A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About) [Paperback]

“Carlsen sees a world of wonder hiding in plain sight and may just change how you look at the world around you.” - TODAY Show

A simple walk around the block set journalist Spike Carlsen,
bestselling author ofA Splintered History of Wood,off to investigate
everything he could abouteverything
we take for granted in our normal life—from manhole covers and recycling bins
to bike lanes and stoplights.

In this celebration of the seemingly mundane, Carlsen opens
our eyes to the engineering marvels, human stories, and natural wonders right
outside our front door. He guides us through the surprising allure of sewers,
the intricacies of power plants, the extraordinary path of an everyday letter,
and the genius of recycling centers—all the while revealing that this awesome
world isn’t just a spectator sport.

Engaging as it is endearing,A Walk Around the Blockwill
change the way you see things in your everyday life. Join Carlsen as he strolls
through the trash museum of New York City, explores the quirky world of
squirrels, pigeons, and roadkill, and shows us how understanding stoplights,
bike lanes, and fine art of walking can add years to our lives. In the end, he
brings a sense of wonder into your average walk around the block, wherever you
are. Guaranteed. 

No neighborhood walk will ever be the same after Spike Carlsen reveals to you the extraordinary origins of your ordinary surroundings. His grand storytelling style will make you wonder why you’ve always taken for granted alleyways, asphalt, and manhole covers, and how your ancestors could ever have lived without them. -Rebecca Martin, technical editor, Mother Earth News and Grit

Writing in the mode of Edward Humes, David Owen, and Mary Roach, Carlsen offers an eye-opening and exuberantly informative walk-around-the-blocklCŽ