A Two Pedal World: The Beginning

by Paul Rega

It was a magical time--a two pedal world, when bicycles weren't just a toy--they were a kid's chief mode of transportation. A coming of age story about the adventurous life of a boy growing up during the 1950's through the early 70's in a Midwestern town. Discipline was harsh, supervision often rare, and adventure was high.

Parents struggled to maintain the innocence of their children, despite a grim reminder of war, and the inequities of an adult world caught up in the emotion of the times. When a dollar of penny candy could fill your paper bag, baseball was king, and kids played outside well into the evening.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Amazon, Memoir

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2014

About the author

Paul Rega is an Amazon Top 100 bestselling author. He began his writing career in 1980 while attending Western Illinois University as a staff reporter for the Western Courier. Upon graduating with a degree in biology and journalism, he spent the next thirty years in business having started an executive search firm in 1984. His passion for writing stayed with him throughout his business life, and he started writing his first book in 1993. He published, 'How To Find A Job: When There Are No Jobs' in December 2011. The book was an instant success, and hit #1 on Amazon's bestseller list for job hunting books in March 2012. He published '12 Steps to Freedom' in August 2013, 'Trail of 32,' a true coming of age story in September 2013, 'The Syndrome,' a novel in April 2014 and 'A Two Pedal World' series in May 2014. Paul currently lives in a small town along the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he is writing his next book.

"....even though I did NOT like any of the characters, Paul Rega was drawing me in with an emotional hook and engrossed me completely in this read. That is the sign of a good author, to present his tale, connect with the reader and evoke something from them." --Top 500 Amazon Reviewer

Web: paulrega.com
Twitter: twitter.com/paulregabooks
Facebook: facebook.com/paulregabooks
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paulrega
Pinterest: pinterest.com/paulrega/boards/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/paulrega

Reviews

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

MOSTLY UNINTERESTING.

”My friends and I, mostly out of fear during our early childhood, learned quickly to respect all authority figures, including our parents and teachers.”—location 418

Presumably about some of my favorite things—boyhood, the 60s, and bicycles—Paul Rega’s, not so terribly well written, memoir of his first fourteen years, A Two Pedal World: The Beginning (Book #1) is quite dull. It has a two-dimensional story arc that goes from first I did this, then I did that, and then I did something else. None of which is anything anyone could care much about.

Perhaps the sequel, A Two Pedal World: The Journey (Book #2), supposedly about the one month, 1,400 mile bicycle trip Rega’s boy scout troop took, from Illinois to Florida, in 1972 might be a bit more interesting, One could hope. And perhaps someday I will read it.

Recommendation: Spend your $3.99 (Kindle price) at your own risk.

”We had to work hard for what we got back then and consequently had more respect for our things.”—location 1163

Kindle edition, 1603 locations (152 pages?)

[Tom Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Rega The Beginning.
A Two Pedal World.
This book was inspired by the novel Trail of 32, and if you read that fantastic book you will love this one. This book follows the growing up from youngster to teenager from the 50s to the 70s, when bicycles were mode of transport and their plaything.
I liked this book so much as the author describes each phase so well, you actually feel you are part of the story.
Looking forward to reading the follow up.
5 stars. 11 June 2014.

[Lisa James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had this book on my Kindle app because it was a freebie, & because it sounded like a cute memoir of a boy growing up in the Midwest through the 40's on. When I really started reading it, I found bits & pieces of it to be cute, & some of the anecdotes to be downright funny. BUT, the big drawback for me was that the entire BOOK read like a full length recruiting ad for the BSA. Now, I have nothing against Scouting, I had a daughter in Girl Scouts & all 3 sons in Cubs/Webelos, & they lost interest in the Boys level. There was SO much of the handbook quoted in the story it was highly off-putting....I wanted to hear more of the STORY, & MUCH LESS of Scouting crap.

Probably NOT a book a normal person would want to read unless you were a lifelong Scout yourself, or you came from a lifelong Scouting family...

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the Kindle version.

This book was not bad, the topic(s) covered just didn't interest me too much. The writing style made me feel like I was sitting down to talk to a grandparent who was recalling the "good old times" and reliving them vicariously.

The beginning of the book was enjoyable, but as it progressed we got deeper and deeper into the Boy Scouts and their activities. It felt as if a solid third of the book was dedicated to the back story of the beloved troop leader. I was rather bored by the end of the book - and there's sequel! Someone who has gone through the Scouting experience will likely enjoy this book at a much deeper level than I - a middle aged woman who has never been involved in Scouting, did.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tale of nostalgia and a look back at life. It kind of reminds me of the series on T.V. The wonder years. To me it is a beautifully written story of a beautifully remembered life. A lot of times people look back and don't remember the good things in life. It is refreshing to read this memoir and feel like you have stepped back in time to a happier and simpler life. Although we all remember our growing up years different, someone else may have remembered the same time as hard it is nice that the author saw it as fun. This is an enjoyable read and a great beginning.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was fun to read the memoir of several years in a boy's life in the 60s and early 70s. This is not a polished writer. It reads like your neighbor's folder of typed pages that's been sitting in a drawer.

[Nancee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not My Cup of Tea

This author tells a narrative about his young days in the Boy Scouts. His focus is on his friends and the leaders who are described in depth. Maybe Book 2 would be more interesting as it tells about their summer bike ride to Florida.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memories of how life was in the 50's and 60's. The values of the Boy Scouts instilled in the author and his friends. Interesting reading. Makes me sad that values are not like they were back then

[bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

Interesting read

a good story about growing up in a much simpler and less paranoid time and also a tribute to the American shooting experience.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 1 out of 5]

why can i not give such drivel no stars

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor writing made this a rambling book not worth reading.

[Jane Smith]

DNF

[Corissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was bored.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastc

I enjoyed every word of this book. So disappointed to reach the end. It was so easy to imagine being present through all the antics and adventures of these boys. What a great book. I look forward to book 2.

[Paula Schumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookBub for a free download of A Two-Pedal World: the Beginning.
This is an anecdotal-style memoir that so far is a bunch of little stories. It needs a thorough edit. However, I'm intrigued enough that I want to see how the story ends, so I'm off to buy the second book, which is about the boy scout troop's bike trip to Florida. I may recommend this one to reader friends.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It told the story of a youth during the 50's to 70's. I enjoyed reading about his experiences and accomplishments in the scouts as well as the impact scouts had on his life. I am looking forward to reading the follow up to this book.

[Lorreine Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a short story, I whizzed through this book and really enjoyed it. It is a social history of a young boy in the US in the 50's and 60's. Lots of interesting comments and information about the scouting movement at that time. A quick read, would recommend.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel better book

one that you can read of problems that are over come by a family with out much finance in a earlier time

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute easy read

This is an easy read book. It is the first of a series of 3 books. I will be ready the last two later this spring.

[John Vonhof · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story. Worth reading but could use come editing to pull the story together.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one has some great boy adventures and lots of specific details about camping and scouting. There is a brief mention of sex.
Might be a good read for my sons about 6th grade

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a memoir of growing up in a simpler time (the late fifties to late sixties) but a time of social and political evolution that straddled two major eras. The writing style is not polished but is highly readable. Besides just enjoying his nostalgic account of working class life in that era, I was interested in his experiences as a Boy Scout because scouting was a big part of my husband's boyhood and I have enjoyed his stories. This troop was a lively and adventurous one and the book is a preamble to a second one detailing the troop's adventures on a 1200 mile bicycle trip they took from Chicago to Florida.