Vapid and Shallow

The lead singer of The Talking Heads explores U.S. and foreign cities from the seat of his bike. His    writing is just as good as his music, is just as good as his photography. In this book presents he the  overarching theme of urban expansion and it’s effects on the city’s geopolitical and cultural landscape.

“Bicycle Diaries chronicles David’s observations and insights — what he is seeing, whom he is meeting, what he is thinking about — as he pedals through and engages with some of the world’s major cities. In places like Buenos Aires, Istanbul, San Francisco, and London, the focus is more on the musicians and artists he encounters. Politics comes to the fore in cities like Berlin and Manila, while chapters on New York City, and on the landscaped suburban industrial parks and contemporary ruins of such spots as Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Columbus are more concerned with history in the urban landscape. Along the way, DB has thoughts to share about fashion, architecture, cultural isolation, globalization, and the radical new ways that some cities, like his home town, are becoming more bike-friendly — all conveyed with a highly personal mix of humor, curiosity, and humanity.”

http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/books/bicycle_diaries/