A Walk Around the Block - by Spike Carlsen (Paperback)

About the Book

"On his regular walk one morning, Spike Carlsen realized there was an entire world outside his front door that he knew nothing about. How does that fire hydrant work, he wondered? Why are street lights shining more brightly than ever before? And, on a more personal level, why does an easy stroll around the neighborhood always leave him feeling more creative and spry, better able to take on the day? A simple walk around the block set Carlsen off on an investigative journey to discover everything he could about every thing we take for granted in our everyday life, from manhole covers and recycling bins to pedestrian crossings and bike lanes. Leading readers on a spirited adventure through his hometown, and other environs, Carlsen explains with wit and erudition the engineering marvels, unheralded utilities, and secret economic and health benefits hiding in plain sight. Like how the addition of a front porch reduces crime and increases property value. And how planting a $10 boulevard tree cuts air-conditioning costs by 20 percent, while generating approximately $30,000 worth of oxygen and $31,000 worth of erosion control. Or how a simple walk, in addition to reduce your chances of a stroke (20 percent), cardiovascular disease (30 percent), and broken bones (40 percent), can increase creativity by 60 percent. Engaging, entertaining, and informative, A Walk Around the Block is a narrative celebration of all the seemingly random stuff we encounter at any given moment"--

Book Synopsis

"Carlsen sees a world of wonder hiding in plain sight and may just change how you look at the world around you." - TODAY Show

A simple walk around the block set journalist Spike Carlsen,
bestselling author of A Splintered History of Wood, off to investigate
everything he could about everything
we take for granted in our normal life--from manhole covers and recycling bins
to bike lanes and stoplights.
In this celebration of the seemingly mundane, Carlsen opens
our eyes to the engineering marvels, human stories, and natural wonders right
outside our front door. He guides us through the surprising allure of sewers,
the intricacies of power plants, the extraordinary path of an everyday letter,
and the genius of recycling centers--all the while revealing that this awesome
world isn't just a spectator sport.
Engaging as it is endearing, A Walk Around the Block will
change the way you see things in your everyday life. Join Carlsen as he strolls
through the trash museum of New York City, explores the quirky world of
squirrels, pigeons, and roadkill, and shows us how understanding stoplights,
bike lanes, and fine art of walking can add years to our lives. In the end, he
brings a sense of wonder into your average walk around the block, wherever you
are. Guaranteed.

Review Quotes

"No neighborhood walk will ever be the same after Spike Carlsen reveals to you the extraordinary origins of your ordinary surroundings. His grand storytelling style will make you wonder why you've always taken for granted alleyways, asphalt, and manhole covers, and how your ancestors could ever have lived without them." - Rebecca Martin, technical editor, Mother Earth News and Grit
"Writing in the mode of Edward Humes, David Owen, and Mary Roach, Carlsen offers an eye-opening and exuberantly informative walk-around-the-block tour that is made-to-order for this time of necessary at-homeness." - Booklist (starred review)
"Carlsen takes 'mundane' objects and illuminates their importance to society, creating a unique book that will have readers looking at everyday objects in different ways."
- Library Journal
"An entertaining and informative read" - Physics Today
"A Walk Around the Block succeeds in making the mundane fascinating, opening our minds (and front doors) to an everyday world easily taken for granted." - Bookpage (starred review)
"This book is going to make you observe your world differently, which will lessen your stuck-at-home boredom." - Philadelphia Tribune
"Carlsen sees a world of wonder hiding in plain sight...he may just change how you look at the world around you." - TODAY Show
"I love this book. Brilliant concept, excellent storytelling. My neighborhood looks different now. My own daily walk is more interesting. Things I've ignored all my life--manhole covers, telephone poles, even blades of grass--now have a history and meaning." - Gary Wentz, editor at Family Handyman magazine