A Walk Around the Block

Starred review from September 1, 2020
The day no water flowed from his faucets, Minnesota-based carpenter and writer Carlsen realized that he knew nothing about all the things that sustain us. This inspired a home-centered yet wide-roaming investigation and this lively, funny, surprising, anecdotal, and enlightening chronicle. Carlsen crisply illuminates the history and mechanics of our water and power supply systems, streets and sidewalks, and garbage and recycling processing. Nature is honored in his tributes to all the wonders trees bestow upon us and the remarkable yet maligned lives of pigeons and squirrels. Each curious detail about fire hydrants, sewage, front porches, and parking alters the way we see our habitats. Carlsen's immersion in the postal system, an urgent subject as the pandemic and looming presidential election converge, leads to a fresh look at the evolution of communication technologies and the cellphone-oriented equipment we can spy on our neighborhood strolls. Environmental concerns shape his observations and are pinpointed in practical Walk the Walk sections, while he has fun with statistics in Hacks & Facts lists. He also advocates for walking, noting both physical and mental benefits. Writing in the mode of Edward Humes, David Owen, and Mary Roach, Carlsen offers an eye-opening and exuberantly informative walk-around-the-block tour that is made-to-order for this time of necessary at-homeness.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

October 1, 2020

When Carlson (A splintered History of Wood) encounters a plumbing problem, he begins to reflect on how his water is consistently delivered to him. He realizes that he knows very little about where his water comes from, which leads him into an existential awakening about not knowing enough about the world right outside his front door. Reflecting on the fact that many of us don't realize the engineering and natural marvels that are an integral part of our daily life, this book is an investigative journey to helping us better understand common elements of daily living that most of us take for granted. Carlson's story becomes less about things and more about people. He spends time with postal workers and trash recycling operators in an effort to better understand the world that exists in many of our day-to-day lives. It becomes a practical experience that imparts advice and wisdom we all can use to better understand the world we live in. VERDICT Carlson takes "mundane" objects and illuminates their importance to society, creating a unique book that will have readers looking at everyday objects in different ways.--Gary Medina, El Camino Coll., Torrance, CA

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