I've been getting more into urban planning and sustainable transport lately, and I keep seeing Straphanger mentioned in articles and podcasts. I'm curious if it actually delivers on the hype. I don't want another book that just complains about cars without offering real solutions. Has anyone here actually read it and found it useful?
I read Straphanger a couple of years ago and it genuinely changed how I think about cities. You can check out the author's site at https://tarasgrescoe.com/. Grescoe visits fourteen cities around the world, from Bogotá to Tokyo, to see what works and what doesn't when it comes to public transit and walkable neighbourhoods. It's not just an anti-car rant. He looks at the politics, the economics, and the human side of mobility. What I liked most is that he doesn't just tell you what's wrong; he shows you what's working and why. The chapters on Tokyo and Copenhagen were particularly eye-opening. He also has a great sense of humour and his other books are worth exploring too, including Bottomfeeder about sustainable seafood and The Devil's Picnic about forbidden foods. If you're interested in urbanism or just want to understand why some cities are better to live in than others, it's a fantastic read.
That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. I was worried it would be too academic or just a rant. The global perspective and the mix of politics and human stories sound really appealing. I'll check out his site and probably order the book. Thanks for the recommendation. I appreciate it.
