Carjacked: The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effect on Our Lives: The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effect on Our Lives

by Catherine Lutz, Anne Lutz Fernandez

Carjacked is an in-depth look at our obsession with cars. While the automobile's contribution to global warming and the effects of volatile gas prices is widely known, the problems we face every day because of our cars are much more widespread and yet much less known -- from the surprising $14,000 that the average family pays each year for the vehicles it owns, to the increase in rates of obesity and asthma to which cars contribute, to the 40,000 deaths and 2.5 million crash injuries each and every year.

Carjacked details the complex impact of the automobile on modern society and shows us how to develop a healthier, cheaper, and greener relationship with cars.

Genres: Nonfiction, Transport, Urban Planning, Anthropology, Urbanism, Cars, Cities

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2010

Reviews

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight on all the ways cars influence our lives for better or for worse (most of the time for worse). If you haven't already realized that car dependency has to be one of the greatest scams in history, I highly recommend this book as it explains why and how we came to this mess.

[Tony Crispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty good breakdown of what some would call "the true cost of driving". It dives into the psychology and underlying assumptions we as a country make about our driving culture and how these myths are peddled by car manufacturers, dealers, and oil lobbyists. I think the most important part of the book was highlighting just how much car culture screws over poor people in terms of commodifying transportation and restricting job access. We don't really talk about that and this is the first kind of urban planning book I've read that really put a spotlight on that.
One point I didn't like was the end where it kind of turned into a self-help/finance advice, but other than that I quite liked it.

[Minli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book I read this week was the non-fiction book, Carjacked. Having been a fan of Catherine Lutz’s academic works, I found Carjacked to be an interesting and successful collaboration with her sister, Anne Lutz Fernandez. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t imagine a better platform to write about America’s entrenched love affair with car culture than an anthropologist and a former corporate executive.

I’ll be upfront: my reading Carjacked was like preaching to the choir. I’ve been telling my friends for years that I’m not anti-car, I’m anti-car culture and everything that comes with cars. The traffic, the strip malls, the sprawling suburbs, the parking, the accidents, the pollution, the dependence on foreign oil, the need to express oneself in the type of car one purchases, the decrease in population density, the marketing to teens and even children, the list goes on. Plus it’s so freaking expensive, and it amazes me how many people ignore the “invisible” cost of owning a car and instead go all rah-rah over gas prices. I’m well aware—that the two authors explained—that most of America is only accessible by car, and that it’s an uphill climb to get others to stop driving when their current infrastructure doesn’t yet support mass transit. Lutz and Fernandez cover all of that in Carjacked and more, but the highlight of the book is the discussion of the wealth gap—people who find themselves in communities so car dependent that they cannot get a job or escape natural disaster without some kind of automobile.

So yes, I love this book because it basically articulates what I already think in an engaging, well-written manner. It’s also obvious to me that the authors don’t hate on people who drive cars or even love their cars. It never feels accusatory or mean-spirited. Most of all, I’m a huge fan of the tone Lutz adopts—she’s so careful not to generalize. It’s never “Americans do such and such” it’s always “Many” or “Some,” which is not a big difference to most people but is a big deal to me. If I had a complaint, it would be that it has a lot of numbers, especially in regards to engineering/technology. I’m always wary of statistics because they can be so easily misused. The most convincing evidence for me were anecdotal–people’s words and stories. However, I’m probably not who this book is written for, and most Americans are more swayed by numbers than narrative (and probably didn’t study anthro in college, nor were they former environmental engineering majors…)

Finally, this book was written as a call to action. Lutz and Fernandez offer some great tips in their conclusion, suggesting baby steps in order to change one’s behaviour. Nothing too dramatic, just bring a sensible friend or family member when you go to the car dealership, try out carpooling or mass transit for a week, log all the car trips you make and with whom. There are also suggestions on how to get involved in local government. I don’t necessarily agree that new policies are the answer (because they don’t change behaviour), but that’s just me being cynical about the government—Lutz and Fernandez are far more optimistic. I don’t foresee Americans falling out of love with cars because it’s been so entrenched with their cultural identity for such a long time, with the idea of the frontier, of freedom and independence, etc. like the book expresses. My only suggestion to those who want to become less car-dependent is to move to a city with a great public transportation system already in place, but that’s not exactly practical for a lot of people.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more of a 3.5/5 star read. Not quite a four, but really above average. I purchased this book after going to a talk by the authors. They made a convincing case for their argument that North American car culture needs to be reformed. I think that the most interesting part of this book, the part that really made me analyze my own values, was the discussion of advertising and cars as a status symbol. Though I drive a late '90s model Toyota Tercel that doesn't even have power windows (and therefore you wouldn't think I'm someone who cares about what my car looks like), I realize that I do have a personal image of myself that is wrapped up in what kind of car I wish I drove. I mean, it would still be sensible, small, and not very flashy, but until reading this book my ideal car would have a good stereo, be sporty, be "younger". I now question those values upon realizing that they have simply been sold to me by advertising I thought I was immune to. Yeah right. Now I'm trying to not care about my ugly but practical car (paid for with cash, I might add). I'm also trying to avoid driving somewhere to buy something. I think I'll stick with walking and riding my bike from now on. If you have a car that's so "you", or an idea of a dream car that would suit you, you might want to think about where you got the idea that personal identity is wrapped up in automobile ownership...and read this book.

[Lauren Cordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little outdated in 2020, but still worth the read! Going car-lite has been one of the best decisions of my life. Her research reaffirmed what I already suspected, but added so much color and detail.
Highly recommend to anyone who hates traffic, feels nervous in cars, or wants to maximize their wallet/time.

[Robert S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carjacked is a bit dated as a research and policy book (seven years old) but it continually came up in my suggestions for books about urban planning. It does have some good research, some good insights, but I do wish it had more recommendations.

Car culture has not improved since Carjacked was written, and the lack of monies made available for projects in the wake of the Great Recession has not helped matters.

My home state for example has decreased its investment in public transportation, instead making it more unaffordable to ride and less stops which ultimately make it an extremely inconvenient way to travel.

Hopefully we as a society can find the will to implement solutions for the betterment of all.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the automobile and how it has shaped American culture and society. Of course, nothing it says about cars is positive. Cars affect our health, social life, economy, etc., all in a negative way. The authors send special venom towards the auto industry, which sells cars with marketing that masks all the bad things that they do. It makes me want to sell my car and move to a city where I can live without one.

[Hardeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorta timely read... Been considering trading in Manpreets VW Passat for a small diesel. But author argues that since over 50% of emissions/pollutants from a car are from the manufacturing process, keeping the older car is better!!! Had no idea? Quite an interesting book.

[Charles Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books written during the Great Rescission that take a hard look at the automotive industry and its complicity in the death and injury of millions of Americans throughout history. Written by an anthropologist and former marketer and banker, Carjacked focuses on the social and environmental aspects of car dependency. Why do we prefer a mode of transport so inefficient and dangerous? Why do car companies simply refuse to increase fuel efficiency even they could do so easily? The authors do a pretty good job at answering these questions. Although undoubtedly urbanist and left wing, Carjacked is still quite persuasive. If it were not so outdated in its figures and the picture it paints of the automobile market (cars have gotten even bigger and less fuel efficient sadly), it might be a great book to recommend to the uninformed. As it is, it is still a great read.

[Omace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, let down by a kind of weak call to action

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

As one who found his or her wheels relatively late in the game I was pleased to see a book that would DARE to critique our car culture. Often paid lip service to...waste of gas, too lazy to walk, three car household...yeah, it's a necessary tool is someways, but it also makes tools of some of us because we have lost touch with our sole meeting the pavement on a spring day. Do we need a car? Check your VIN number at the door, flick through the Dewey Decimation System, and put the pedal to the metal, pop the clutch, flick your highbeams, and poke around under the hood, cuz baby you are along for the ride so hang on there ain't no seatbelts in this kit car. Vrooom, vrooom. Pull your top down, twist the headlights, and let out a high beam, baby.

[Alan Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a meticulousy researched and interviewed paean to the compelling power of the car. The authors spend the last 10% of the book suggesting alternatives to using the car quite so much, but the star of this book is overwhelmingly the car in traffic.

I did appreciate much of the researched information herein, though. I had never seen an estimate of the number of parking spaces (105 million) or the average time spent in a car (18.5 hours a week). These are great stats. I just wish the authors had used stats more than vignettes to make their arguments.

[Betsy McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so this is an interesting book. Interesting, yes...life-altering, no...well, at least not for me.

While I will say that this book takes a (figurative and literally) heavy topic and makes it approachable, this just wasn't a book I enjoyed. There are some great points, but for me, personally, nothing was ground-breaking...it is far too general for that. That being said, this could be a great book for book clubs or beginning environmentalists/social activists to jump start their dialogue.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goes into detail on every facet of the automobile's effect upon the American lifestyle and how it developed the standing it has. Economics, politics, health, all are touched upon and give an excellent breakdown.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously useful reading for anyone who owns a car, drives a car, or occasionally gets in a car.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

interesting concept and thesis but reads like an 11th grade essay.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

cars are dangerous and terrible and no one ever thinks about it but this book does

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An illuminating look at how cars affect society.