The Iconic Art and Design of 22 Subway Systems Around the World
This remarkable book is not a classic local transport experts’ book, as we have often presented here. Author David Seltzer from Philadelphia has shown a keen interest in metro systems around the world throughout his life. In ‘Transit Tourism’, he describes the systems in 22 selected cities in America, Europe and Asia from a very different perspective and evaluates them on his own rating scale, the ‘Seltzer Token Rating’, based on the criteria:
- Convenience: How well does the system serve the user in getting around the city?
- Ease of use: How readily can a newcomer understand how to use it?
- Quality of Design: How attractive is the architecture, artwork, and design language?
- Personality: How emblematic is the subway/metro system of the city it serves?
David Seltzer expressly points out that this is, of course, a very subjective, personal assessment – but that doesn’t make it any less interesting!
Each of the 22 chapters of Transit Tourism on the underground systems of individual cities contains a travel report that begins with the logo of the system, a map and key figures, and describes the author’s impressions, illustrated with numerous pictures. The assumption is that each metro system reflects the character of the city in which it operates.
The cities included are: Boston, Chicago, Mexico City, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Brussels, Budapest, Glasgow, London, Madrid, Moscow, Munich, Naples, Paris, Stockholm, Beijing, Istanbul, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
Conclusion: An undoubtedly interesting approach, illustrated with high-quality photos in very good reproduction quality. Recommended!
Author: David Seltzer
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
280 pages, hardcover, more than 300 colour photos and illustrations
Language: English
Format: 188 x 236 mm landscape, hardcover
Price: USD 34.99
ISBN: 978-0-7643-6903-2
23.06.2025
