Uncommon Carriers Audiobook

" John McPhee shadows a chemical tanker truck driver across the country, a barge captain on the Illinois river and a train engineer for a >1 mile long coal train in Wyoming among other things. I like this book. Highlights included ruminations on how much gasoline truck drivers use up idling in truck stops heating or air-conditioning there cabs (answer: a lot), and a tour of the UPS central processing center which is basically a fully automated maze of like 12 or 15 levels of conveyor belts moving packages in a 500 acre building in the middle of the Louisville KY airport. McPhee has a good eye for people too, so this book is a good mix of him talking with people and him musing about the things they do. No shortage of interesting trivia facts here. I liked it. "

" This is another title I read for book club and not one I would pick up on my own. Everyone else seems to know who John McPhee is but I was not familiar with his work. Uncommon Carriers is about the people who transport materials with large vehicles - semis, UPS, barges, etc. with a brief essay on duplicating Walden's trek on a river. While this is not my style and I did struggle to get through some of the essays, it was very well written and highly regarded by his fans. "

" Totally fascinating. I bring it up in conversation frequently. "

" An often engaging, though uneven, series of essays mainly focusing on transportation. The essays on trucking, ship training, and barges are the best, I feel. I think this type of journalism would be fascinating. Learned quite a bit. "

" Oh my Gosh, I learned SO MUCH from this book! I also enjoyed his writing style. "

" I would have liked a little more color in these essays but that's not McPhee's style. I especially enjoyed the long-haul trucking essay -- which I remember reading in the New Yorker -- and the one about UPS. I may skip the coal and ship essays. "

" McPhee can make sand interesting. "

" This is, I suspect, one of the most interesting books about freight hauling. The style is light and enjoyable while having realistic conversations with the people who move commodities around out country. I recommend it. "

" Fascinating information about barges, automated UPS sorted facilities and coal trains. Anyone interested in logistics should read this. "

" Worth the time for the chapter on truckers and the one on shipping lobsters alone. Interesting read about how the stuff that we use gets to us, and McPhee was brilliant as always. Recommended. "

" The first chapter about the truck driver was awesome, but I got bored during the second chapter. "

" Great range of transport roles and experiences gives rise to a community of the movers of goods and people and the commitment they display to success of human endeavor. Justifiably raises the appreciation for the talents and experiences of our "transporters." "

" MP3 player from the Gates Library. I expected an account of tales from truckers. This was more like a textbook. I learned a lot about the rules and regs for trucking and boating.... but alas, I could not finish it. VERY dry stuff. "

" John McPhee can make anything interesting. This book details the lives of truckers, ship pilots, UPS delivery, and more. An easy and entertaining read. "

" The first part of the book, when he's riding with the guy in the 18-wheeler, is definitely the most interesting and entertaining. The rest of the book is pretty dry and I found it hard to get through. "

" Very interesting and so well written. "

" If you've ever wondered how goods get transported by ground and sea read this book and enjoy the trip. "

" worth it for king truck driver don ainsworth alone. feel free to skim any of the boat-related stories, the others are solid. "

" A little uneven, but the interesting parts are excellent. In the first essay, for example,he conveys the details that make up the world of a trucker. Surprising and awesome. "

" Oh my Gosh, I learned SO MUCH from this book! I also enjoyed his writing style. "

" Worth the time for the chapter on truckers and the one on shipping lobsters alone. Interesting read about how the stuff that we use gets to us, and McPhee was brilliant as always. Recommended. "

" Assorted essays on boats, trucks, planes, and trains. I liked it. ... The section on planes is about the UPS hub, and I learned a little about supply-chain outsourcing! "