Drivetime

This book explores the thoughts and reflections that arise during driving, utilizing a diverse range of British and American texts from the 20th century to examine cognitive and emotional experiences on the road.

Drivetime explores the cognitive and emotional processes that occur while driving or being driven in a car. The book delves into a vast collection of British and American literature from the motoring era, spanning the years 1900 to 2000. It aims to uncover the various thoughts and reflections that arise during the driving experience, highlighting how this activity influences our mental landscapes.

The author, Pearce, examines a diverse array of texts, including early motoring magazines, Modernist and inter-war fiction, American road-trip narratives, and autobiographical works. Through close readings of these literary pieces, she categorizes different types of driving-events and considers how driving serves as a medium for various experiences, such as self-reflection, meditation, and imaginative daydreaming. This exploration provides insight into the intricate relationship between driving and our thought processes.

While recent research in sociology and psychology has shed light on how drivers manage to think about other matters while navigating the complexities of the road, Drivetime emphasizes the need to understand the nature of these cognitive journeys. By examining how driving shapes our thoughts and emotions, the book offers a deeper appreciation of the car as not just a mode of transportation but also a space for introspection and creative exploration.