[.ca] The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of ... (ISBN 0375760245)

oh my wordy!:
though this book gives a glimpse of the overall pace and stress of a bike messenger's work, it is incredibly overwritten. too much sloppy, masturbatory prose. worth a skim if youre intersted in the bike courier lifestyle, but take it with a few grains of salt. it is clear, after a few chapters, that this cat didnt actually live the life himself.

The accolades are not deserved:
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. "\oThe bicycle\c 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. "\oT\che 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.

Rookie Romanticism:
This book exhudes rookiness from every page. Culley seems to be the typical newbie messenger, overly impressed with himself and hyper-romanticizing the profession. Still the book is pretty good. His view of cities and history is realistic, and the description of the courier offices and the seemy side of the business is spot on. 157

Misnomer:
To me, the title is completely wrong. Yeah, a lot of the book is about messengering, and all that comes with it. But the book is much bigger than that. To me it was about the love affair with the bicycle, and how that love can make you wanting more from life, and from our cities. Culley captures that love more than anything I have ever read.

Completely awesome:
I really liked this book. The author shows considerable skill in manipulating the rhythm of the English language to suit his subject. I have bought copies of this book for my friends, and have read it two times, working on my third. Some people doubt Travis's sincerity, thinking he sees himself as God or something. That's totally not the case. He claims only one day in the spotlight as having delivered the most packages, for example -- (...)