Looking for an interesting, easy-reading book about car culture? Try Crash Course, the American Automobile Industry’s Road from Glory to Disaster by Paul Ingrassia (Random House Publishing, 2010). There’s enough intrigue to keep you reading-even though you know the ending-no matter what you’re interest in the auto industry is.
This may sound counter-intuitive, but Crash Course reads like an historical novel. There’s a lively, colorful cast of characters and fascinating challenges. Sometimes I forgot I was reading about actual events since reality was like a soap opera. This is not a criticism; it’s why the book is fun to read. The author’s casual style also gives the ‘story’ a fiction-y feel.
Starting the book with a time line, Mr. Ingrassia writes a history beginning in 1908 with the Ford revolution (although the actual text starts with Henry Ford’s birth in 1863) and ends with the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies (plus a chapter on what’s next). The various technological and marketing innovations, new products, unions, politics, changing tastes and lifestyles, and management are discussed. Two families, one on the sales/dealer side, the other on the production/union side, are followed throughout the book. Think about the author’s foreshadowing and evaluation of events; he’s writing with more knowledge than when the decisions were originally made. It’s tempting to imagine what you would have done. The expression “history repeats itself” is apt, it seems like similar ups-and-downs happened over and over without a ‘better’ solution. Another expression is useful: “hindsight is 20/20″.
I hate sad endings (I read the end of the final Harry Potter book first. I wanted to make sure there was a happy ending before I invested the time.) About half-way through Crash Course, I read the last chapter trying to forget this was a true story while wishing for a happy ending. Well, we obviously know how the story ends, but one can still hope (I feel the same way about the Alamo). For those of us who love cars, there is hope.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The statistics, notes and index are great for use in a research paper or if you’re interested in additional information.
disclosure: I don’t have any financial incentive if you order the book. I borrowed a copy from the local library.
