers Home in central Illinois gets good coverage right in the beginning of the book. If the lore and legends of Route 66 are already part of your life, or you would just like a low-cost introduction to this famous highway then Route 66, by Tim Steil is a must have item.
- Gary Bricken

Probably the best book to date on the subject, Route 66 is a joy from beginning to end. Referred to affectionately as The Mother Road, Route 66 was the first highway built for high speed travel in the United States. Due to the reliability of the cars and trucks using this road, it was lined with repair shops, diners, and tourist traps. The photography is excellent and the text is insightful and well written. Travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles via this book is a joy!

Apparently I like this book so much I bought two copies of it: The one I just pulled from the bookshelf has a sticker from the Indian Village Gift Shop at New Mexico's continental divide that I know I bought in 2002 during the first road trip out west. Yet Amazon swears I bought it in 2001 from them! Sure enough, I have two copies of this book. I forgot to pack copy #1 on the first road trip so I repurchased it on the road. How is that for an endorsement? Of the book, not of my trip planning!

Author Tim Steil has created a classic reference to the mother road; in retrospect it only has gotten better with time. Just read the preface, it tells all you need to know to understand the author's writing style ...I instinctively trust anyone willing to laugh at their own antics; and the mental image of the author hightailing it back to his car with what could only be the infamous dogs of Glenrio hot on his tail had me laughing out loud: I was chased by those same dogs!

I am from the Missouri Ozarks originally so am well acquainted with the stereotypes that go with the territory. Well, the folks I have found on the road are just like any other group of people: most of them really would give you the shirt off their backs if they felt you needed it. And some of them are just best avoided, like the 'drunk out of his skull' homeless dude camped out behind Ranch House in Tucumcari who took exception to my camera with a stream of profanity that made ME blush! I grew up with both kinds. I might even have a few dentally challenged folks that I knew as neighbors and friends; some were indeed drunk more often than not. I found nothing to take offense about in this book; Mr. Steil makes it clear from the first pages that the point of this book is not some rose colored glasses trip down memory lane nor is it an endless rant about the evil Interstates and what they did to the hapless towns. It's that very style that makes this book such a great read; and having just re-read it I am amazed at how well it has held up. The road is what it is: a microcosm of this country, a little bit of all of us. Good and bad.

Get it before it goes out of print, I have more than a few titles from Motorbooks International that have done just that and now fetch $$$ used. Glad I have a spare! The photography alone makes the book a worthy addition to your Route 66 collection; so much that existed in 1999 has now fallen back into the earth.

I recently received this beautiful color collection on "The Mother Road" Route 66. Having traveled West from Chicago to Kingman AZ in the mid 60's on Route 66 it brought back many memories. It also has left me with strong ambitions to repeat that journey but this time all the way to L.A. Wonderful photography and dialouge by the author. Even if you have never traveled on Route 66 you may very well want to after viewing this book.

What a great, refreshing take on the road, and all those photos in such glorious color. Great layout -- quality stuff. Makes me want to hop in the car and go for a ride.

Any book published as part of an "enthusiast color series" is likely intended to be a coffee-table book. And indeed, Route 66 has lots of pretty pictures, captured beautifully by Jim Luning. But unlike most such fare, this book deserves more than coffee-table placement (or, the pinnacle, bathroom-rack status.)

I know the author, Tim Steil, a friend of mine. So, as one who loves grammar, right from the start I had every incentive to pick at his writing. But, alas, I was disappointed. Finding only the most minor of grammatical errors, I had to concede the fact that Steil has written a really good book. Tim's breezy writing makes the book a quick and easy read, and conveys efficiently so much of their adventure that the reader cannot help but feel as if he were there for much of the ride.

Another plus: it's not preachy, or full of phony nostalgia or contempt for "the evils of progress." I love it this book, and I'm not really even a fan of Route 66.

Luning's pictures are gorgeous. I got to meet him when the two authors did some of their preliminary research on the Chicken Basket, one of the offical Route 66 sites covered early in the book. An unassuming and disarming guy, Luning does not betray that he has a long list of credits. But in the book, Luning cannot hide his talent: a fantastic eye for light and color and balance.

So enjoy the pictures. But realize they will not really come to life until you actually read the text.

Route 66 is what an "enthusiast color series" should be.

Such a neat book. Wonderful photos and heaps of ideas for places to visit. A very easy read and sooo inviting!! I wish I could afford the pink convertible cadilla to do it properly!!

This is the best Route 66 book I've ever read. The pictures range from breathtaking to amusing and the writing is fresh and clean. A must have for anyone interested in Route 66.