The Book Speed and the Film The Cruise

When I was viewing the documentary The Cruise, I could not help but realize how the movie and the book were very closely similar. The book Speedology written by Timothy "Speed" Levitch was written 4 years after the release of the documentary, but the two are almost parallel for the viewer. The movie overall helps to enforce Speed's mantra of the cruise and what his definition of happiness and living are.

The film follows Speed on his bus tours in New York City. At first glance Speed himself seems a bit strange, offbeat in a way that many would call weird. But with a deeper look in to Speed's persona you will find a person who is truly free in every sense of the word. Speed is showing in the film constantly observing the small details of things such as buildings, or even talking to a bridge, noticing its architecture and how it makes him feel personally. From the film I came to understand that Speed was really making a connection with everything around him, that everything that he encounters in life is part of happiness, part of "the cruise."

The book goes in to much more detail about Speed's philosophies on happiness and living life. The basis of the book is similar to that of the movie, the purpose remains intact. Speed is once again giving us a window to look in to his world through. As I read the book I felt almost as if I were a voyeur in to the world of Speed, jealous that he is capable of finding happiness in ever little thing that he encounters, and almost becoming sick with how jaded and cynical I have become, how I can not find happiness as easily as he can.

The most important thing that I learned from reading the book, and was reinforced by watching the film, was how being carefree but still observant can help someone find true happiness in life. I noticed how Speed did not take everything extremely seriously, and compared that to how I do, and I learned that not everything needs to be dealt with the way that I deal with things, that it is entirely possible that I create the stresses that I have in my life, and more importantly, that I can be the one to destroy them.

The book and the film together help us to understand how even a person who is engulfed by the city of New York can find happiness in simple occurrences of everyday life. People tend to stereotype the citizens of New York City as cold and anti-social, but Speed offers a new viewpoint on what it means to be a New Yorker. He finds beauty in traffic and finds hope in the people who accompany him on his tours, on the cruise.

I am happy and proud to say that after reading Speedology and viewing the cruise that I have gained an incite as to how someone can live embracing joy, finding happiness in all that surrounds them. I have learned from Speed that you must also command respect from all that surrounds you, even things like flowers and bridges.