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How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save
Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage
Out of Life (Paperback)
by Chris Balish (Author)
Key Phrases: bicycle commuting, car sharing, triple redundancy,
San Francisco, United States, New York (more...)
(36 customer reviews)
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Amazon.com: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Chris Balish: Books
7/14/08 10:37 PM
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Between rising gas prices, endless car payments, and countless hours spent in gridlocked traffic, do you ever get
the feeling that you don’t own your car, but rather your car owns you? Car-free convert Chris Balish shows why
kicking car dependency could be the soundest and sanest lifestyle change you can make, and provides realistic
strategies for making the leap. From saving money to building a better world, even diehard autoholics will find
hundreds of reasons to set out on the (car-free) road less traveled.
From the Publisher
• The first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in North America without owning a car. • Exposes the
true costs of car ownership and shows how getting rid of your car can simplify your life and put you on the road
to financial freedom. • Packed with realistic, economical alternatives to owning a car, including chapters on
carsharing, carpooling, and even car-free dating. • Includes more than 100 real-world tips, strategies, and success
stories from people who are happily car-free or "car-lite," from cities to suburbs. • According to a 2004 American
Automobile Association study, the average American spends $8,410 per year (roughly $700 per month) to own a
vehicle.
See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (August 5, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580087574
ISBN-13: 978-1580087575
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
(36 customer reviews)
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,245 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Transportation > Reference
#15 in Books > Nonfiction > Automotive
#93 in Books > Business & Investing > Personal Finance
(Publishers and authors: Improve Your Sales)
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bicycle commuting, car sharing, triple redundancy, high gas prices, trial week, transit stop
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
San Francisco, United States, New York, Los Angeles, The Car-Free Way, Sam's Club, Exxon Valdez,
Department of Transportation, Home Depot, The Environmental Cost of Cars, Car-Free My Story, Give Up My Car,
Kelley Blue Book, The Miracle of Car Sharing, Toyota Sequoia
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Citations
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This book cites 4 books:
The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street by Robert Hurst on page 128
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Page 2 of 8
Amazon.com: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Chris Balish: Books
7/14/08 10:37 PM
The League Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Cycling by League of American Bicyclists on page 128
Energy and Equity (Ideas in Progress) by Ivan Illich on page 33
Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well by David L. Hough on page 113
What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?
80% buy the item featured on this page:
How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life
$10.36
(36)
8% buy
The Art of Cycling: A Guide to Bicycling in 21st-Century America
$10.17
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Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life
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36 Reviews
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Page 3 of 8
Amazon.com: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Chris Balish: Books
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
If you do the math, it is amazing! ,
September 3, 2006
By K. Corn "reviewer"
See all my reviews
(Indianapolis,, IN United States) -
First off, I am NOT car-free. I'll admit that up front. But I
would LIKE to be and this book has convinced me that I'd save
a TON of money if I were able to reduce or eliminate my
dependence on our car.
The author saved about 40K or more in 4 years of living
without a car. To say he did not EVER USE a car, however,
would not be totally true. He bumped up against reality
sometime and had to rent a car on occasion...but mostly he
made do by bicycling, walking or using public transportation or
taxis.
"Wait", you might say, "Take a taxi? Aren't they expensive?"
Not as part of an overall plan that allows one to stop paying for
auto insurance, car maintenance, buying a car, etc.
The author makes a convincing argument and I have cut down
on my use of our auto as a result, walking as much as
possible. I'd do away with it forever if we had reliable public
transportation and if our kids weren't involved in activities that
were out of the public transportation loop, sometimes out of
the city.
But I still have hope of living "car free" and I am aiming for a
life where using our car isn't necessary, in a town with good
public transportation and mild winters...someday. In the
meantime, this book has given me a road map (pun intended)
for a simpler, less auto-dependent lifestyle.
Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you?
(Report this)
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Unique! , May 5, 2007
By Michael Lewyn
(Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews
What I liked best about this book is that rather than relying on
idealistic enviro-speak, it focused primarily on the fiscal
benefits of not owning a car. Balish articulately argues that if
you can do the home-to-work commute without a car,
spending money on car ownership is throwing money into a
sewer. I especially liked Ch. 6, which describes Balish's own
non-idealistic journey from SUV driver to nondriver.
And as Balish points out, time in a car is wasted time compare
to time bicycling, walking or using public transit. The first two
modes give you an opportunity to exercise, and the last gives
you an opportunity for productive reading (unless, of course,
you live in a place where transit is TOO good, in which case
you will not have a seat to yourself and thus will have less
opportunity to read).
Also, Balish does not limit himself to walking and public transit,
but instead discusses less obvious (to me) alternatives such as
carsharing, bicycling, carpooling and motorcycles. He even cites
websites devoted to these modes, to assist those of us who
don't know much about these options.
Having said that, this book is not for everyone. Balish himself
7/14/08 10:37 PM
A car free life is possible!
My car was on its last leg. I was in
graduate school and the idea of
spending over $1500 on a
transmission overhaul was not a
pleasant option. Read more
Published 1 month ago by muybookish
Fantastic!
I've been Car-Free my entire life.
I've never gotten a Driver's License.
I've never needed it; I've gotten
around by either my own two feet, a
bike, or on public transit...
Read more
Published 3 months ago by dlayphoto.com
trade in your car for a
new set of problems
it appears that in order to live
without a car you are required to
own a computer. I'm not sure that is
such a great trade-off economically,
environmentally, or for your
mental... Read more
Published 6 months ago by bagre
A new way of looking at
things
This book gave me a new outlook on
transportation. It's amazing how
dependent most people have
become on cars, and the idea of not
owning one is almost unthinkable,
but this book... Read more
Published 6 months ago by K. Robbins
Read this book and live
this lifestyle
I went car free about a year ago
after reading this book, and it was a
good move for me. As the book
explains, it's great for your wallet,
your stress levels, and for Mother...
Read more
Published 6 months ago by David Dulany
Yes you are still a human
being if you don't own a car in
The U.S.
You can go on dates, meet people,
get to and from work, be a
productive member of your
community, buy things from all the
stores that you want to buy from.
Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bike runner
I've gone car-free!
I read this book a couple months
ago and was very energized by the
many ways the author sets out on
how you can be car-free.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well-Without-Owning/dp/1580087…r_1/103-8563588-5099811?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191225910&sr=1-1
Page 4 of 8
Amazon.com: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Chris Balish: Books
points out that "Families with children might find it difficult" to
live car-free as well as "People who live in rural areas." Even
these groups can get something out of the book: for example,
Balish discusses how a two-car family might be able to function
as a one-car family.
And I do wish Balish had addressed a few more objections in
more detail, such as:
*In some cities, it may be hard to avoid driving without either
(1) living in (or at least passing through) high-crime areas or
(2) spending a premium on housing in order to live in a
coveted intown neighborhood.
*The difficulties of living in Sunbelt cities (like, say,
Jacksonville) that are far more car-dependent than Balish's
native St. Louis.
*The concern (for single men) that women won't view you as a
real protector or provider if you don't drive them anywhere.
*Once you are married, the difficulties that arise when you and
your spouse work in different parts of a region.
But having said that, this book is worth reading for anyone
who can possibly get to work without driving.
Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you?
(Report this)
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
Truly amazing!, September 13, 2006
By Liz Ellerbe
(Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews
The scope of this terrific car handbook is truly amazing! It is
not a simplistic essay, but a profound, fact-filled book with
surprises everywhere.
And it's not just about not having a car, but not using the car
you have, except occasionally.
7/14/08 10:37 PM
how you can be car-free.
Read more
Published 6 months ago by Charmaine M.
Ruppolt
Completely mediocre
I recently started reading several
books about how to live a more
environmentally friendly life. One of
the books I read was "Divorce Your
Car", after reading it I moved on
to... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Billy Headrick
The car-free revolution
If you feel like your finances are
always drained, if you are tired and
stressed out all the time, or if you
wonder why you have such a hard
time losing weight, you owe it to...
Read more
Published 11 months ago by nishidake
If the factors are in your
favor you have NO need to OWN
a car.
What a great book. It's easy to read
and it is FULL of great advice and
tips from people who are getting by
without the $$$$$-sapping hulk of
metal. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Wes
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This author is a graduate of Dartmouth, and it shows in his
calculations and theories, and his adventurous nature.
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Amazon.com: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life: Chris Balish: Books
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