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Bicycle
The History
by David Herlihy
As the title implies, "Bicycle: The History" is indeed a look (and, at 480 pages, a thorough one at that) at the origins, development, and growing and changing use of the two-wheeled device.
Yale University Press, 480 pages
11/01/2004
$35.00
ISBN: 0300104189
Nonfiction
History
All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...
San Francisco Chronicle Steve Weinberg
This is a book that ought to fascinate any reader who cares about well-researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated history, especially the history of human transportation... [It is] compulsively readable.
The New York Times Book Review Edward Koren
While Bicycle is immensely absorbing, I was often compelled to put it aside. It was as if the author himself were imploring me to take a break and come outside and play... I would relish having David V. Herlihy as my cycling companion any day.
Wall Street Journal Robert Messenger
Culling from the popular press, he builds a very readable account of the public perception of the bicycle as it moved from one stage to another. The book is also one of the best-illustrated histories I have ever seen. It is a delight to leaf through.
Washington Post Colman McCarthy
While immensely enjoying Herlihy's able blend of history and storytelling, I had to ask whether my pleasure came from having been a bicycle commuter for the past 30 years. A non-bicyclist might well weary after a few hundred pages.
Library Journal Christina L. Hennessey
This extraordinarily researched work is not just for those interested in the history of the bicycle but for anyone who wants to follow the international history of an idea or invention. [15 Nov 2004, p.67]
Publishers Weekly
The author's vivid account of this story could not be more detailed if Herlihy himself had personally lived through every experience he recounts.
Los Angeles Times Bernadette Murphy
It's probably too much to ask for a book to reignite the spark of bicycle fascination we all felt at one time or another, but if any volume is up to the task, it may be this one. [27 Dec 2004, p.E12]
Boston Globe Richard Eder
Seemingly he has amassed everything ever printed or drawn about the bicycle, to the point where, amid a whiteout of clippings, the research sometimes threatens to obscure the history. The history is good, though; even better are his social reflections and the further reflections they instigate in the reader.
The Economist
Spirited, fast-moving, though occasionally overly nerdish.
Daily Telegraph Toby Clements
Some of the engineering minutiae is dense, but there is much in the way of light relief. On almost every page there is a well-chosen picture, and Herlihy places the bicycle in its social context.
The Globe And Mail [Toronto] Darryl Whetter
Because Bicycle chooses to remain an illustrative history (X happened), not an argumentative one (Because A, B and C caused D, reconsider E), its wealth of conscientiously recorded and visually augmented material is never fully directed into a memorable interpretation, claim or even commentary. A revised second edition would do well to spend less time parading its evidence (newspaper reports, editorials and even letters from the chief inventors), and be more stimulating by introducing some potted physics (many readers, even cyclists, may not adequately know what 'drives' and 'differentials' are), or a more heartfelt advocacy. [24 Dec 2004, p.D16]
Daily Telegraph Tom Fort
While there is no faulting Herlihy's industry, much of the romance of the story eludes him. His narrative is reminiscent of one of those long stretches of road much disliked by out-of-condition, dilettante cyclists such as myself, because they appear to be flat but in fact rise at a steady two degrees above the horizontal, and are therefore much harder work than they should be.
 The average user rating for this book is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
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