Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future | 
 enlarge | Author: Greg Melville
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $3.00
You Save: $12.95 (81%)
New (39) Used (24) from $2.94
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 89280
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 257
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.8
ISBN: 1565125959
Dewey Decimal Number: 333.720922
EAN: 9781565125957
ASIN: 1565125959
Publication Date: October 21, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Is it possible to drive coast-to-coast without stopping at a single gas pump? Journalist Greg Melville is determined to try. With his college buddy Iggy riding shotgun, this green-thinking guy—who's in love with the idea of free fuel—sets out on an enlightening road trip. The quest: to be the first people to drive cross-country in a french-fry car. Will they make it from Vermont to California in a beat-up 1985 Mercedes diesel station wagon powered on vegetable oil collected from restaurant grease Dumpsters along the way? More important, can two guys survive 192 consecutive hours together?
Their expedition on and off the road includes visits to the solar-powered Google headquarters; the National Ethanol Council; the wind turbines of southwestern Minnesota; the National Renewable Energy Lab; a visit to one of the first houses to receive platinum certification for leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); an "eco-friendly" Wal-Mart; and the world's largest geothermal heating system.
Part adventure and part investigation of what we're doing (or not doing) to preserve the planet, Greasy Rider is upbeat, funny, and full of surprising information about sustainable measures that are within our reach.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Solid writer; interesting book! December 11, 2008
This was a funny, quirky story of two smart guys on a mission -- to drive from Vermont to California without stopping for gas. I love the concept of the book and all of the "field trips." I think the information about Al Gore's huge mansion and the corresponding energy consumption, the way some military bases are both saving money and being kind to the earth, and the appropriate portrayal of one of the top dogs at Wal-mart is fascinating. I kept wanting more info and honestly, Iggy really got on my nerves after a while (this is why I rated it a 3). Overall, I think it is a great book and I highly recommend it! One last note - if only we could all work for a company like Google...what an amazing facility they have!
 Oh--so it's NOT about motorcycles...hmm. December 3, 2008
I enjoyed this book very much, finding it to be entertaining, informative, and inspiring all at once. I especially enjoyed the way factoids were interspersed with amusing anecdotes. Greasy Rider was the subject of much discussion amongst my family over the Thanksgiving holiday--we wonder if the car would run on the fat that comes out of the infamous Butterball turkey? I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light, easy read, but wouldn't mind learning something along the way.
Iggy for President, 2012. November 18, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future
While I thought the premise was hysterical, and had the "Odd Couple" theme song playing in my head for most of chapter 1, the real hero in this book has to be Iggy. Where does a 35-year old (plus) journalist/dad/environmentalist find a buddy who has the technical skills to make a Deisel engine on alternative fuels work AND install a high-tech sound system? The Kenyon Alumni directory, of course!
I loved this book for the real way the author breaks complex concepts in biology, physics, agriculture and economics down to terms a fellow English major can grasp. I love the way our beautiful country must look when you are myopically focused on signs for burrito joints. I love Greg's wife, and praise her for her restraint when blunt objects were around, as the idea was presented in the kitchen. I felt like I was in the room, and a little bit uncomfortable about it.
In an odd way, though, this is as much a book about buddies as it is a "man(kind) vs. nature" piece. Perhaps because in this one, we want nature to win. It is Nature's turn. Greg shows us how, without killing your television.
If you can't move to Vermont, buy the book.
 Greasy but Not Heavy November 16, 2008
Author Greg Melville and his friend Iggy set out to travel across America in a car powered almost exclusively by used cooking oil. Part travelogue and part update on America's efforts to move beyond fossil fuel, Melville balances the two effectively and manages the mild suspense inherent in all books like this where readers wonder if the travelers will reach their goal.
This is a quick, easy read and the best parts are where Melville meets with leading thinkers on the alternatives to fossil fuel including forward-thinking companies like Google, and engineer Lee Lynd, whose company is looking to revolutionize the method used to produce ethanol.
Overall Greasy Rider is a good effort that provides a layman's view of the daunting challenges we face along with some possible solutions.
Great selection for my book club November 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
We selected this book for my book club. We all agreed that the book was a great selection for our group. We are a bunch of moms with young children and do not have as much time to devote to reading as we would like. This book was able to keep our interest by being light and humorous while informing us about alternative energy at the same time. This was such a hit with our group, I would definitely recommend it for all book groups out there!
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