Enjoy Looking For America On The New Jersey Turnpike Narrated By Angus Kress Gillespie In PDF

American Studies professors from Rutgers University here show how the New Jersey Turnpikethat "ugly icon,'' America's "widest and most traveled'' roadhas found its way into the minds, if not the hearts, of artists and drivers alike.
In poet Allen Ginsberg, singer Bruce Springsteen, commuters and roadside home owners lulled to sleep by its drone of traffic, thislane asphalt monster has inspired powerful reactions, from admiration to anger.
The authors consider the first asparagus patch plowed up to lay the road the,salary a contemporary tolltaker can earn with hefty overtime and the not infrequent lawlessness of the highway patrol.
From the grayflannelsuit diligence that built it, to the mixture of necessity, practicality and venality that maintains it, the New Jersey Turnpike proves to be an enthralling though unlikely subject.
Ever wonder what toll collectors do when a motorist pulls up with no money Did you know that it is against the law to take pictures on the New Jersey Turnpike Want to know how the sensors work that are embedded in the road to help monitor traffic flow Looking for America on the New Jersey Turnpike is not a book one would normally rush out to read, but after reading several favorable reviews I gave it a chance and discovered to my delight it was impossible to put down.
The authors, two Rutgers professors, have written a charming short book on the history and problems of thatlane corridor through whichmillion vehicles pass annually.
Each car, in the process, enriching the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, a totally independent body answerable to virtually no one, While the authors have a tendency to allow their personal gripes to intrude into the narrative, chances are their complaints mirror those of other travelers, If you've ever been as terrified as I while whipping through the northern half trying to enjoy the bountiful scenery of airports, refineries, swamps, cesspools, harbors, dumps, and smog, you'll enjoy this microcosm of America and the Garden State.
Due to the age of this book it is somewhat hard to completely relate to the text, but the history section of the book does provide insightful knowledge.
The writing of the book is dry at times, but if you are from the area or take an interest in Americana there is room for reflection in the text.
This WAS a good book twenty years ago,

But at this point, the information is hugely dated,

My husband and I were reading this one together, but I think we're going to give up on it, First of all I have to admit that I didn't finish reading this book primarily because it was not what I thought it was, Secondly, it was dry and thirdly, while only written in the lates, it was wildly out of date, For people interested in the history and politics behind building the New Jersey turnpike, this book provides valuable data, otherwise I think you should skip it.
I tried repeated to read the book, skipping chapters hoping to find a place that drew me in, but alas I gave up, Professor Angus Kress Gillespie is a folklorist who has studied myths, legends, tales, and ballads found in the United States, His courses in folklore range from historic figures such as Buffalo Bill, Casey Jones, Calamity Jane, and Molly Pitcher to contemporary issues such as urban legends and conspiracy theories.
From time to time,

Gillespie offers courses in weird folklore where he discusses creatures such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil, His courses in folklife consider physical folklore including architecture, art, craft, cookery, cattle ranching, seafaring, and fence construction, .