More than any other artifact of modern technology, the automobile has shaped our physical, social, and cultural environment. At the same time, the history of the automobile demonstrates how decisions made by governments, entrepreneurs, and the general public have strongly affected the automobile's evolution. Cars and Cultures provides a succinct yet comprehensive history of the automobile. While the book highlights the technical changes that altered the appearance and performance of automobiles, it also explores the political, economic, social, and cultural forces that shaped the car's development. Because of the wide-ranging impact of the automobiles, no history would be complete without covering the components essential for our automotive-based transportation system--roads and highways, gasoline production, traffic laws, governmental regulation-- as well as the other aspects of our social and cultural history that were deeply affected by the history of the automobile--labor unions, suburbanization, travel and recreation, and the fast-food industry.
Anyone fascinated by the history of the automobile will find much of interest in this volume. Students and general readers will find such information as: