The Big Roads: The Untold Story Of The Engineers, Visionaries, And Trailblazers Who Created The American Superhighways (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
A very readable account of the US Interstate System. Much more interesting a topic than it seems at first glance, and full of unique characters and stories. Bogs down in places, and the facts and figures can chafe on already-tired nerves, but overall the book was entertaining and informative. I especially appreciated the attention paid to the anti-interstate movement in the latter half, considering that the first half of the book is almost free of criticism. A fascinating and detailed history of the American highway system, beginning with the Good Roads Movement begun by bicyclists and the advent of the automobile, traveling through the immense undertaking of the U.S. Interstate System and the myriad ways it changed American life, and concluding with the current state of our road systems and where we seem to be going from here. That all sounds like it could be a bit dry, but Swift wisely humanizes the process, bringing to life the personalities that brought us those roads and innovations, changed their course, or fought against their inexorable march across the landscape.He begins with the delightfully eccentric and multi-talented Carl Fisher, who had an energetic and enterprising hand in an astounding number of movements and inventions: he was a successful bicycle shop owner campaigning for better roads, pulling off insane promotional stunts, and creating the first practical headlight, and then with the advent of the automobile he morphed into an adrenaline junkie race car driver who built the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and finally a real estate developer who turned a swamp into the tourist haven Miami Beach. The government men responsible for designing and implementing the interstate system and figuring out city planning didn't have quite the same reckless flash, but they were equally interesting in their own determined, scientific, incisive ways, as were their creative solutions to seemingly impossible physical, economic, and bureaucratic hurdles to such a mammoth and long-term undertaking. It was all rather fascinating, what they were able to accomplish, and also of course, how the project went in unexpected directions. Also, fair warning to those who like Ike and expect to read a celebration of his role as presidential father of the Interstate, as he is sometimes anecdotally considered: Swift is not the writer for you. It turns out that Ike was very much not responsible for any of the major work or decisions about the Interstate, and probably a good thing, too; he had a vague enthusiasm for the project and wanted to see it happen, but otherwise seemed generally detached and incompetent about the whole thing.The super highways inevitably changed American culture and the shape of our neighborhoods and lifestyles, allowing Swift to make interesting detours about the beginnings of hotel and fast food chains, and even that ridiculously monstrous roadside attraction that will always have a place in my heart thanks to some college road trips: the one and only South of the Border. The human and environmental element get voice here too, as he describes some of the major clashes between the highway planners trying to thread giant highways through cities and the individuals fighting to preserve their homes and parks in their path. All in all a surprisingly engaging history: 4.5 stars.
What do You think about The Big Roads: The Untold Story Of The Engineers, Visionaries, And Trailblazers Who Created The American Superhighways (2011)?
Excellent source of information about the history of our interstate highway system.
—Sherlock
A fascinating book about the road and interstate system in the US.
—niki266
Slightly slow to start, but excellent otherwise.
—Dwaxy
