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Autonorama

The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving, technology historian Peter Norton challenges the optimism surrounding driverless cars. He argues that autonomous vehicles cannot deliver the safe, sustainable, and inclusive mobility solutions promised by tech companies and automakers. Instead, Norton reveals how the allure of a high-tech driving future distracts from investing in proven, affordable, and humane transportation alternatives like public transit, walking, and cycling. Tracing the history of car dependency and technological promises, Autonorama advocates for a wiser approach to mobilityβ€”one grounded in ecological balance and practical solutions available today.
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Format: Hardback
$12100

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Autonorama is ideal for readers interested in engineering, technology, urban planning, sustainability, and transportation policy. It appeals to those questioning the feasibility of autonomous vehicles and seeking thoughtful analysis on alternative mobility solutions.

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Norton argues that the promise of autonomous vehicles is distracting us from investing in better, more sustainable transportation options, and increasing our dependence on cars.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"The foundation has been laid for fully autonomous," Elon Musk announced in 2016, when he assured the world that Tesla would have a driverless fleet on the road in 2017. "It's twice as safe as a human, maybe better." Promises of technofuturistic driving utopias have been ubiquitous wherever tech companies and carmakers meet.

In Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving, technology historian Peter Norton argues that driverless cars cannot be the safe, sustainable, and inclusive "mobility solutions" that tech companies and automakers are promising us. The salesmanship behind the driverless future is distracting us from investing in better ways to get around that we can implement now. Unlike autonomous vehicles, these alternatives are inexpensive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive.

Norton takes the reader on an engaging rideβ€”from the GM Futurama exhibit to "smart" highways and vehiclesβ€”to show how we are once again being sold car dependency in the guise of mobility. He argues that we cannot see what tech companies are selling us except in the light of history. With driverless cars, we're promised that new technology will solve the problems that car dependency gave usβ€”zero crashes! zero emissions! zero congestion! But these are the same promises that have kept us on a treadmill of car dependency for 80 years.

Autonorama is hopeful, advocating for wise, proven, humane mobility that we can invest in now, without waiting for technology that is forever just out of reach. Before intelligent systems, data, and technology can serve us, Norton suggests, we need wisdom. Rachel Carson warned us that when we seek technological solutions instead of ecological balance, we can make our problems worse. With this wisdom, Norton contends, we can meet our mobility needs with what we have right now.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Carlton Reid, Senior Sustainability Contributor at Forbes.com, praises Autonorama as a timely and insightful critique, highlighting its exposure of the false promises of zero crashes, emissions, and congestion that perpetuate damaging car dependency. The book is noted for advocating greater funding and respect for public transit, walkability, and cycling. The Journal of Urban Affairs finds the work provocative, challenging proponents of autonomous vehicles to justify their continued optimism despite decades of failed promises. Feedback from academic settings indicates strong reception among students interested in transportation planning.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781642832402

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 October 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Island Press

Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Peter Norton is an associate professor of history in the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. He has authored many articles, book chapters, and the book Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City.

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