This is a fantastic recounting of all the twists and turns it took to bring Hummers to the public market. I believe Padgett Jr. succeeds in putting those forces in the U.S. historical context of the 90's into the early 2000's and how they interact with each other. It's actually a history book of sorts, not only about AM General, the Hummvee, the state of GM in that era, but also about a certain segment of the U.S. car market at the time, the steady rise of SUV's and how they became poster children of the environmental movement. This could actually be a study guide of sorts for students too young at the time to understand how all these played together. This is mostly heady text and not a picture book (though there are a 'few' pictures), with more of a historical focus, and interviews of top GM and AM General brass at the time about Hummers, than facts and figures of the Hummvee. There are other books out there on that topic.
The only thing missing in this boo, is closure. Martin Padgette, if you are reading this .....this fine bit of writing deserves a second edition to continue (and finish) the story of what ultimately happened to Hummer, Schwartzeneger, SUV's, the run-away housing market and subprime loans, GM's road to bankrupcy, the jump in gas prices, the effects of China's incredible consumption of resources in the early 2000's, the economic crash of 2008, Bear Stearns, Crash of the housing market, GM's cancellation of Hummer (no it wasn't ultimately sold off), and people's refocus on cars ...all the way to this period's plummet in oil prices.
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Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries
Jeepwalker
Wish more automotive books were like this!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2016Verified Purchase
José López
Hummer:How the Little Truck Company Hit the Big Time,Thanks To Saddam,Schwarzengger,and GM:Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2009Verified Purchase
Wayupnorth
If you have and love a Hummer this is a must read history
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2018Verified Purchase
Houston
Thumbs up from Hummer owner
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021Verified Purchase
Albert Balderas
Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2022Verified Purchase
