The World on Wheels, and Other Sketches

"The World on Wheels and Other Sketches" by Benjamin F. Taylor is a compilation of essays from the 1800s that considers how important transportation developments were, especially since locomotives were created, and discusses their impact on society and personal experiences when traveling.. With thoughtful ideas and a look back to the past, Taylor shows the change from slow travel to a faster rhythm because of trains; he describes the impact it had on daily living. The book starts out by discussing the wheel as a basic creation that mirrors human inventiveness and goals. Taylor recalls childhood memories of different wheeled vehicles, and his experiences with stagecoaches. He compares them with the up-and-coming power of trains and locomotives. He gives strong images of stagecoach trips, the old-fashioned attraction of early travel, and the friendship between people traveling. This sets a tone for a reflective look at how machines changed both landscapes and relationships. These stories bring readers into the attraction of travel as both an adventure and a way to connect, and at the same time hints at missing a simpler life.