On the Move: Mobility in the Modern Western World

by Tim Cresswell

On the Move presents a rich history of one of the key concepts of modern mobility. Increasing mobility has been a constant throughout the modern era, evident in mass car ownership, plane travel, and the rise of the Internet. Typically, people have equated increasing mobility with increasing freedom. However, as Cresswell shows, while mobility has certainly increased in modern times, attempts to control and restrict mobility are just as characteristic of modernity. Through a series of fascinating historical episodes Cresswell shows how mobility and its regulation have been central to the experience of modernity.

Genres: Geography, Politics, Cultural

340 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Andrew]

I remember quite liking Cresswell’s writings on place, but this didn’t do much for me. There’s not really much of a thesis, other than “people be movin’.” So he just sort of jumps around, whether talking about migration patterns or scandalous dancing. As you can imagine, this prevents any kind of overarching theory from actually being proffered, the result being that there’s a flattening effect. I think the lesson I’m supposed to learn is about the logic of domination, but if you try to put a naughty dance move and the serious pain and poverty of refugees under the same rubric, touch some grass for the love of god.

[Daniel Santini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente! Talvez o melhor livro sobre mobilidade que eu já li / Excellent! Maybe the best book about mobility that I've ever read.

[Lisa Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting approach to describing the history of mobility and its meaning within culture. I loved it.