Are We There Yet?
The American Automobile Past, Present, and Driverless
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
“[Dan Albert] has a way of bringing automotive history to life.” —Jason Fogelson, Forbes
The plain, old-fashioned, human-driven car built the American economy and helped shape our democratic creed. Driver’s ed made teenagers into citizens; auto repair made boys into men. For nearly a century, car culture has triumphed. But have we finally reached the end of the road? Fewer young people are learning to drive. Ride hailing is replacing car buying, and with electrification, a long and noble tradition of amateur car repair will soon come to an end.
When a robot takes over the driver’s seat, what’s to become of us? Are We There Yet? carries us from horseless buggies to superhighways, and like any good road trip, it’s an adventure so fun you won’t even notice how much you’ve learned along the way.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Albert, writer for n+1 magazine, outlines the growth of American car culture with wit and insight in this well-researched history of the automobile. From the steam engines of the 1800s to the autonomous cars of tomorrow, Albert traces technical advancements of features such as the aerodynamic unibody called Airflyte in 1949, and CB radios, which, among other things, helped truck drivers organize protests over oil shortages. He explains the early development of electric cars in the 1890s, before the gas-powered Ford Model T became the industry standard. Important figures including Henry Ford receive in-depth biographical treatment, and while Albert praises Ford's assembly-line production, he doesn't shy from his anti-Semitism (in 1925, Ford had placed the antisemitic screed The Protocols of the Elders of Zion on the seat of each Model T sold). The never-ending race for market dominance among the major car makers is thrilling, but the pace slows in perfunctory-feeling chapters about the development of air bags and government infrastructure projects. When Albert recounts his own driving and car maintenance, his narrative truly shines, such as when he professes his early love for the slant-six engine, which he worked on in his 1978 Dodge Adventurer pickup. This is a perfect narrative for gearheads, but those who spend time behind the wheel will also surely enjoy the ride.
