Engines of Change

A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars

By: Paul Ingrassia

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

America was made manifest by its cars. From the assembly lines of Henry Ford to the open roads of Route 66 and Jack Kerouac, America's history is a vehicular history-an idea brought brilliantly to life in this major work by the acclaimed author of Crash Course: The American Automobile Industry's Road from Glory to Disaster.

One of the nation's most eloquent and impassioned car nuts, Paul Ingrassia offers a wondrous epic in fifteen automobiles, including the VW Beetle, the Chevy Corvair, Robert McNamara and Lee Iacocca's Mustang, the Pontiac GTO, Honda's Accord, the BMW 3 Series, and the Jeep, among others. Through them, the author shows us much more than the car's ability to exhibit the particularly American tension between the lure of freedom and the obligations of utility; he takes us through the rise of American manufacturing, the suburbanization of the country, the birth of the Hippy and the Yuppy, the emancipation of women, and so much more, including the car's unintended consequences: trial lawyers, energy crises, and pollution. Narrative history of the highest caliber, Engines of Change is an entirely edifying new way to look at the American story.

©2012 Paul Ingrassia (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A thoughtful, propulsive assay of the machine that changed a nation, a world." ( The Wall Street Journal)

Nice survey of key cars

This was a nice overview of many of the most culturally and socially important cars in the American automotive experience. How were they conceived, designed, produced and marketed. Interesting insights, successes and failures. Not mechanically technical, but a light listen.

I loved this book

Would you consider the audio edition of Engines of Change to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ed Cole and his fight to save his reputation over the Corvair.

Have you listened to any of Sean Runnette’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when the author pointed out that the two most important cars in American history were the Model T and the Corvair.I owned 3 Corvairs so it was especially moving to hear the car's reputation vindicated on many levels.

Any additional comments?

The book put me in touch with my roots of the 1950/60s.

Great story

Engines of Change ranks as one of the best Audible books I have listened to, engaging and full of the history of how automobiles reflected the American culture. It was also a plus that it was read by my favorite narrator.

My Best listen in a while

I'm a car nut and a compulsive reader, growing up I jad subscriptions to Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Road & Track, Car and Driver and Motorcyclist fo good measure. I owned 2 '67 Goats. a '69 Mach 1, various Volkswagens, even a Corvair, although, mine had a 300hp '70
Camaro engine sitting where the back seat once resided. Even though I usually think I know this subject thoroughly, I learned a lot from this book. Well written with surpisingly few technical mistakes (and I might be wrong about those, who knows it might be possible)
He provideds in depth knowledge and analysis of the motivations for the vehcles and their legacies on our world I cannot recommend this book enough to any person wh has an interest in this subject, and maybe a little grease under their fingernails

Not just for car enthusiasts

This is what I know about cars: _____________________________________________. I can't tell you how a combustion engine works. I can't t talk to you about the relative merits of this vehicle or that--nor would I want to. I drive a car because I have to. All that said, I LOVED this book. I could not put it down (which was really great for flying coast to coast).

Ingrassia is insightful and he has written a book not just for car enthusiasts but for history buffs, psychologist, sociologists and those who are fascinated by advertising voodoo as well. You don't need to know anything about cars to learn a lot from this book about American history and American society during the 20th century.

You won't be bored. Ingrassia doesn't just pontificate about cars. He tells a story--actually many stories. He tells us how the cars he has chosen to write about came into being; we go behind the scenes meeting the people who were instrumental in the design and creation. Then he tells us why he thinks these particular cars are significant milestones or turning points -- what changes they wrought -- or were wrought from -- and their ultimate affect on life in America. It is a fascinating look at who we are from a new perspective--and if you aren't interested in the history, the stories are still fascinating.

This is definitely one that I will read again.

An incredible work of automotive ingenuity

outstanding history of great showstopping automotive moments and the times they influenced a really good book

If you grew up in the 1950s or 1960s..LISTEN.

Fascinating history that brought back so many great memories and a first rate piece of business history that was fun and worth hearing more than once.

Nostalgic Ride and Fun Read

I am neither a car enthusiast nor a history buff, but I enjoy reading this book from the beginning to the end (I especially love the way the author ended the book). Paul Ingrassia is a great writer, presenting the history of American Dreams (as described) eloquently and with humor! The stories behind each car are fascinating and helped me develop a new sense of appreciation towards the antique cars and the enthusiasts. The book brought smiles to my face and made me went "Ohhhh!" from time to time.

Great reading by Sean Runnette too.

Interesting Historical Perspective

I absolutely loved this book. It was a very quick read, despite the run time. Completely fascinating, and difficult to put down.

A well assembled book !

I do recommend this book. Well written and great narration. You lean about what it took to bring a bunch of great cars to market and the people and times behind the car. Just read it, you will enjoy it.