SKU: 28782719453

The Life of the Automobile: The Complete History of the Motor Car

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The Life of the Automobile: The Complete History of the Motor CarThe Life of the Automobile is the first comprehensive world history of the car. The automobile has arguably shaped the modern era more profoundly than any other human invention, and author Steven Parissien examines the impact, development, and significance of the automobile over its turbulent and colorful 130 year history. Readers learn the grand and turbulent history of the motor car, from its earliest appearance in the 1880s as little more than a

The Life of the Automobile is the first comprehensive world history of the car.

The automobile has arguably shaped the modern era more profoundly than any other human invention, and author Steven Parissien examines the impact, development, and significance of the automobile over its turbulent and colorful 130-year history. Readers learn the grand and turbulent history of the motor car, from its earliest appearance in the 1880s--as little more than a powered quadricycle--and the innovations of the early pioneer carmakers. The author examines the advances of the interwar era, the Golden Age of the 1950s, and the iconic years of the 1960s to the decades of doubt and uncertainty following the oil crisis of 1973, the global mergers of the 1990s, the bailouts of the early twenty-first century, and the emergence of the electric car.

This is not just a story of horsepower and performance but a tale of extraordinary people: of intuitive carmakers such as Karl Benz, Sir Henry Royce, Giovanni Agnelli (Fiat), Andr Citro n, and Louis Renault; of exceptionally gifted designers such as the eccentric, Ohio-born Chris Bangle (BMW); and of visionary industrialists such as Henry Ford, Ferdinand Porsche (the Volkswagen Beetle), and Gene Bordinat (the Ford Mustang), among numerous other game changers.

Above all, this comprehensive history demonstrates how the epic story of the car mirrors the history of the modern era, from the brave hopes and soaring ambitions of the early twentieth century to the cynicism and ecological concerns of a century later. Bringing to life the flamboyant entrepreneurs, shrewd businessmen, and gifted engineers that worked behind the scenes to bring us horsepower and performance, The Life of the Automobile is a globe-spanning account of the auto industry that is sure to rev the engines of entrepreneurs and gearheads alike.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 05/13/2014
ISBN: 9781250040633
Pages: 448
Weight: 1.80lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.40w x 1.70d

Review Citations: Library Journal 02/15/2014 pg. 118
Publishers Weekly 03/10/2014
Booklist 04/01/2014 pg. 6
Kirkus Reviews 05/15/2014
New York Times Book Review 08/17/2014 pg. 20
Choice 12/01/2014 pg. 636
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SKU: 28782719453

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4.8 ★★★★★
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A
A. Nelson
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
Likeable characters, but only 75% complete story
Format: Kindle
I really liked the characters introduced, but the author didn’t fully conceptualize everything. We know Lila works long hours, but despite being a college graduate we never learn anything about what she does, where she works, how much she gets paid, etc. For an omega who seemed to be able to support herself, that seemed an unusual oversight. We learn absolutely nothing about what she wants in life, either. Is she just surviving the post-college life struggle or working up to her dream job? Fiona the flamingo had more detail than some of the main characters, but she was 10/10 as good as Wendy for a side character. — spoilers ahead —- Separately, some of the plot details were contradictory, or just missing. On one page Lila and Larry were together for 18 months, on another it was 4 years. When did she even move in with him? What did she do while he was gaming? How long were she and Wendy friends for Lila to trust her like that but not know much about her? And why didn’t Lila’s alphas sue Larry to reduce Lila’s debt? Shopping seemed a weird choice pamper her without knowing more about Lila’s debt and plans to reduce it. And her alphas never even ask anything about her job, but she’s The One. Such a frustrating relationship plot hole. We never even learn anything about the alphas’ families or what they want in life either. I wish the author had written about 30 more pages fleshing out the details and showing how the alphas were just as in love with Lila’s personality as they were with her scent and body. Loved the concept, but I still feel like I read 3/4 of a book.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2025
K
kat
Houston, US
★★★★★ 3
It's mid
Format: Kindle
There's a cute story there. The guys are sweet, but... I don't know. It's very vanilla. Not just the mediocre spicy scenes, but the whole story. It's just ok.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2025
T
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Tanya B
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
just with the book Lover ordered
Format: Kindle
This is an omega verse love story without too much angst a must read with doting alpha’s, and Omega treated like exactly how she’s supposed to be treated. This is a very sweet read not a lot of drama the chemistry between the FMC and the MMC’s is off the pages delicious.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amber Spicer
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
3 Alpha Cowboys, One Omega City Girl, 3 Months of Forced Proximity - ALL The Spice
Format: Kindle
What could be better than a Cowboy Romance? How about THREE cowboys. If that Reverse Harem reveal doesn't peak your interest, what if I told you that all the cowboys are also Alphas & our FMC is an Omega? Interested yet? Thought so.... Finding out that there is an entire sub-genre (sub-sub-genre??) of non-shifter Alphas & Omega books has been a recent discovery that I am quite enjoying. Up until this last month I had only seen the Alpha / Omega trope in association with Paranormal Shifter Romance. However, this new-to-me concept introduces all the fun of Alpha & Omega pheromones, heat cycles, & knotting with no were-creature trope required. None of that unnecessary slobber or shedding found here! OK there was some shedding, but that was just from the three adorable adopted cats featured in this story. Oh, and maybe some drool on my end as I through some of the spicier scenes. The spice in this one is hotter'n a blister bug in a pepper patch -- or some other Cash approved country saying. Speaking of Cash...I'm pretty sure I need to send Harley a Thank You card for writing these spectacular men. Maybe a gift basket? How does one appropriately show gratitude to an author for creating truly exceptional male character. Which is, in fact, what all the Alphas in this book are. They hit all the book boyfriend tropes: 🩷 Cash Winslow: Your typical golden retriever cowboy. He is tall, blonde, and has a joke or "cowboy-ish" for almost any situation. 💕Scent: Fresh sage, strong coffee, old leather. 🩷 Walker Stone: Tall, dark, & broody this Cowboy is the enforcer of the group. He is also a HUGE flirt & say all the right things! 💕Scent: Cedar & Cinnamon 🩷 Ridge Colter: The stoic & reserved ginger has a heart of gold behind the walls he tries to put up. 💕Scent: Honey & Fresh Bread The FMC, Sophia Hollis, has her hands....and other places....full with these three. Fresh out of a very toxic (trigger warning) relationship with her ex-Alpha, she has no idea what it means to be truly cherished as an Omega. When she inherited the Wild Hearts Ranch, she figured she would travel from her home in Chicago to Montana, sell the ranch, and be on her way with enough cash to pay off her debts and start a new life for herself. What she didn't expect was for that inheritance to come with terms. Terms that dictate she live on the ranch for three months before she can sell. Three months.....with three hot Alphas....what could go wrong? "Three months in Montana with three Alphas, a bull named Brutus who has it out for me, and I have no idea if this small town even has a heat clinic. What could possibly go wrong?" - pg. 27 Nothing....absolutely nothing goes wrong...in fact, after reading this book I would say that things went very VERY right for her. Without giving too much away, here are just some of my top highlights & notes from the book: Instant alpha / omega scent recognition. Shirtless Cowboys.....a lot of shirtless cowboys. A guest house with a library & swinging chair. (Sadly no on-page library spice) Ranch / Animal Sanctuary. Alpha sponsored shopping trip. (Yes - Dressing Room Fun Occurred) Junk Measuring (With actual measuring tape) Late Night Stargazing Lord Weasleton of a Grandson (Seriously....somebody take this guy out back) Bull Riding & Rodeo (because....of course) Omega Heat Guard Dog Bull (Seriously his name is Bruno & he is very cranky) Adventures with Ice Cream (Mango might just be my new favorite flavor) Smutty Bookclub (That I wish I could join....seriously...the themed meetings...the costumes...LMFAO) Small Town Found Family.....and gossip Cowboy-isms Version of Truth or Dare He makes her "O" 7 times just to compete with the MMC in her bookclub book. And so much more.... For those of you wondering, the true spice starts around 50% in, but the flirting & banter builds the tension in the best of ways. If you are looking for your next Alpha / Omega Cowboys Romance I suggest you take this one for a ride.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2025
J
Verified Purchase
JD
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Sweet But With Depth!
Format: Kindle
“maybe, just maybe, some things are worth chasing across the sky. Even if you never catch them.” This is a sweet, cozy OV romance—but it actually has unexpected depth. I picked this up expecting a light read with low angst. And, while I got a low angst read—it was so much more than that. It’s people piecing themselves back together after serious hurts, and learning it’s okay to be vulnerable. Learning it’s okay to allow yourself to be loved The characters are well rounded and very real, including the “broody” cowboy that could have easily been a stereotype—but was actually one of the best in the whole book. It’s got just the right level of spice, and boy is it well written! I couldn’t put it down. This is no shallow OV read, this has heart and soul. It’s absolutely beautifully written. It honestly deserves more than five stars!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2025

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