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Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car

Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car

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Author: L.j.k. Setright
Publisher: Granta UK
Category: Book

List Price: $25.00
Buy New: $15.76
You Save: $9.24 (37%)



New (8) from $15.76

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3 reviews
Sales Rank: 370484

Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 406
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 6 x 1.3

ISBN: 1862076987
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.4832
EAN: 9781862076983
ASIN: 1862076987

Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Good Condition, delivery time 10 to 12 Working days, via Priority airmail from UK

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
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.



Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A must read   June 12, 2007
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.



5 out of 5 stars A fresh take on a hot topic   August 18, 2005
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

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.


4 out of 5 stars A car book for the dedicated fan   December 9, 2004
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

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.

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