A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About)

Written by Spike Carlsen

Narrated by Daniel Henning

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. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062954787

Spike Carlsen

Spike Carlsen is the author of seven books, including ""A Splintered History of Wood: Belt Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers and Baseball Bats,"" which was selected as a NPR ""Best Book of the Year for Gift Giving."" He is former Executive Editor of Family Handyman magazine and has written articles for The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Men's Health, MAKE, Fine Homebuilding, Mother Earth News and other publications. He has made appearances on Modern Marvels, the CBS Early Show, Cabin Living, The Weekend Today Show, HGTV's ""25 Biggest Renovating Mistakes"" and many other national radio and television shows. Spike is an avid cyclist and woodworker. He and his wife Kat live in Stillwater, Minnesota in close proximity to their 5 kids and 9 granddaughters. Visit him at spikecarlsen.com.

Reviews for A Walk Around the Block

[jjbooklvr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great for learning about things you never think about in your neighborhood/city! I loved all the interesting facts and have a new appreciation for what’s around me! Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson.

[unclebob53703 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some interesting trivia about the stuff lying around the neighborhood, where your water and electricity come from, where your waste goes, why manhole covers are round. It's a friendly book, and he names everyone he meets who gives him information and insight, but some of these pieces are a little puffy for my taste--is the power plant really that gosh darned wonderful? I think it might be a fun book to read before taking a walk around your neighborhood.

[mstrust · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With a sly sense of humor, the author explains how and why things are the way they are in your neighborhood. He goes to the water plant, the recycling plant, and hangs out with a Parisian graffiti artist. You'll learn exactly how your mail gets from the post office to you, how your water and electricity gets to your house, what goes into paving a road or building a sidewalk and who takes care of roadkill. There's a chapter each on squirrels and pigeons, and one on snow and how your city deals with it.Stuff I learned: Until 1920 you could mail a baby, and people did. A big reason people have heart attacks while shoveling snow is because they unconsciously hold their breath as they shovel. And in major cities, the pedestrian button isn't actually hooked up to anything, it's there mainly to give the person a sense of doing something. They lights are set according to how busy the area is.This is informative, answers lots of questions, and even chapters you'd expect to be dry, like asphalt, are interesting.