A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About)
- Downloads：4048
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-09-16 16:21:16
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Spike Carlsen
- ISBN：0062954768
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
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。
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。
Reviews
Susan
，
Such interesting observations and research about the world we see every day。 I kept turning to my husband and saying "did you know。。。。。" as I read the book。 Such interesting observations and research about the world we see every day。 I kept turning to my husband and saying "did you know。。。。。" as I read the book。 。。。more
Matthew Whalen
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In depth look at common infrastructure and the creatures that inhabit them。 A mildly interesting read; good for picking up and putting down without fear of losing any continuity。
Lisa Montgomery
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There is a great tidbit on each page， as the author looks at all aspects of the neighborhood street， its features， and the reason for its existence。
Chelsea
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Jessica Braun recommended this on her YouTube channel and I'm so glad I read it！ Such a great idea for a book and I loved reading about all of these things that we see and interact with on a daily basis。 I'm tempted to buy the physical copy just to flip through。 I also kinda want to buy it for my brother and my husband。 Jessica Braun recommended this on her YouTube channel and I'm so glad I read it！ Such a great idea for a book and I loved reading about all of these things that we see and interact with on a daily basis。 I'm tempted to buy the physical copy just to flip through。 I also kinda want to buy it for my brother and my husband。 。。。more
Onceinabluemoon
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I love books like this， love learning tidbits of life！
James
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Found this fascinating。 Look at all the little things in our everyday life that we pass， ignore and take for granted。 Now take anyone of those items and go back to discover what was needed to create it， how many people are involved and what purpose is it solving。 Very cool。 Also if you are into Trivia and random facts that no one cares about until there is a question worth 1000 points; then read this :）Facts I did not know until finished:- What determines the size of letters on a highway sign？- Found this fascinating。 Look at all the little things in our everyday life that we pass， ignore and take for granted。 Now take anyone of those items and go back to discover what was needed to create it， how many people are involved and what purpose is it solving。 Very cool。 Also if you are into Trivia and random facts that no one cares about until there is a question worth 1000 points; then read this :）Facts I did not know until finished:- What determines the size of letters on a highway sign？- What are those nests in a tree after all the leaves fall off？ - What is the most non recycled item in your house？ （ I was intrigued here; Answer below in the comments） Facts I sorta knew about but heard more on:- Manhole covers- Best times to shovel; when and why？ Granted I live in Wisconsin， USA， we get snow; have also lived in Minnesota and they get cold and snow。 You never want to do this first thing。 Wake up， have a caffeinated beverage， watch your neighbors stuggle with the snow。 Wait it's still snowing， is it deep， do you see tire tracks; have another beverage。 Now go shovel。 Another option is just go buy a big ass， tractor wheel type snowblower that can blow 24" inches with ease。 I did this; Nice to blow snow after the snowfall is over， lol I also don't remember if it was this book or another but one of the most non recycled items in your house is: "Your toilet paper role after all the paper is of"; It's Cardboard。 。。。more
Paula Keith
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I loved this book。 I learned so much about the things we encounter everyday。 The subjects that Carlsen explained have a major impact on our day-to-day lives， but for the most part， we don't give them a second thought。 I also liked that there was humor throughout the book。 I loved this book。 I learned so much about the things we encounter everyday。 The subjects that Carlsen explained have a major impact on our day-to-day lives， but for the most part， we don't give them a second thought。 I also liked that there was humor throughout the book。 。。。more
Michael Dunn
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a book about everyday stuff is boring。Its definitely not good like the tv show the "secret life of。。。" a book about everyday stuff is boring。Its definitely not good like the tv show the "secret life of。。。" 。。。more
Amanda Cox
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A very random book about different parts of a city and how they work。 Lots of infrastructure stuff （like electricity， water， traffic， etc。） but also random stuff like why houses have porches and issues with squirrels。It's a bit all very the place， and the sections aren't as clearly distinguished as I would like （at least in the audio book）， but I found it an enjoyable read and learned some things along the way。 A very random book about different parts of a city and how they work。 Lots of infrastructure stuff （like electricity， water， traffic， etc。） but also random stuff like why houses have porches and issues with squirrels。It's a bit all very the place， and the sections aren't as clearly distinguished as I would like （at least in the audio book）， but I found it an enjoyable read and learned some things along the way。 。。。more
McKinsey
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Each chapter touches on a various aspects of life that I rarely give much thought to （power， water， squirrels， etc。）， so it was kind of neat to learn a bit about each of them。 To be honest， I don't think I'll remember most of what I read in this book， but I'm glad that someone thought to bring attention to the thousands of systems and efforts in place that make modern daily life livable。 Each chapter touches on a various aspects of life that I rarely give much thought to （power， water， squirrels， etc。）， so it was kind of neat to learn a bit about each of them。 To be honest， I don't think I'll remember most of what I read in this book， but I'm glad that someone thought to bring attention to the thousands of systems and efforts in place that make modern daily life livable。 。。。more
Margaux Smith
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Spike Carlsen’s 2020 A Walk Around the Block surveys various unseen realms of urban life through brief explanatory chapters， typically involving interviews and tours with passionate oddballs uncovering the unseen locations and processes of urban infrastructure。 Carlsen’s inquisitive spirit and enthusiasm for learning about the less-glamorous dimensions of urban life is contagious。 He manages to bring a sense of awe to the mundane， full of facts and unusual anecdotes that animate our environment。 Spike Carlsen’s 2020 A Walk Around the Block surveys various unseen realms of urban life through brief explanatory chapters， typically involving interviews and tours with passionate oddballs uncovering the unseen locations and processes of urban infrastructure。 Carlsen’s inquisitive spirit and enthusiasm for learning about the less-glamorous dimensions of urban life is contagious。 He manages to bring a sense of awe to the mundane， full of facts and unusual anecdotes that animate our environment。 His tone is pragmatic， the book left me feeling disturbed about the scale of pollution， with multiple chapters outlining the massive impression that cities leave on earth， such as through our use of salt on roads in winter， the limits of recycling and the contamination of water。 I found it equal parts inspiring and eye opening， I felt informed and a little less ignorant on the basic infrastructure of the city。 My favourite sections were the two on urban animals- Squirrels and Pigeons， where you learn about the exceptional capacities of these underrated creatures， such as the exceptional flexibility and squirrels， and the advanced sensorial capacities and intense longing for home experienced by Pigeons。 It reads more like a collection of articles or a reader’s digest than an analytical book， but I found it crisp， informative and satisfying。 I was left with a sense of the mind boggling scale， coordination and ingenuity involved in making cities work， and a new appreciation for the underappreciated workers who make things work。 。。。more
Carianne Carleo-Evangelist
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A writer with the curiosity of a toddler is an amazing combination。 Carlsen takes us to his local recycling plant， the departments that oversee roads and more。 We learn about the time cycles of traffic lights， the height and length of highway lettering qnd more。 Fun read。
Sheri S。
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I enjoy learning random bits of information about a wide variety of aspects of the world。 Carlsen covers a whole slew of topics including （and definitely not limited to） parklets （which I'd never heard of）， manhole covers， graffiti， squirrels and unusual post office locations。 It was interesting to read about how different cities tackle potholes and the accumulation of snow on city streets。 It was a fun read！ I enjoy learning random bits of information about a wide variety of aspects of the world。 Carlsen covers a whole slew of topics including （and definitely not limited to） parklets （which I'd never heard of）， manhole covers， graffiti， squirrels and unusual post office locations。 It was interesting to read about how different cities tackle potholes and the accumulation of snow on city streets。 It was a fun read！ 。。。more
MJ
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I haven't actually finished reading and it's due back to the library。 I've loved it but it's not a book I feel compelled to read from cover to cover。 It's more a book to keep on a bedside table and dip into from time to time。 It would make a good gift for a person who likes to know how things work。。。。may get it for my son : ） I haven't actually finished reading and it's due back to the library。 I've loved it but it's not a book I feel compelled to read from cover to cover。 It's more a book to keep on a bedside table and dip into from time to time。 It would make a good gift for a person who likes to know how things work。。。。may get it for my son : ） 。。。more
Jason
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If I was new to the topics in the book I would have rated it higher- each chapter is essentially an essay on something I am interested in， but I've already read books on all the topics covered by a chapter， here。 It had a bit of a Reader's Digest feel。 If I was new to the topics in the book I would have rated it higher- each chapter is essentially an essay on something I am interested in， but I've already read books on all the topics covered by a chapter， here。 It had a bit of a Reader's Digest feel。 。。。more
Chris
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I saw an interview with the author， that turned me onto this book。 It seemed interesting and it was。 A sort of in depth look at the things you see as you stroll around the block。 The journey that recycling goes on and the impact of our actions was interesting。 It was also to learn about the cost for road signs， snow clearing and the challenges of disposal for snow。 I came away from this book feeling I had a little more awareness of my impact on the things that I see and use in my everyday life。
John Behle
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Spike Carlsen keeps it fun and entertaining through telling us about the infrastructure of our world。 The chapters bound from the making of concrete to the duration of red traffic lights to the science of walking as sport。 Thankfully， one of the largest sections is a deep dive into recycling。So， walking。。。I see from other reviews there are many walkers。 I am one。 Carlsen， a proud Minnesotan， trumpets the ease of the sport--there is no equipment needed other than comfortable shoes。 There is no wr Spike Carlsen keeps it fun and entertaining through telling us about the infrastructure of our world。 The chapters bound from the making of concrete to the duration of red traffic lights to the science of walking as sport。 Thankfully， one of the largest sections is a deep dive into recycling。So， walking。。。I see from other reviews there are many walkers。 I am one。 Carlsen， a proud Minnesotan， trumpets the ease of the sport--there is no equipment needed other than comfortable shoes。 There is no wrist band， no ticket required， open your door and the world is ripe。 Our planet is a no-fee， always open， nature lab。 You can see a lot by looking around。 This book is raw non-fiction。 Carlsen MRIs the hardware and the actions of this planet， then whips it up in an engaging presentation。 。。。more
Porter Young
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Have you ever wondered where the water in your tap comes from？ Where the， uh， water in your sewer goes？ Who started painting white lines on roadways？ How many squirrels live in an average neighborhood？ Well， author Spike Carlsen has an answer for those questions and about a thousand more that you may have had float through your head as you walked through your neighborhood。 In a sort of anthology of essays， Carlsen's deep dive into the dull world of "infrastructure" around us opened my eyes to th Have you ever wondered where the water in your tap comes from？ Where the， uh， water in your sewer goes？ Who started painting white lines on roadways？ How many squirrels live in an average neighborhood？ Well， author Spike Carlsen has an answer for those questions and about a thousand more that you may have had float through your head as you walked through your neighborhood。 In a sort of anthology of essays， Carlsen's deep dive into the dull world of "infrastructure" around us opened my eyes to the hidden world of sewer lines， twisting roads， power lines， and concrete giants that we live in， practically oblivious to the beauty of their mere existence。 More importantly， he painstakingly lifts the curtain on the people behind these modern marvels， heralding their heroic efforts to keep our towns clean， our roadways safe， and our communication flowing。 I found myself taking a walk after each section， just to catch a glimpse at the amazing history he was describing。 He also takes time to highlight parks， porches， bike paths， and other overlooked neighborhood bastions as places where we can gather and better recognize the wide world of community just outside our doors， a sentiment that has never been more important than it is now。 A fascinating read， or a great audiobook companion for your， well， walk around the block。 。。。more
Kevin
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Pretty straightforward。 An exploration of the common things you see in neighborhoods but don't know too many details about。 Well laid out。 Easy to read。 Entertaining。 Pretty straightforward。 An exploration of the common things you see in neighborhoods but don't know too many details about。 Well laid out。 Easy to read。 Entertaining。 。。。more
Lynne
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Such fun to learn so much about the things we encounter/use daily！！！
Ric Rincon
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Entertaining。 Not very deep， easy read。
AJ Payne
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Another in a spate of ‘let’s learn some random knowledge’ books I’ve been reading lately。 And I do love random knowledge。 And this one has not only lots of random knowledge， but also some useful stuff for making changes in life regarding exercise， trash， energy consumption， and more。Overall I found this book to be really interesting， I learned a lot， liked the author’s style， and of course particularly enjoyed all the Minnesota talk （that’s where the author is from） which always makes me nostalg Another in a spate of ‘let’s learn some random knowledge’ books I’ve been reading lately。 And I do love random knowledge。 And this one has not only lots of random knowledge， but also some useful stuff for making changes in life regarding exercise， trash， energy consumption， and more。Overall I found this book to be really interesting， I learned a lot， liked the author’s style， and of course particularly enjoyed all the Minnesota talk （that’s where the author is from） which always makes me nostalgic。It ranges much further than just ‘around the block’ with information from Europe and across the US， but with a focus on places and people in Minnesota - which makes sense given author access。 I found it well worth the read。 。。。more
Audrey Sauble
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This book is basically David Macauley's The Way Things Work， using storytelling rather than diagrams。 It's a light read， with a short chapter for each topic， and it covers a lot of material without being particularly dense。 This book is basically David Macauley's The Way Things Work， using storytelling rather than diagrams。 It's a light read， with a short chapter for each topic， and it covers a lot of material without being particularly dense。 。。。more
Ralph
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Some interesting information。 However， some topics seem overly simplified and others， given the author’s residence location， are centered too heavily on sources from the state of Minnesota。
Julie Pahutski
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A very dull block is the scene for this book， which discusses ordinary urban/suburban things like electricity， recycling， sewers， squirrels， etc。 I love Bill Bryson books， which are usually explorations of ordinary phenomena （"The Body"） or events （"One Summer: American， 1927"）。 I thought this book might be similar， but alas， it is not。 I find Bill Bryson hilarious。 Sadly， I did not find Spike Carlson hilarious。I think I read too much and have a husband that knows too much who teaches me things， A very dull block is the scene for this book， which discusses ordinary urban/suburban things like electricity， recycling， sewers， squirrels， etc。 I love Bill Bryson books， which are usually explorations of ordinary phenomena （"The Body"） or events （"One Summer: American， 1927"）。 I thought this book might be similar， but alas， it is not。 I find Bill Bryson hilarious。 Sadly， I did not find Spike Carlson hilarious。I think I read too much and have a husband that knows too much who teaches me things， because I already knew 80% of the information presented here as stuff I "know nothing about。" I ended up skimming the last few chapters because it really became tedious。I'm sure if I knew less going into this book I might have enjoyed it more。 。。。more
Jennifer
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Bits of factual info based on what you might see as you look around your neighborhood。 I especially loved the section on squirrels （with whom I have a love/hate relationship）， traffic lights （though I'm convinced the one nearest my house is set to not recognize me whether I'm walking or driving）， and the water system （the less I say about this， the better）。 Easy to pick up and read whenever。 Bits of factual info based on what you might see as you look around your neighborhood。 I especially loved the section on squirrels （with whom I have a love/hate relationship）， traffic lights （though I'm convinced the one nearest my house is set to not recognize me whether I'm walking or driving）， and the water system （the less I say about this， the better）。 Easy to pick up and read whenever。 。。。more
Todd McQueen
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Listened to audiobook。 Very interesting book for those with a curious mind。 I’d give many chapters a 5/5， particularly many of the early ones。 Some chapters were much less interesting， to me anyway。 Certainly a book that you can jump around and skip parts if so desired。 3。5
Stephen Chase
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Funny， original， & romantic！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
Mariah
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This is especially interesting as an audio book as you drive around town。 The chapter about snow was fairly irrelevant for me and the chapter about graffiti did not discuss gangs enough。 The chapters about pigeons， squirrels， grass， and road signs were much more interesting than I expected。
Greg
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