Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

I thoroughly enjoyed Standage’s The Victorian Internet, but I found this book to be somewhat unsatisfying. As a potted history of cars, it’s basically fine. It covers the important developments in urban transportation and some of the roads-not-taken. There’s a brief foray into some of the social changes brought about by cars – but it rarely goes beyond the surface and is curiously silent on a whole range of issues.

For example, we’re told about how the development of the rubber tire was critical to the success of the automobile, and how European manufacturers quickly adopted it. But where did that rubber come from? It doesn’t even mention in passing where Europe got its rubber from – nor the atrocities committed in obtaining it.

Similarly, when describing how the Nazis promoted the Volkswagen and the autobahn, the book blandly says “Although Hitler’s regime imposed strict controls in many areas of life, the roads were not one of them.”

Yes, that’s the perfect way to sum them up. They were a bit strict…

That said, the book is pretty good at detailing how the development of personal transport was used to cement segregation – in the development of suburbs, racism driving laws, etc. There’s a good discussion about how the prevalence of private transport helped with bus boycotts in America. As the book moves into electric cars, there is a brief mention of the cobalt mines which power this new revolution.

The section on the future of personal mobility is interesting. Looking at the way ride sharing apps and e-bikes are changing behaviour and urban landscapes. While there is a bit of good discussion on the unfulfilled hype behind autonomous vehicles, it’s annoyingly silent on the host of legal problems faced by Uber and the like.

As I said, it’s a good history of personal transport – with some all-too-brief diversions into the social and political problems they’ve caused.