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More copies of this ISBN:High and Mighty: SUVs: The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Wayby Keith Bradsher
AwardsWinner of the New York Public Library Bernstein Award for excellence in journalism (given annually to an outstanding
journalist whose book has brought an important issue, event or policy
to public attention)
Review-a-Day (What is Review-a-Day?)"The former Detroit bureau chief of The New York Times, Bradsher writes with knowledge and confidence. His book is a masterpiece of its kind, splendidly combining reporting, analysis, and indignation. It belongs on the same shelf as Ralph Nader's Unsafe at Any Speed and Ida Tarbell's The History of Standard Oil, chronicles of the dangerous interaction of corporate perfidy and regulatory breakdown. High and Mighty tells us more than we may care to know about how government malfunctions, and about the more disturbing aspects of the American cult of driving." Gregg Easterbrook, The New Republic (read the entire New Republic review) Synopses & ReviewsFrom Powells.com: The auto industry in Detroit was panicking during the oil crisis of the early
1970s. Higher oil prices lead to congress-mandated fuel economy standards, and
car manufacturers were forced into creating smaller, more fuel efficient automobiles,
all the while suffering declining sales to high-quality Japanese imports. Auto
manufacturers such as American Motors knew Americans loved their big cars and
were determined to find a way to dominate the auto-market once more. Their decision
to market their Jeep brand to everyday drivers and to lobby the EPA for a waiver
to its newly introduced Clean Air Act — the EPA designated the Jeep a "light
truck" as a result — led directly to the birth of the SUV. SUVs and
light pickup trucks now make up at least half of all new vehicle sales in the
US. This is despite the fact that they posses high-polluting engines, poor gas
mileage, and careless and unsafe body-design, not to mention the risks they
pose to other drivers who can't see past them or are blinded by their badly
placed headlights (or, God forbid, are hit by them).
Keith Bradsher's High and Mighty is astonishing testimony to the cunning and cynical marketing conducted by the auto industry and the failure of Congress to put a stop to the arrogance that is the SUV. It is also investigative journalism at its finest, a riveting read, and a book that should shame — and worry — many. As Bradsher writes: "The manufacturers' market researchers have decided that millions of baby boomers want an adventurous image and care almost nothing about putting others at risk to achieve it, so they have told auto engineers to design vehicles accordingly." Bradsher has spent years tracing the development and eventual market domination of the SUV — he was the Detroit bureau chief of the New York Times from 1996 to 2001 — and he supports his claims with data from government reports, auto-industry documents and the comments of auto-industry insiders. Insiders are completely aware of the irony of the outdoors image marketed to SUV owners. Says J. C. Collins, a top Ford marketing executive: "The only time those SUVs are going to be off-road is when they miss the driveway at 3 a.m." Georgie, Powells.com Book News Annotation:Bureau chief for The New York Times first in Detroit and now in
Hong Kong, Bradsher offers a biography of the half-tanks that are
clogging US streets. He relies mostly on quotes from within the
automobile industry by the people who have designed, built, and
marketed them despite reservations about their practicality and
safety. Among his revelations is that insurance for the vehicles is
subsidized by everyone else's premiums.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Review:"[Bradsher] pulls no punches...[he] marshals an array of facts and anedotes to make the point [SUV's are] unsafe." Doron Levin, Bloomberg.com Review:"Certain to raise public awareness of the many societal problems exacerbated by the proliferation of SUVs... a fascinating book." Toronto Star Review:"superb for many reasons...fascinating historical material is presented with narrative panache...Every engaged citizen...ought to read this book." Newsday What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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