Ever wonder what toll collectors do when a motorist pulls up with no money? Did you know that it is against the law to take pictures on the New Jersey Turnpike? Want to know how the sensors work that are embedded in the road to help monitor traffic flow? Looking for America on the New Jersey Turnpike is not a book one would normally rush out to read, but after reading several favorable reviews I gave it a chance and discovered to my delight it was impossible to put down. The authors, two Rutgers professors, have written a charming short book on the history and problems of that 12-lane corridor through which 197 million vehicles pass annually. Each car, in the process, enriching the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, a totally independent body answerable to virtually no one. While the authors have a tendency to allow their personal gripes to intrude into the narrative, chances are their complaints mirror those of other travelers. If you've ever been as terrified as I while whipping through the northern half trying to enjoy the bountiful scenery of airports, refineries, swamps, cesspools, harbors, dumps, and smog, you'll enjoy this microcosm of America and the Garden State. ( )

Most people would have no interest in reading about the history, culture and sociology of the New Jersey Turnpike. I'm not most people. I found this book fascinating and times frightening. Who knew what control the turnpike authority had over the people who use the road. The turnpike itself is an engineering marvel, the triumph of function over form, and its route through the ugliest parts of the state encourage New Jersey's bad reputation. Yet, the turnpike has also inspired poets, musicians, and artists. Crazy, wonderful stuff. ( )