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Book Reviews
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A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so don't stop at a little. The books we review here will expand your knowledge beyond dangerous all the way to cataclysmic.
Bicycling & the Law: Your Rights as a Cyclist by Bob Mionske, JD. VeloPress 2007. Paperback. 368 pp. $18.95 list.
From bike theft to traffic incidents to harassment, Bob Mionske covers every legal aspect of cycling. The book is well organized and Mionske's writing style makes a tedious subject enjoyable. He explains basic legal concepts and then applies them to specific cycling situations. In addition to the expected topics of bike theft, crashes, and loose dogs, there are chapters on insurance, liability waivers, and product liability. Because laws vary from state to state, this is not the final word on the legal climate for cyclists. And there's more substance for roadies than mountain bikers. But for anyone who rides any bike anywhere at anytime, Bicycling & the Law provides a surprisingly deep and accessible understanding of the relevant legal issues.
The Glycemic-Load Diet: A powerful new program for losing weight and reversing insulin resistance by Rob Thompson, MD. McGraw-Hill 2006. Paperback. 225 pp. $16.95 list.
Cardiologist Rob Thompson wants to help readers regulate their cravings and manage their weight by making them mindful of the glycemic load of what they eat. Glycemic load builds on the original idea of glycemic index (GI). GI rates foods according to how quickly the body metabolizes the sugars and starches in those foods. White table sugar has a GI of 100 while most vegetables have a GI of 30 or lower. Glycemic load compensates for the shortcomings of glycemic index, such as the fact that GI doesn't take into account portion size. A food with a high glycemic load causes a spike in blood sugar followed by a severe drop in blood sugar. This “high/crash” cycle is tough on the body as it tries to regulate blood sugar. It's especially tough on endurance athletes - including cyclists - whose bodies rely on consistent blood sugar levels to maintain performance. While The Glycemic-Load Diet isn't targeted specifically at athletes, the information it provides will help recreational athletes perform better with reduced risk of bonking.
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) by Tom Vanderbilt. Hardcover: Alfred A. Knopf; 2008; 402 pp; $24.95 list. Paperback: Vintage; 2009; 416 pp; $16.00 list.
In a country where 90 percent of drivers say their driving skill is above average (a statistical impossibility), it's not surprising that our understanding of driving and traffic is so badly flawed. In fact our knowledge of traffic could be divided into two categories: things we think we know but about which we are wrong, and things we don't know at all. Vanderbilt does a stellar job of correcting our thinking in Traffic. And he's not sharing his opinions. He cites dozens of studies from around the world. Those citations and copious end notes help readers gain a deeper understanding of the topic. Best of all it's clear that Vanderbilt loves this subject and loves writing about it. His style is informative but also entertaining. Cyclists benefit by gaining a better understanding of traffic in general and Vanderbilt's insights into cycling in particular. Anyone brave enough to venture onto the roads of America, whether by motor vehicle or by bike or by foot, will find Traffic a fascinating and sometimes scary read.