Tom Vanderbilt writes on design, technology, science, and culture for many publications, including Wired, Slate, The London Review of Books, The Wall Street Journal, Artforum, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine and Popular Science. He is contributing editor to award-winning design magazines I.D. and Print, contributing editor to Business Week Online, and contributing writer of the popular blog Design Observer. He is the author of two previous books- Survival City- Adventures Among the Ruins of Atomic America and The Sneaker Book.
"A surprising, enlightening look at the psychology of human beings
behind the steering wheels.... Jammed with delicious
you've-got-to-be kidding moments.... Required reading for anyone
applying for a driver's license."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Fascinating, surprising . . . Vanderbilt's book will be a
revelation not just to us drivers but also, one might guess, to our
policy makers."
"-"Alan Moores, "The Seattle Times"
"Traffic gets about as close to the heart of modern existence as
any book could get . . . Engagingly written, meticulously
researched, endlessly interesting and informative, [it] is one of
those rare books that comes out of the depths of nowhere."
"-Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World"
"An engaging, informative, psychologically savvy account of the
conscious and unconscious assumptions of individual drivers....
Full of fascinating facts and provocative propositions."
"--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
"""An engrossing tour through the neuroscience of highway
illusions, the psychology of late merging, and other existential
driving dilemmas."
"--Discover"
""Manages to be downright fun.""
"--Road and Track"
"Smart and comprehensive . . . A shrewd tour of the
much-experienced but little-understood world of driving . . . A
balanced and instructive discussion on how to improve our policies
toward the inexorable car . . . Vanderbilt's book is likely to
remain relevant well into the new century."
"-"Edward L. Glaeser, T"he New Republic"
"A delightful tour through the mysteries and manners of
driving.""-Tony Dokoupil, Newsweek"
"A breezy . . . well-researched . . . examination of the strange
interaction ofhumanity and multiton metal boxes that can roar along
at . . . 60 m.p.h. or sit for hours in bumper-to-bumper
traffic."
"-"Patrick T. Reardon, "Chicago Tribune"
"Traffic will definitely change the way you think about driving,
which also means changing the way you think about being human."
-Michael Agger," Slate"
"[A] joyride in the often surprising landscape of traffic science
and psychology."
"-"Abigail Tucker, "Smithsonian Magazine"
"""Tom Vanderbilt is one of our best and most interesting writers,
with an extraordinary knack for looking at everyday life and
explaining, in wonderful and entertaining detail, how it really
works. That's never been more true than with Traffic, where he
takes a subject that we all deal with (and worry about), and lets
us see it through new eyes. In the process, he helps us understand
better not just the highway, but the world. It doesn't matter
whether you drive or take the bus--you're going to want to read
this book."" "
"--James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds"
"A great, deep, multidisciplinary investigation of the dynamics and
the psychology of traffic jams. It is fun to read. Anyone who
spends more than 19 minutes a day in traffic should read this
book."
"--Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author The Black Swan"
"Fascinating, illuminating, and endlessly entertaining as well.
Vanderbilt shows how a sophisticated understanding of human
behavior can illuminate one of the modern world's most basic and
most mysterious endeavors. You'll learn a lot; and the life you
save may be your own."
"--Cass R. Sunstein, coauthor of Nudge: Improving Decisions About
Health, Wealth, and Happiness"
"Everyone who drives--and manypeople who don't--should read this
book. It is a psychology book, a popular science book, and a
how-to-save-your-life manual, all rolled into one. I found it
gripping and fascinating from the very beginning to the very
end."
"--Tyler Cowen, author of Discover Your Inner Economist"
"A well-written, important book that should hold the interest of
anyone who drives a car."
"-Dennis Lythgoe, Deseret News"
"An engaging, sociable tour of all things driving-related."
"-Joel Rice, The Tennessean"
"Traffic changes the way you think about driving. For that reason
alone, it deserves your attention."
-Dan Danbom, Rocky Mountain News"Intriguing . . . Somehow manages
to plunge far more deeply than one would imagine a meditation on
travel possibly could. Perhaps without intending to, Vanderbilt has
narrowed in on the central question of our time . . . His book asks
us to consider how we can persuade human beings to behave more
cooperatively than selfishly."
-Elaine Margolin," The Denver Post"
""Vanderbilt investigates . . . complexities with zeal. Surprising
details abound.""
"-The New Yorker"
""Fresh and timely . . . Vanderbilt investigates how human nature
has shaped traffic, and vice versa, finally answering drivers' most
familiar and frustrating questions.""
"--Publishers Weekly"
""Fluently written and oddly entertaining, full of points to ponder
while stuck at the on-ramp meter or an endless red light.""
"--Kirkus"
""This may be the most insightful and comprehensive study ever done
of driving behavior and how it reveals truths about the types of
people we are.""
"--Booklist"
""Tom Vanderbilt uncovers a raft of counterintuitive factsabout
what happens when we get behind the wheel, and why.""
"--BusinessWeek"
""Fascinating . . . Could not come at a better time.""
"--Library Journal"
""Brisk . . . Smart . . . Delivers a wealth of automotive insights
both curious and counterintuitive.""
"-Details"
""A literate, sobering look at our roadways that explains why the
other lane is moving faster and why you should never drive at 1
p.m. on Saturday.""
"--GQ" ""An engrossing tour through the neuroscience of highway
illusions, the psychology of late merging, and other existential
driving dilemmas.""
"-Michael Mason, Discover"
""Funny . . . Enlightening . . . Want to spend 286 pages having a
good time and learning a whole lot about something you do every day
for an hour or two? Buy this book.""
"-Ben Wear, Austin American-Statesman"
""I'm very glad I read this book . . . It tells you a lot about
traffic. But of course it does more than this. It's really a book
about human nature.""
"-William Leith, Evening Standard (UK)"
""A richly extended metaphor for the challenge of organising
competing human needs and imperfect human judgment into harmonious
coexistence.""
"-Rafael Behr, The Guardian (UK)"
""Automobile traffic is one of the most studied phenomena in
advanced societies . . . Mr. Vanderbilt has mastered all of it.
Arresting facts appear on every page.""
"-Christopher Caldwell, Financial Times (UK)"
"Traffic gets about as close to the heart of modern existence as
any book could get . . . Engagingly written, meticulously
researched, endlessly interesting and informative, [it] is one of
those rare books that comes out of the depths of nowhere."
-Jonathan Yardley, "The Washington Post Book World
"
"A surprising, enlightening look at the psychology of human beings
behind the steering wheels . . . Jammed with delicious
you've-got-to-be-kidding moments . . . My solution to the nation's
vehicular woes would be to make this good book required reading for
anyone applying for a driver's license."
-Mary Roach, "The New York Times Book Review
"
"Smart and comprehensive . . . A shrewd tour of the
much-experienced but little-understood world of driving . . . A
balanced and instructive discussion on how to improve our policies
toward the inexorable car . . . Vanderbilt's book is likely to
remain relevant well into the new century."
-Edward L. Glaeser, "The New Republic
"
"A delightful tour through the mysteries and manners of
driving."-Tony Dokoupil, "Newsweek
"
"A breezy . . . well-researched . . . examination of the strange
interaction of humanity and multiton metal boxes that can roar
along at . . . 60 m.p.h. or sit for hours in bumper-to-bumper
traffic."
-Patrick T. Reardon, "Chicago Tribune
"
"Traffic will definitely change the way you think about driving,
which also means changing the way you think about being human."
-Michael Agger, "Slate"
"[A] joyride in the often surprising landscape of traffic science
and psychology."
-Abigail Tucker, "Smithsonian Magazine"
"Tom Vanderbilt is one of our best and most interesting writers,
with anextraordinary knack for looking at everyday life and
explaining, in wonderful and entertaining detail, how it really
works. That's never been more true than with Traffic, where he
takes a subject that we all deal with (and worry about), and lets
us see it through new eyes. In the process, he helps us understand
better not just the highway, but the world. It doesn't matter
whether you drive or take the bus--you're going to want to read
this book."
--James Surowiecki, author of "The Wisdom of Crowds
"
"A great, deep, multidisciplinary investigation of the dynamics and
the psychology of traffic jams. It is fun to read. Anyone who
spends more than 19 minutes a day in traffic should read this
book."
--Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author "The Black Swan"
"Fascinating, illuminating, and endlessly entertaining as well.
Vanderbilt shows how a sophisticated understanding of human
behavior can illuminate one of the modern world's most basic and
most mysterious endeavors. You'll learn a lot; and the life you
save may be your own."
--Cass R. Sunstein, coauthor of "Nudge: Improving Decisions About
Health, Wealth, and Happiness
"
"Everyone who drives--and many people who don't--should read this
book. It is a psychology book, a popular science book, and a
how-to-save-your-life manual, all rolled into one. I found it
gripping and fascinating from the very beginning to the very
end."
--Tyler Cowen, author of "Discover Your Inner Economist"
"Fascinating, surprising . . . Vanderbilt's book will be a
revelation not just to us drivers but also, one might guess, to our
policy makers."
-Alan Moores, "The Seattle Times
"
"A well-written, important book that should hold theinterest of
anyone who drives a car."
-Dennis Lythgoe, "Deseret News
"
"An engaging, sociable tour of all things driving-related."
-Joel Rice, "The Tennessean
"
"Manages to be downright fun."
-Dennis Simanaitis, "Road and Track
"
"Traffic changes the way you think about driving. For that reason
alone, it deserves your attention."
-Dan Danbom, "Rocky Mountain News
"
"Intriguing . . . Somehow manages to plunge far more deeply than
one would imagine a meditation on travel possibly could. Perhaps
without intending to, Vanderbilt has narrowed in on the central
question of our time . . . His book asks us to consider how we can
persuade human beings to behave more cooperatively than
selfishly."
-Elaine Margolin, "The Denver Post
"
"Vanderbilt investigates . . . complexities with zeal. Surprising
details abound."
-"The New Yorker
"
"Fresh and timely . . . Vanderbilt investigates how human nature
has shaped traffic, and vice versa, finally answering drivers' most
familiar and frustrating questions."
--"Publishers Weekly
"
"Fluently written and oddly entertaining, full of points to ponder
while stuck at the on-ramp meter or an endless red light."
--"Kirkus
""This may be the most insightful and comprehensive study ever done
of driving behavior and how it reveals truths about the types of
people we are."
--"Booklist"
"Tom Vanderbilt uncovers a raft of counterintuitive facts about
what happens when we get behind the wheel, and why."
--"BusinessWeek"
"Fascinating . . . Could not come at a better time."
--"Library Journal
""Brisk . . . Smart . . . Delivers a wealth of automotive insights
both curious andcounterintuitive."
-"Details
"
"A literate, sobering look at our roadways that explains why the
other lane "is" moving faster and why you should never drive at 1
p.m. on Saturday."
--"GQ"
"An engaging, informative, psychologically savvy account of the
conscious and unconscious assumptions of individual drivers-and the
variations in 'car culture' around the world . . . Full of
fascinating facts and provocative propositions."
-Glenn Altschuler, "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"
"An engrossing tour through the neuroscience of highway illusions,
the psychology of late merging, and other existential driving
dilemmas."
-Michael Mason, "Discover "
"
""Funny . . . Enlightening . . . Want to spend 286 pages having a
good time and learning a whole lot about something you do every day
for an hour or two? Buy this book."
-Ben Wear, "Austin American-Statesman"
"I'm very glad I read this book . . . It tells you a lot about
traffic. But of course it does more than this. It's really a book
about human nature."
-William Leith, "Evening Standard" (UK)
"A richly extended metaphor for the challenge of organising
competing human needs and imperfect human judgment into harmonious
coexistence."
-Rafael Behr, "The Guardian" (UK)
"Automobile traffic is one of the most studied phenomena in
advanced societies . . . Mr. Vanderbilt has mastered all of it.
Arresting facts appear on every page."
-Christopher Caldwell, "Financial Times" (UK)
"
" "From the Hardcover edition."
In this lively and informative volume, Vanderbilt (Survival City) investigates how human nature has shaped traffic, and vice versa, finally answering drivers' most familiar and frustrating questions: why does the other lane always seem faster? why do added lanes seem to intensify congestion? whatever happened to signaling for turns? He interviews traffic reporters, engineers, psychologists studying human-machine interactions and radical Dutch urban planners who design intersections with no pavement markings, traffic signs or signals. Backed by an impressive array of psychological, sociological, historical, anecdotal and economic research, the author's presentation is always engaging and often sobering: his findings reveal how little attention drivers pay to the road and how frequently they misjudge crucial information. Sections on commuting distances and the amount of driving done by women versus men (guess who runs more household errands?) feel fresh and timely. Referring to traffic as "an environment that has become so familiar we no longer see it" and a "secret window onto the soul of a place," Vanderbilt heightens awareness of an institution and its attendant behaviors that are all too often taken for granted. (Aug.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
"A surprising, enlightening look at the psychology of human beings
behind the steering wheels.... Jammed with delicious
you've-got-to-be kidding moments.... Required reading for anyone
applying for a driver's license."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Fascinating, surprising . . . Vanderbilt's book will be a
revelation not just to us drivers but also, one might guess, to our
policy makers."
"-"Alan Moores, "The Seattle Times"
"Traffic gets about as close to the heart of modern existence as
any book could get . . . Engagingly written, meticulously
researched, endlessly interesting and informative, [it] is one of
those rare books that comes out of the depths of nowhere."
"-Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World"
"An engaging, informative, psychologically savvy account of the
conscious and unconscious assumptions of individual drivers....
Full of fascinating facts and provocative propositions."
"--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
"""An engrossing tour through the neuroscience of highway
illusions, the psychology of late merging, and other existential
driving dilemmas."
"--Discover"
""Manages to be downright fun.""
"--Road and Track"
"Smart and comprehensive . . . A shrewd tour of the
much-experienced but little-understood world of driving . . . A
balanced and instructive discussion on how to improve our policies
toward the inexorable car . . . Vanderbilt's book is likely to
remain relevant well into the new century."
"-"Edward L. Glaeser, T"he New Republic"
"A delightful tour through the mysteries and manners of
driving.""-Tony Dokoupil, Newsweek"
"A breezy . . . well-researched . . . examination of the strange
interaction ofhumanity and multiton metal boxes that can roar along
at . . . 60 m.p.h. or sit for hours in bumper-to-bumper
traffic."
"-"Patrick T. Reardon, "Chicago Tribune"
"Traffic will definitely change the way you think about driving,
which also means changing the way you think about being human."
-Michael Agger," Slate"
"[A] joyride in the often surprising landscape of traffic science
and psychology."
"-"Abigail Tucker, "Smithsonian Magazine"
"""Tom Vanderbilt is one of our best and most interesting writers,
with an extraordinary knack for looking at everyday life and
explaining, in wonderful and entertaining detail, how it really
works. That's never been more true than with Traffic, where he
takes a subject that we all deal with (and worry about), and lets
us see it through new eyes. In the process, he helps us understand
better not just the highway, but the world. It doesn't matter
whether you drive or take the bus--you're going to want to read
this book."" "
"--James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds"
"A great, deep, multidisciplinary investigation of the dynamics and
the psychology of traffic jams. It is fun to read. Anyone who
spends more than 19 minutes a day in traffic should read this
book."
"--Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author The Black Swan"
"Fascinating, illuminating, and endlessly entertaining as well.
Vanderbilt shows how a sophisticated understanding of human
behavior can illuminate one of the modern world's most basic and
most mysterious endeavors. You'll learn a lot; and the life you
save may be your own."
"--Cass R. Sunstein, coauthor of Nudge: Improving Decisions About
Health, Wealth, and Happiness"
"Everyone who drives--and manypeople who don't--should read this
book. It is a psychology book, a popular science book, and a
how-to-save-your-life manual, all rolled into one. I found it
gripping and fascinating from the very beginning to the very
end."
"--Tyler Cowen, author of Discover Your Inner Economist"
"A well-written, important book that should hold the interest of
anyone who drives a car."
"-Dennis Lythgoe, Deseret News"
"An engaging, sociable tour of all things driving-related."
"-Joel Rice, The Tennessean"
"Traffic changes the way you think about driving. For that reason
alone, it deserves your attention."
-Dan Danbom, Rocky Mountain News"Intriguing . . . Somehow manages
to plunge far more deeply than one would imagine a meditation on
travel possibly could. Perhaps without intending to, Vanderbilt has
narrowed in on the central question of our time . . . His book asks
us to consider how we can persuade human beings to behave more
cooperatively than selfishly."
-Elaine Margolin," The Denver Post"
""Vanderbilt investigates . . . complexities with zeal. Surprising
details abound.""
"-The New Yorker"
""Fresh and timely . . . Vanderbilt investigates how human nature
has shaped traffic, and vice versa, finally answering drivers' most
familiar and frustrating questions.""
"--Publishers Weekly"
""Fluently written and oddly entertaining, full of points to ponder
while stuck at the on-ramp meter or an endless red light.""
"--Kirkus"
""This may be the most insightful and comprehensive study ever done
of driving behavior and how it reveals truths about the types of
people we are.""
"--Booklist"
""Tom Vanderbilt uncovers a raft of counterintuitive factsabout
what happens when we get behind the wheel, and why.""
"--BusinessWeek"
""Fascinating . . . Could not come at a better time.""
"--Library Journal"
""Brisk . . . Smart . . . Delivers a wealth of automotive insights
both curious and counterintuitive.""
"-Details"
""A literate, sobering look at our roadways that explains why the
other lane is moving faster and why you should never drive at 1
p.m. on Saturday.""
"--GQ"
""An engrossing tour through the neuroscience of highway
illusions, the psychology of late merging, and other existential
driving dilemmas.""
"-Michael Mason, Discover"
""Funny . . . Enlightening . . . Want to spend 286 pages having a
good time and learning a whole lot about something you do every day
for an hour or two? Buy this book.""
"-Ben Wear, Austin American-Statesman"
""I'm very glad I read this book . . . It tells you a lot about
traffic. But of course it does more than this. It's really a book
about human nature.""
"-William Leith, Evening Standard (UK)"
""A richly extended metaphor for the challenge of organising
competing human needs and imperfect human judgment into harmonious
coexistence.""
"-Rafael Behr, The Guardian (UK)"
""Automobile traffic is one of the most studied phenomena in
advanced societies . . . Mr. Vanderbilt has mastered all of it.
Arresting facts appear on every page.""
"-Christopher Caldwell, Financial Times (UK)"
"From the Hardcover edition."
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