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Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us Tom Vanderbilt 9780307264787 Books

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Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us Tom Vanderbilt 9780307264787 Books

Very very very interesting book that sometimes reads as a treatise. I picked this book up because I'm a nerd who often wonders why things are done the way they are and/or how we can fix them. I usually read up on a topic, get and then move on to something else. This book was fantastic for explaining a lot of things in a very interesting way. However, sometimes you'll wonder why in the heck you are reading a book called "Traffic" The depth of explanation in this book is both a strength and a potential weakness. You can't help but notice that the author has turned a boring topic into something that will make you say "hmmm, that's interesting" in your head. At the same time...there were plenty of times I felt like the same things were stated over and over and could have been said much more efficiently. I found that a little annoying at times. For my non-fiction, I like my books to get in, get out w/ as little effort as possible. This is not that book even though, I very much enjoyed many of the explanations for why we experience different emotions etc. Good book that could be a lot shorter.


Tags : Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) [Tom Vanderbilt] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Would you be surprised that road rage can be good for society? Or that most crashes happen on sunny, dry days? That our minds can trick us into thinking the next lane is moving faster? Or that you can gauge a nation’s driving behavior by its levels of corruption? These are only a few of the remarkable dynamics that Tom Vanderbilt explores in this fascinating tour through the mysteries of the road. Based on exhaustive research and interviews with driving experts and traffic officials around the globe,Tom Vanderbilt,Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us),Knopf,0307264785,Applied Psychology,Automobile drivers;Psychology.,Automobile driving - Psychological aspects,Automobile driving;Psychological aspects.,Traffic congestion,Traffic congestion.,AUTOMOBILES,Automobile driving,Automotive - General,GENERAL,General Adult,Non-Fiction,PSYCHOLOGY (SPECIFIC ASPECTS),PSYCHOLOGY Applied Psychology,Psychological aspects,Psychology,Psychology Social Psychology,Social Science Sociology General,Sociology,Sociology - General,TRANSPORTATION (SPECIFIC ASPECTS),Transportation Automotive General,TransportationAutomotive - General,United States

Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us Tom Vanderbilt 9780307264787 Books Reviews

A very interesting book on a complex subject. Heard about it on "A way with Words" podcast and bought it. It has information I can use for a lifetime, plus I can drive my friends crazy with traffic trivia.
Whether you'll enjoy this book will depend on what you're looking for. If you want a detailed analysis with tons of experimental data to back up definite conclusions, this will disappoint. It is more of a wide-ranging survey of research, observation, and anecdote, than it is a rigorous scientific presentation. If you don't mind a somewhat meandering hike through different ideas, then the sheer breadth of topics that Vanderbilt covers will change the way you think about transportation. He delves into developmental psychology, physiology, evolution, sociology, technology, engineering, economics, history - any and every aspect that could possibly have an influence on how we get around. The sparse and contradictory nature of research in the field of transportation serves to underscore Vanderbilt's point that this is a complicated, messy area of modern life.

One warning for readers, however fully the final third of the book is endnotes, providing what looks like additional detail, data, references, and nuance to the main content. But in the edition, there is nothing linking the prose to the notes - no clickable links, or even markers to indicate that there is a related note. Likewise, in the endnote section, there's nothing to link each note back to the associated prose. So it ends up being 100 pages of random statements without context - pretty useless.
This is a fascinating book! Much more interesting than I had originally anticipated, I was riveted! I've since re-read it, still a lot to absorb. And now, if only we could make all the worst drivers read this book...
The title sums it up. I work in highway safety, and use some of the info in this book as conversation starters when teaching. Even if you are not a traffic geek, it is an easy read, which will make you think next time you are out on the open road. If people who read this simply tell their friends how a lane drop is supposed to work, and they tell two friends, driving will be better for everyone
Many insights into the cumulative effect of many drivers on many other drivers. Makes it clear why programming self driving cars is so difficult. Good examples, many counterintuitive, of design changes with unexpected effects. For example, during the shift from left to right side driving, Sweden had fewer, not more traffic accidents.
At once highly accessible and scholarly; still relevant a decade after its publication. Apart from advances in what are now routinely referred to as "AV's", almost no update would be needed. (I would, however, be very interested to see the author's take on that subject as a follow up, perhaps in about 2 or 3 years.)
Of course, in our own minds we are all safe, expert drivers and well aware of the deficiencies of other road users Professional engineers such as myself, who have designed and built a few roads, are even more convinced of our superiority. And then along comes this upstart Tom Vanderbilt and demolishes our complacency. Wider roads aren't necessarily safer. Traffic signs may add to the risks instead of mitigating them. And so on. And all backed by good research. Anyone who intends to stay safe on the road should read this book and reflect on their habits. It is also, I think, a "must read" for town planners and traffic engineers. While it doesn't attempt to provide detailed prescriptions for best practices, it contains enough information to upset received wisdom, and enough references to allow professionals in the field to establish contacts and exchange experiences.

I should add that , for some reason, separated out the hard cover edition from the paperback and invited me to "be the first to review this book", when there are already multiple reviews of the paperback . So I encourage people to look at the paperback reviews. (I bought the hard cover after giving my paperback copy to my daughter, who is a professional driver; I think she would endorse my 5-star rating.)
Very very very interesting book that sometimes reads as a treatise. I picked this book up because I'm a nerd who often wonders why things are done the way they are and/or how we can fix them. I usually read up on a topic, get and then move on to something else. This book was fantastic for explaining a lot of things in a very interesting way. However, sometimes you'll wonder why in the heck you are reading a book called "Traffic" The depth of explanation in this book is both a strength and a potential weakness. You can't help but notice that the author has turned a boring topic into something that will make you say "hmmm, that's interesting" in your head. At the same time...there were plenty of times I felt like the same things were stated over and over and could have been said much more efficiently. I found that a little annoying at times. For my non-fiction, I like my books to get in, get out w/ as little effort as possible. This is not that book even though, I very much enjoyed many of the explanations for why we experience different emotions etc. Good book that could be a lot shorter.