This was an entertaining and informative read. I found myself sharing what I learned from this book with those around me. I recommend it to fans of good and highly readable non-fiction.

“Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle,” by Jody Rosen (ISBN: 9780804141499), publication date: 24 May 2022, earns four stars.

This book is quite the ride, guiding the reader through two centuries of the bicycle’s evolution—from its earliest days of a walking machine to the velocipede and on to the most modern range of bicycle types and derivatives today. Along the way, we traverse two centuries of history, visit a plethora of countries, and learn about the continually evolving uses for the bicycle and its derivatives. In our reading, we also learn the bicycle is far more than a mere conveyance. It is an object of prejudice, an expression of brilliance and unending renewal, a form of freedom, of exploration, a political statement, an instrument of war, a symbol of peace, and a hope for a greener future.

The history of the bicycle is a personal account as well, filled with the anecdotes of various cyclists, the author included, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, from the most common man to a King. In the process, we find bicycles inside the Titanic deep in the Atlantic Ocean or floating inside the International Space Station.

Whatever you thought you knew about the bicycle, once you finish reading this labor of love, you will realize how little you know and how great the impact of the bicycle is throughout the world. It is a compelling history.

Thanks to the publisher, Crown Publishing, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.