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Bicycle Diaries (2009)

by David Byrne(Favorite Author)

3.42 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0670021148 (ISBN13: 9780670021147)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Viking Adult

review 1: One reviewer described these as the ramblings of a college freshman home on his first semester break. It's true — none of this hits the rigor of your average New Yorker article, nor does it deviate from that arena of urban-progressive received wisdom. But among freshmen, he's one of the more amiable ones I know. There's a quality of quiet reflection I appreciate in memoir, even if the reflections aren't all that deep. Go in aware that this is essentially a blog stitched together — with an epilogue that _could_ perhaps function on its own as one of those longform periodical pieces on new urbanism, and a brief appendix with useful tips for new cyclists.
review 2: At some point, David Byrne began carrying a folding bike on his travels and rode around, keeping ... morenotes (I assume). This book is organized by city and is only peripherally about bicycling. He talks about art, culture, architecture, city planning, politics, creativity, history, etc. Most of it is interesting. I particularly liked the chapters on Berlin, Sydney, and New York. I was most bored when he talked about his own projects in the cities he visited, oddly enough. Overall, well done. less

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