Scan barcode
Reviews
A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel
karrama's review
4.0
Maybe a must-read for anyone who drives or uses a computer of any sort, Deadly Wandering follows the story of an investigation following a car crash. This is one of the real-life earliest texting-and driving cases, told through the narrative of investigative discovery by a driven policeman who knows there's more to the story. Neuro and behavioral scientific findings are woven with the back stories of the people who discovered what happened and defended the families of the JPL engineers lost in the car crash. Though fraught with stylistic inconsistency, this is the story of people, all people, who have used phones or lost a loved one in a car crash. Why did the driver persist in his evasive answers? Why did the trooper keep digging? Why did the social worker fight for the families before she knew they were in her district? You'll read this one to the end.
cymshady's review against another edition
3.0
Book 19/100 for the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge.
Damn, this book needs to be mandatory reading for people who have a drivers license.
Damn, this book needs to be mandatory reading for people who have a drivers license.
lconrad15's review
2.0
Written very much like a (looooong!) article rather than a book… the subject matter is interesting, but good lord, it was drawn out. So much repeating of the same information - I ended up getting bored and skimming the last several chapters. There was a lot of back story of people who were not the main players (like the doctors and the victim advocate and the judge and the lawyers… ugh). I initially rated this as 3 stars and I’m getting so annoyed writing this that I’m changing it to 2. Not every bit of research needs to be included in the final edit, Mr. Pulitzer Prize winning author.
carolpk's review
4.0
The Hook - In June of 2006 Nineteen year old Reggie Shaw grabs his cell phone, climbs into his SUV and heads off to work. It’s just an ordinary day. Approximately 35 minutes into his ride, two men are dead and three families lives are changed forever.
I’m a minority, one of the unconnected so to speak. I own an old tracfone, rarely on and even though it’s capable of sending a text message I never have. The premise in my quick summation above grabbed me immediately. I’m in the camp that texting while driving is distracted driving. To go a few steps further, I also believe cell phone use is problematic. But what about listening to audio books, the radio or even my passenger’s chatter; are these considered distractions to our attention to the road? Should these all be banned and be punishible crimes? Matt Richtel blends Reggie Shaw’s story with scientific studies that texting and daily use of our devices is not only addictive behavior but a deadly a deadly mix behind the wheel.
The Line – “At one end of the hall at which he found himself, heedless justice in threadbare robes were biting their fingernails or closing their eyelids, at the other end was a ragged rabble. There were lawyers in all sorts of attitudes, the passage begins, and goes on to describe this mess of humanity, all absorbed and self-absorbed participants, even the inattentive judges” and then concludes “for men felt herein the presence of that great human thing which is called law and that great divine thing that is called justice.” a quote from Les Misérables that Judge Willmore kept in the upper right drawer of his desk and came under the heading “A Place for Arriving at Convictions”. It seems appropriate as Reggie Shaw comes to trial for his part in the deaths of the two men.
The Sinker – Should be required reading for teens applying for their driving permits.
A Deadly Wandering is aptly titled as this is just what happens when Reggie Shaw takes to the road that fateful day. He weaves in and out and over the line until the accident happens. I would not do this review justice without giving name to the two rocket scientists killed that day. Keith O’Dell and Jim Furfaro, brilliant men, husbands and fathers. Many others play a part in the investigation and the tragedy of what happened that day when Mr. Shaw’s, Mr. O’Dell, and Mr. Furfaro lives collided.
Matt Richtel has written a compelling, thought provoking piece of investigative journalism. I challenge you to read the book and continue to text.
I’m a minority, one of the unconnected so to speak. I own an old tracfone, rarely on and even though it’s capable of sending a text message I never have. The premise in my quick summation above grabbed me immediately. I’m in the camp that texting while driving is distracted driving. To go a few steps further, I also believe cell phone use is problematic. But what about listening to audio books, the radio or even my passenger’s chatter; are these considered distractions to our attention to the road? Should these all be banned and be punishible crimes? Matt Richtel blends Reggie Shaw’s story with scientific studies that texting and daily use of our devices is not only addictive behavior but a deadly a deadly mix behind the wheel.
The Line – “At one end of the hall at which he found himself, heedless justice in threadbare robes were biting their fingernails or closing their eyelids, at the other end was a ragged rabble. There were lawyers in all sorts of attitudes, the passage begins, and goes on to describe this mess of humanity, all absorbed and self-absorbed participants, even the inattentive judges” and then concludes “for men felt herein the presence of that great human thing which is called law and that great divine thing that is called justice.” a quote from Les Misérables that Judge Willmore kept in the upper right drawer of his desk and came under the heading “A Place for Arriving at Convictions”. It seems appropriate as Reggie Shaw comes to trial for his part in the deaths of the two men.
The Sinker – Should be required reading for teens applying for their driving permits.
A Deadly Wandering is aptly titled as this is just what happens when Reggie Shaw takes to the road that fateful day. He weaves in and out and over the line until the accident happens. I would not do this review justice without giving name to the two rocket scientists killed that day. Keith O’Dell and Jim Furfaro, brilliant men, husbands and fathers. Many others play a part in the investigation and the tragedy of what happened that day when Mr. Shaw’s, Mr. O’Dell, and Mr. Furfaro lives collided.
Matt Richtel has written a compelling, thought provoking piece of investigative journalism. I challenge you to read the book and continue to text.
meganpalmer731's review
4.0
Very well written and such a quick read for a non-fiction book! Great mix of a real story with scientific information.
stevienlcf's review against another edition
4.0
In this fascinating and sobering book, Richtel examines how technology has outstripped our brains' capabilities to process information. He examines the impact of technology on our lives through the story of Utah college student, Reggie Shaw, who killed two scientists, James Furfaro and Keith O'Dell, when he was mindlessly texting a girlfriend while driving to work. Richtel uses alternating perspectives to tell the story of Shaw's denial and eventual admission of the accident's cause, as well as the groundbreaking police work and court case that occurred in its aftermath. He pieces the story together through the narrative lens of all involved: a repentant Shaw (who has dedicated himself to telling his story and explaining the deleterious effects on our minds from the ubiquitous personal technology bundled in our vehicles), the families of Furfaro and O'Dell, police investigators, a victim's advocate, and the neuroscientists, lawmakers and others who have become vocal in the movement to better understand the brain and stop distracted driving.
specialk136's review
4.0
It was hard to put this book down. Almost as hard as it is for me to put my phone down! Thus part of the attraction in reading this book - I've noticed myself reaching for my phone more and more lately, and I think the author's explanations of why we do this made sense. But mostly I was in the book for Reggie - I wanted to hear how his story turned out. I live in Utah but I don't remember hearing about this story and I didn't know how it was going to turn out. I love nonfiction books that read more like fiction, and Reggie's story could've happened to anyone. He's flawed and real, and that's part of the hook. As a sidenote, I also appreciated the author's respectful treatment of the Mormon faith throughout the book (Reggie and several others in the book are Mormon). Recommended.
hgranger's review
2.0
The point made at the heart of this book deserves five stars. Texting while driving is stupid and immensely dangerous and it kills people. But the author drags out a tremendous point and a great personal account by repeating almost every single point he makes several times and throwing in the most inconsequential details, making a story of tragedy and redemption becomes mind-numbingly dull and repetitive. I did not need every study repeated multiple times, I did not need backstories on every single person’s relatives, or need to know what Reggie wore to work (!), or that two people were having an unimportant conversation under a brownstone arch. Stoooop! I do hope Reggie is able to find some peace - and that the message that texting and driving is awful gets through to every driver out there.
eldiente's review
3.0
Huge kudos to Reggie Shaw. Powerful example of trying to make up for past mistakes. Book is informative and engaging..... Take away for me - I'm done using my phone for anything when driving!