Lightweight Eats

"Why are you reading a book about traffic?!" my mom asked in disbelief. Assuming nerdiness isn't a valid explanation, I'd also like to point out that driving is the most dangerous thing most of us will do on any given day. Why did I think about that? Because I read Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt.

Since we got our first car (!) last month, I thought it would be wise to read about the wild world of roads. Tom Vanderbilt has changed me into a 10 and 2, cell-phone free, 55mph driver, and I'm totally ok with it. His book talks about how traffic works, what the most dangerous conditions are, urban design for safer streets, and you'll just have to read the book to find out the rest.

It's definitely an easy read, more like an extended magazine article than an extended essay with points and counterarguments. For those of you that like microhistories (history books about a very specific topic) or who have an interest in urban planning, I'd recommend checking it out from your local library.

Plus, this is a great book to read before the holidays: everybody has been stuck in traffic, so it's a wonderful conversation starter.