A fascinating look at the everyday human world we rarely stop to notice. Carlsen explores everything from manhole covers to how urban design can help protect the environment. Will appeal to readers who like pop science, natural history, architecture, and interesting nonfiction in general.

I really enjoyed A Walk Around the Block.A pleasant stroll in your neighborhood full of things to look at I might not of noticed.So much information perfect for trivia lovers.#netgalley #harpercollins,

What an enjoyable read. I was hooked from the first chapter about the history of porches on homes in the US and how they impact a neighborhood. The book will certainly change your perspective about a multitude of common items. Mr. Carlsen covers recycling, sewers, electricity, small wildlife and more as you tour the neighborhood. Things you look at everyday take on a significant chapter with lots of interesting facts and antidotes. I especially like the fact that you can read a chapter, lay the book down and pick it up later without having to reread previous chapter to catch back up. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Walk Around the Block
Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About)
by Spike Carlsen
HarperCollins Publishers
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
HarperOne
Nonfiction (Adult) | Science
Pub Date 20 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 15 Dec 2020

I really enjoyed reading this book. Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC, Its books like this that make me smile. I will recommend it to our patrons.
5 star

Brisk, Cheerful, STEM Fun

I like trivia books, lists, and bathroom compendiums. This is along those lines, but with a bit more to it.

There is a theme of sorts, although "frequently overlooked things around you" qualifies as a rather broad theme. That's fine, though, because such a broad canvas allows for a wide range of surprisingly interesting essays and mini field trips. Of special importance, the book has an engaging narrator and an appealingly mellow point of view, so you are always in good company.

We start with broad larger categories - Incoming, Outgoing, Surfaces, Nature, and Signs,Lines and Lights. Within those categories we have individual chapters, (electric transmission, water works, mail delivery, bike lanes, pigeons, traffic signals), and we often follow each service from its source to your house. Along the way we meet with and chat with the people involved in getting all those services delivered. Interspersed as mini-sidebars are factoids and brief colorful facts and historical tidbits. There are some photos, drawings, and other illustrations, but as is often the case with books like this, there are only a few.

This isn't a work of academic scholarship. It is a very entertaining and engaging work of popular science and cultural history. This struck me as a particularly good choice for a younger reader with a taste for STEM topics and general nonfiction. It is accessible and engaging, with a reader friendly, almost conversational, tone. For every kid who is alert, aware, and observant, this could be a rewarding treat.

And everyone should have a thorough understanding of manhole covers.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

The description of this book sounded really cool and I was looking forward to learning about all this stuff around me I knew nothing about. Except it turned out I actually did? Either I learned everything I needed to know from How your house works (King) or the amount of information in each section was small enough for me to have picked it all up already. I can’t recommend it because there are much better books both for beginners and more in depth.

Have you ever been asked why manhole covers are round? Have you ever asked yourself why are stop signs red octagons, but railroad crossing signs are yellow circles? To be honest, these two questions never crossed my mind, but for Spike Carlsen, they were merely a few of the questions he had as he took a walk around his neighborhood.

A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (And Know Nothing About) is really a collection of research based (but easily read) field trips Carlsen takes based on his observations in and around his neighborhood. He is first challenged when he ponders where the water in his bathroom sink comes from, so he finds an expert - a manager at his local City Water Department. A variety of "things" we see, use, and generally take for granted around our home and community are the focus of this non-fiction text.

When you walk out of your front door, where are you? Is there a small slab of concrete beneath your feet, or are you standing on wooden planks (or maybe HPDE - High-Density Polyethylene lumber - better known as recycled milk jugs or laundry detergent bottles) which have been used to create a porch? I'm sure your porch or entry don't sound too exciting, but when reading the first chapter of Carlsen's book, you begin to learn the history and functionality of the area around your front door.

Each part is broken up into categories: Incoming, Outgoing, Surfaces, Nature, and Signs, Lines, and Lights. Under the parts are chapters about the the "things" we generally take for granted: telephone wires, sewers, asphalt, parks, and street names. These are just a few of the interesting topics covered in this 336 page book filled with expert information the author has gathered as he has visited the people and places making up the infrastructure of society.

I highly recommend this book for high school and public libraries. The subjects are not ones you might usually read about, but it is not only interesting to learn about the things around you everyday, but also about the people behind the scenes who operate and maintains they large fascilaties and resources we generally take for granted. You will never look at road construction or a front porch the same.

While this book was different than I thought it would be, I thought it was really interesting. The book weaves every day anecdotes into the histories and stories behind things all around you that you never notice, such as recycling, water lines, and telephone lines. This book is rich with information and overall has a very fun narrative tone. This will be a great non fiction read for those looking for something a little lighter but also very informative.