Book Report: Web Special
From A to B: A Cartoon Guide to Getting Around by Bike by Dave Walker
We all need a little whimsy in our lives, especially in these trying times. To that end, thank goodness for people like Dave Walker and his new book From A to B, an illustrated book with everything you need to know about bikes. What is a bike? What kinds of bikes are out there? And where can I go with a bike? Walker covers these questions and much, much more — he even dares to wade in to the politics of helmets, bike lanes, and road taxes — with facts, dry British humor, and his amusing illustrations. In fact, this lovely hardcover book features over 100 full-page cartoons from the renowned Cycling Cartoonist (not to be confused with Greg Siple). And it just so happens to be sized perfectly for your coffee table or your pannier. –Dan Meyer
Conversations with US: American Southwest by Chris Register
Author Chris Register and his trusty companion (his touring bike) continue their journey around the U.S. in this, the second installment of Conversations with US. Pedaling from Houston, Texas, to Death Valley, California, Register travels through small towns and stops along the way to interview folks about their hopes, their struggles, and the state of the union. Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, roughnecks, veterans, students — Register has challenging conversations with real people from all walks of life and doesn’t shy away from the hard questions: What is the role of government? What regulations should there be on gun owners? What does it mean to live in poverty? What is the state of America? This book may end in California, but Register’s journey doesn’t stop there. Look forward to the next volume, Appalachia and Bluegrass Country. –DM
1,001 Voices on Climate Change by Devi Lockwood
When Devi Lockwood twisted her knee and needed surgery, the lack of mobility she experienced during the healing process was stifling. Bicycling helped her regain mobility, and as soon as she was able, she took off on an 800-mile solo bike tour along the Mississippi Trail, encouraging people to share stories along the way with just a cardboard sign reading, “Open Call for Stories.”
Not long after, Lockwood posted on Facebook about a project she was starting, traveling the world mainly by bicycle with a sign that read, “Tell me a story about climate change.” Now, in August 2021 as the world reels from the ramification of climate change, Simon and Schuster published her travel memoir, 1,001 Voices on Climate Change. In this book, Lockwood captures the stories of people around the world whose lives have been impacted by climate change. Some stories include discussions with indigenous elders and youth in Fiji and Tuvalu about drought and disappearing coastlines, disappearing glaciers and retreating rivers, and wildfires in New Zealand and Australia. –Carolyne Whelan
The Bicycle Diaries: Indian Cyclists and their Incredible Journeys Around the World by Anoop Babani and Savia Viegas
Between 1923 and 1942, 12 Indian cyclists undertook five separate global cycling journeys, and eight of them succeeded. The Bicycle Diaries, the first-ever book on Indian cycling history, chronicles their journeys across the deserts of Sahara and Mesopotamia, the rain forests of the Amazon, the heights of the Alps, and through Europe and the United States. In addition to the meticulously researched accounts of these round-the-world cyclists and their exploits, this charming coffee table book includes 140 black-and-white photographs. To order a copy, contact the authors at saxttibooks@gmail.com. –DM
50 Ways to Cycle the World by Belén Castelló and Tristan Bogaard
Being stuck at home because of the pandemic was a good excuse for authors Belén Castelló and Tristan Bogaard to finish their latest project, 50 Ways to Cycle the World, a book that will inspire you to set out on your own adventures. Castelló and Bogaard spoke to 75 different cyclists from 23 countries about their cycling journeys — why they ride, where they ride, and with whom they ride. 50 Ways is helpfully broken down into the various approaches to bike touring. You’ll learn how to ride solo, how to ride with friends or with your partner, how to ride around the world or across the country, and even how to ride with a rabbit. Yes, a rabbit. And, naturally, the book is chock-full of gorgeous photos from all over the globe. Even you can’t ride around the world right now, this book can help you plan and dream for your next adventure. –DM
