{"product_id":"bob-silverman-the-impossible-hero-9780776641799","title":"Bob Silverman: The Impossible Hero","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew unknown figures have left such a lasting mark on the world as Robert \"Bicycle Bob\" Silverman\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA true nonconformist, this tireless advocate for urban cycling lived an extraordinary life. Poet, bookseller, restaurateur, traveler, educator, gallery owner--but above all, a passionate cycling activist--Bob led his \u003ci\u003evélorution\u003c\/i\u003e (a term he was the first to popularize in Canada) with authenticity, ingenuity, and boundless creativity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith his small but dedicated group, \u003ci\u003eLe Monde à Bicyclette (MàB)\u003c\/i\u003e, and a handful of allies, Bob Silverman achieved the impossible. Over three decades, Montreal transformed from one of the least bike-friendly cities in North America into its cycling capital--thanks in part to MàB's colorful \u003ci\u003ecyclodramas\u003c\/i\u003e, street theatre protests where members donned costumes to make their point. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSilverman's story reads like a film script. A poet and independent bookseller in the 1960s, he drew in a vibrant circle of artists, intellectuals, and musicians, including Leonard Cohen and Armand Vaillancourt. In 1962, he traveled to Cuba to join Fidel Castro's revolution, meeting none other than Ernesto \"Che\" Guevara. Later, he worked on an Israeli kibbutz, becoming one of the rare Jewish activists to shake hands with Yasser Arafat. He studied in France and Spain, pioneered outdoor volleyball, and never shied away from challenging the status quo. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA larger-than-life figure, Robert Silverman was, as many describe him, \"a prophet before his time.\" Discover how this real-life \u003ci\u003eMan of La Mancha\u003c\/i\u003e managed to reach a few unreachable stars...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Duo\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/21\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780776641799\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 258\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.85lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.60d","brand":"John Symon,St\u0026#195;\u0026#169;phane Desjardins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51948777668789,"sku":"9780776641799","price":25.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_1aa0d6de-500e-414f-a2c7-8bbe08e8702f.jpg?v=1762272861","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/bob-silverman-the-impossible-hero-9780776641799","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}