Confessions of a Recovering Engineer

Transportation for a Strong Town

By: Charles L. Marohn Jr.

Narrated by: Christopher Douyard

In Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, renowned speaker and author of Strong Towns Charles L. Marohn, Jr., delivers an accessible and engaging exploration of America's transportation system, laying bare the reasons why it no longer works as it once did, and how to modernize transportation to better serve local communities.

You'll discover real-world examples of poor design choices and how those choices have dramatic and tragic effects on the lives of the people who use them. You'll also find case studies and examples of design improvements that have revitalized communities and improved safety.

This important book shows you: the values of the transportation professions, how they are applied in the design process, and how those priorities differ from those of the public; how the standard approach to transportation ensures the maximum amount of traffic congestion possible is created each day, and how to fight that congestion on a budget; and bottom-up techniques for spending less and getting higher returns on transportation projects, all while improving quality of life for residents. Perfect for anyone interested in why transportation systems work - and fail to work - the way they do, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer is a fascinating insider's peek behind the scenes of America's transportation systems.

©2021 Charles L. Marohn, Jr. (P)2021 Ascent Audio

Very eye opening.

As a county administrator, I find this kind of thoughtful honesty refreshing. I commend the author for his endeavors.

Well Worth Your Time To Read or Listen To!

Not exactly a sequel; it is a different way of approaching the same material from a more personal perspective. He doesn't just talk about the problem and give a solution (or list of possible solutions); he explains the roots or philosophy of the problems as one who was part of the problem. I am going to either listen to both books again or read the Kindle versions, want to understand them that much. Also, kudos to "Not Just Bikes" YouTube channel for pointing this author out to me!

Road vs street vs “stroad”

A very compelling follow up of Strong Towns. A lot of the similar concepts in Strong Towns plays out in this book, with a much stronger focus on roads vs streets, the institutional forces behind the creation of stroads, and a lot of compelling data that has come forward in light of COVID-19. Would recommend if you have not read Strong Towns or want a deeper dive into the transportation aspect of Strong Towns.

A compelling call to action to action.

As a professional in a related field and urban design enthusiast, I found this book to be a compelling call to action. Cities are a reflection of us as much as we are a reflection of the cities we live in. I seem to recall an old Disney video clip “Goofy Motor Mania” as a fitting companion to this book.

In case you wonder about US urbanism

Urban landscape in the US tend to be quite different from what you find in most European countries. The book helps explain why. Technical rules, guidelines, when de facto mandated at the federal level can result in uniformity, lack of diversity by trial and error, without being the result of conscious choice.