ENGINES OF CHANGE A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars

The Ford Model T, Chevrolet Corvette, VW Beetle, Ford F-150, Chrysler minivan, and Toyota Prius are among 15 models that the author says marked important changes in the way Americans relate to their cars. With chapters that build slowly and offer fascinating insider quotes, the author describes the design, engineering, and marketing approaches that made each car successful, as well as the ego clashes and company politics behind that success. This is not a groundbreaking history of American culture over the past 100 years, but car enthusiasts will love the stories and broader context. Smooth-sounding Sean Runnette connects with these narratives in an authentic, low-key way. He’s so easy to hear that the occasional phrasing misstep is always forgiven. But with this kind of material, some listeners will wish for a performance that adds more juice to the production. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]