Carjacked: The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effect on Our Lives Book

This book is more of a 3.5/5 star read. Not quite a four, but really above average. I purchased this book after going to a talk by the authors. They made a convincing case for their argument that North American car culture needs to be reformed. I think that the most interesting part of this book, the part that really made me analyze my own values, was the discussion of advertising and cars as a status symbol. Though I drive a late '90s model Toyota Tercel that doesn't even have power windows (and therefore you wouldn't think I'm someone who cares about what my car looks like), I realize that I do have a personal image of myself that is wrapped up in what kind of car I wish I drove. I mean, it would still be sensible, small, and not very flashy, but until reading this book my ideal car would have a good stereo, be sporty, be "younger". I now question those values upon realizing that they have simply been sold to me by advertising I thought I was immune to. Yeah right. Now I'm trying to not care about my ugly but practical car (paid for with cash, I might add). I'm also trying to avoid driving somewhere to buy something. I think I'll stick with walking and riding my bike from now on. If you have a car that's so "you", or an idea of a dream car that would suit you, you might want to think about where you got the idea that personal identity is wrapped up in automobile ownership...and read this book.