The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power by Travis Culley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power
Book Review: wild ride
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been intrigued by bicycle messenger culture. Seeing these otherworldly creatures in elevators offered a fun contrast to the crowds of corporate worker bees. The messenger's bikes look like minimalist scupture (often fixed-gear with no brakes) that has been through a war (paint trashed, tires bald).The Immortal Class is a fun read. His prose starts off a little ackwardly in the first chapter but he finds his cadence quickly. A difficult book to put down.
I recommend this book and also commuting by bike (a great stress buster).
Book Review: A fabulous glimpse into an alternative lifestyle
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an avid biker--yes, I do commute by bike but not every day--and I loved the book, although I found it occasionally a bit high on the melodrama and the flowery asides. That is the only reason I would not give it five stars; the circuitous narrative makes it a bit less gripping, but I found that it is also an advantage because either the story or the philosophy by themselves would be thin. The Imortal Class offers a close look into an alternative lifestyle. I do straddle the corporate world, and this look at the other side was a great escape--I actually wish there were more details of "life on the other side" of the economic machine. Despite the frequent flowery detours, I found the book offers a lot of food for thought on the schizophrenic structure of our suburban life and hurried work, along with the architectural and legal choices that they imply. The thoughtfullness of the book gives it a beatnick tinge along the lines of "The Zen of Motorcycle Maintainace." It is a "zen" sort of book in my mind. That having been said, the Immortal Class is not a complete or coherent philosophy of life, nor does it aspire to be. It serves its role as food for thought, though, very well.Book Review: Interesting, Well Written, but one sided
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a good book, and a very interesting read. It is well written, as I found myself getting drawn into the stories of Culley's life as a bike messenger. The stories were very metaphorical, interesting, and at time humourous. The book does give a good glimpse of someone who has rejected the corporate driven materialistic society and shows us that yes, we can find happiness without making much money. But the book is very one sided. Culley trashes the corporate way of life and trashes the automobile without looking at the economic benefits that such things have brought this country. He also came off as very pompous. I almost felt as if Culley was insulting me and putting me down simply because I work an office job and drive there every day. While Culley offers good suggestions, he is very one sided and does not see the other side of things, and does not seem to be on the lookout for some sort of comromise.Book Review: The Immortal Class
Summary: 4 Stars
Being an avid bike rider, I was immediately drawn to the subject matter. Little did I know that I was about to embark on a true, amazing personal journey of a 25 yr. old whose script is as tight and insightful as any "seasoned" writer. To follow the author, not only in the "most dangerous ocupation on dry land" through the streets of Chicago, but also in his personal journey of survival makes for a great read.Book Review: I disagree with previous reviewers
Summary: 1 Stars
Culley's topic and his passion for it appeal to those who resist the road dominance of the infernal combustion engine, but I cannot recommend his book. The writing, and the thinking behind the writing, are sloppy and adolescent. Melodrama and self- aggrandizement abound. You suspect this from the start, with a glance at the title ("immortal" class?) and at the smarmy photos of the author on the jacket. After a few pages your suspicions are confirmed. Consider these examples:1. "[The bicycle] is a philosophy, a way of life, and I am using it like a hammer to change the world and to redeem our war-torn cities."
2. "Cadence for cash and Money for miles -- these are the mantras of many a struggling genius."
3. "I began to feel that I was floating, softly looking down upon the city ... from this godlike view, all of my motion seemed effortless ... By the time I could envision a destination I would arrive there as if by magic. I would appear rested, and yet behind me would be the distant reflection of what I had just encountered and just overcome."
4. "Then unexpectedly, like a possessed man, channeling from the world of the dead, I spoke: 'Life sucks, but work is really cool.' ... I woke the next morning to don the armor again."
5. "You begin to see yourself as different, exempt from the so-called universal laws of life and death. This heightened feeling gives the messenger a confidence, a speed, and an agility of almost metaphysical proportions."
6. "I can do anything ... there is a certain space around me, like a force field ... I am untouchable, and everyone knows it. It is a matter of respect. Moving at the speed of commerce, shoveling through all the scales of mankind at once, saving the world all day long, I require at least that much respect."
7. "[T]he phone rang. It was Julie, a dancer and choreographer who was also my girlfriend *at the time*. (I seem to have girlfriends only *at times*. I am not sure why, but for me, love never seems to stick.)
8. "I hopped over the gray countertop, hoisted my bike onto my shoulder with a 'By this, ye shall conquer' kind of valor, and clamored out the front door, fully prepared, once again, to make my contribution to the world."
Such self-indulgence fills the book. Culley's chapters about getting doored and finding his way into messengering descend further into annoying self-study. Descriptions of burning through intersections are meant to impress, but they invite derision. Melodramatic passages about Critical Mass do not ring true. The pseudo-impressionism of the section about Jon Boub reduces both credibility and clarity.
Culley wants to reveal himself and fellow bike messengers in full complex humanity, but his over-the-top rhetoric miscarries him. In Culley's view, messengers (and cyclists in general) are fundamentally different from drivers. Such a view is misguided. Many drivers are also cyclists, and most cyclists are also drivers. Your attitude and patience will vary depending on which kind of vehicle (car or bike) you happen to be using. That's a crucial point and Culley misses it.
Bike messengers, and cyclists generally, need a book that depicts their on-the-road experience with accuracy and balance -- and that tells the story in a way that may really help non-cycling motorists understand. This book isn't it.
I admire Culley's energy and enthusiasm, and do not doubt his sincerity of purpose, but I can't give this book more than a single star.