TrafficWhy We Drive the Way We Do, and What It Says About Us

The enlightened anthropologist's view of traffic — or Freakonomics on wheels
Driving can make us do funny things. Have you ever been cut off and then sped up to catch view of the offending driver to see if he looked as stupid as you thought he must be? Felt like you were a saintly human being just for letting someone merge in front of you? Cursed a traffic jam even though you were clearly part of the problem? You'll find these situations all addressed in Tom Vanderbilt's Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us). Essentially Freakonomics on wheels, this well-researched, conversational book investigates why we act the way we do on the road. The psychological tendencies explored in the book are backed up by countless studies and entertaining historical anecdotes (such as the Roman emperors' futile attempts to improve their own bad traffic). When you listen on your iPod or at home, the statistical elements of the audiobook can become a bit dull — it's much more engaging when you actually play Traffic, yes, in traffic, when the many foibles and idiosyncrasies of life in cars can be observed first-hand. In fact, it may diminish road-rage when the absurdity of driving's emotional aspects are addressed in the field. You'll feel like an enlightened anthropologist and not just someone stuck in the slow lane.