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Title: Bug: The Strange Mutations of the World's Most Famous Automobile by Phil Patton ISBN: 0-7432-0242-2 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 12 September, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.67 (3 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent cultural history
Comment: I disagree with other reviewers who seemed most appalled with Patton's willingness to connect the Beetle with Hitler. Patton does acknowledge that the idea of a "people's car" had roots that preceded Hitler. But Hitler pushed the concept as part of his plan for economic power in Germany. This fact does not give Hitler "credit" for something wonderful and magical. It's just a car, folks. To suggest (or, as Beetle fans often do, insist) that Hilter had nothing to do with it is simply naive. Yes, Hitler was a madman and yes, ironically, he had something to do with creating the most beloved automobile of the century.
That said, most of the book concerns itself with more interesting ideas about the connections between technology and human culture. This is not your standard "VW history," but rather a wide-reaching history of the importance of automobiles and the way people connect and fail to connect with certain models. The author is not afraid to try to find connections between ideas and words in interesting ways. If you're looking for straightforward technical prose, look elsewhere. Patton is an intelligent writer who knows how to turn a phrase.
Rating: 2
Summary: Author Desperately ISO Editor
Comment: Whether or not Phil Patton's latest is factually accurate or merely revisionist sensationalism, the first half of this overly long "history" of the VW Beetle makes for an entertaining enough read. But past World War Two and Hitler's interest in developing the ultimate people's car, the narrative loses focus and seems to lose its way amid references to Charles Manson, Mickey Mouse, Nike Town, and a host of other pop culture items. I almost got the feeling that the author wasn't quite sure which direction to take and that his editor was MIA. I found myself also losing focus the more I read and by the time the author discusses the Autostadt, I'd lost any semblance of interest. I'd have stopped reading, but I had less than twenty pages to go.
My hat goes off to the dust jacket's designer. It's exceptionally eye-catching.
Rating: 1
Summary: Historical Revisionism at it Worst.
Comment: 1 star for proceeding from the most egregiously faulty and revisionary premise: that the concept and design of the "bug" was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler.
Ferdinand Porsche had been working on a "People's Car" for more than 20 years before Hitler was even in power. Porsche was frequently forced to backburner the project because his employers (like Daimler-Benz) wanted his design talents focused on the luxury saloons, not an inexpensive 'everyman' car. Porsche eventually quit his job and formed his own design bureau and did piece work for his former employers to fund his passion: the volks-wagen.
Many prototypes had already been built and 90% of the design completed before Hitler appeared quite late in the development process. Adolf's ideas (as referenced in this book) were already part Porsche's pre-KdF design or were the marketing meddlings of a politician anxious to make populist hay of the German Auto industry's refusal to produce an affordable, maintainable car.
Phil Patton has robbed Ferdinand Porsche of the credit he deserves for the selfless pursuit of a people's car and places the laurels, unmerited, on the brow of a madman. Porsche was the visionary; Hitler was only the financial means. You could say that Porsche allowed his life-long goal to see the car produced cloud his judgement in choosing a business partner.
Crediting Hitler with the design of the Volkswagen is sensationalistic historical revisionism at it worst.
For a historically responsible evaluation see "Volkswagen - Nine Lives Later" by Dan R. Post.
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Title: Vintage Volkswagens by Flat 4 Project ISBN: 0811825450 Publisher: Chronicle Books Pub. Date: July, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: My Bug: For Everyone Who Owned, Loved, or Shared a Vw Beetle...True Tales of the Car That Defined a Generation by Michael J. Rosen ISBN: 1579651356 Publisher: Artisan Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Volkswagen Bug Book by Dan Ouellette, Daniel Ouellette, Quellette ISBN: 1883318009 Publisher: Angel City Pr Pub. Date: June, 1999 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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Title: Small Wonder: The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen Beetle by Walter Henry Nelson ISBN: 0837601479 Publisher: Bentley Publishers Pub. Date: April, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Bug Tales : The 99 Most Hilarious, Outrageous and Touching Tributes Ever Compiled About the Car that Became a Cultural Icon by Gabriella Jacobs, Paul A. Klebahn ISBN: 0966947401 Publisher: Oval Window Pr Inc Pub. Date: 22 March, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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