A Brief Review of Jack Ewing, Faster, Higher, Farther: The Volkswagen Scandal

I found Jack Ewing's Faster, Higher, Farther at my local library recently. A surprisingly interesting read, the book has as its focus the 2019-2015 diesel defeat device scandal, but contains considerable context of real value for those interested in general automotive history. The first several chapters characterize a VW corporate culture that cannot be understood without looking at the Porsche and Piech families relationship to the organization and to each other. Ewing argues that the nature of the firm (a product of its convoluted history and leadership)  proved to be fertile ground for the deception that took place, a fraud that almost succeeded had it not been for a group of West Virginia University researchers charged with determining passenger car diesel emissions under real life driving conditions.

I have already recommended this book to a colleague who teaches environmental and business ethics, and while it might not serve as a primary assigned text, it would be a good source for a review paper or term paper.
If you want to understand the recent history of VW and associated car companies (and indeed the German auto industry), this is a book you need to pick up.