Books... books... books...

jtrousd

New Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2011
Messages
3
Location
The States
Car(s)
Golf TDI
Hello everyone. So I'm new, and I know what kind of attention new members to forums typically receive. That is to say, none. And I'm not even guaranteeing that I'm going to be around very often making posts or chiming in on certain topics.

What I am here for, however, is help. I love Top Gear. I've loved it for years. And every single time I watch an old episode (which happens quite a lot thanks to Netflix), I get that fizzing sensation that James talks about, though it's more in my chest than my pelvis. There's a strong desire to learn more, not only about the inner-workings of cars, but their illustrious history as well.

But half.com doesn't want to make it easy for me to narrow down the list of decent reads, so I'm appealing to you guys. I need books. Good ones. Books that all of you would sit down and read not just because they're informational, but worth the time spent reading them than doing something else. They can be by Clarkson, May, and Hammond... or by anyone else. I don't really care. I just need things to read. European cars, American cars, super cars, family cars, opinions on all sorts of cars, how cars work, etc.

I know it's kind of a tall, vague order, but just think back to how you gathered your knowledge outside of your dad and his garage. Surely there must be something that someone here can recommend?

I appreciate it guys.
 
The Car Design Yearbook series would be a good place to start for new/concept cars.
 
Excellent idea, there are a lot of books I'd love to read if I only knew they exist.

Jupix, thanks for the link! Couple of books I have to read there.
 
EXCELLENT start guys. Thanks for the tips. Maybe this post will make some rounds and get nice and fat with information.

I've always known Leno had an extensive car collection, but never really looked into much else. Sad that something like Oprah Winfrey's book club makes the press more than Jay Leno's.
 
Waddayamean we don't pay attention to new guys? We yell at them all the time! :p

Seriously though exellent topic, if you are looking for something very light, mostly car related and fun, anyone of the TopGear presenters books will qualify realy, mostly they are simply collections of their collums in various UK newspapers, worth a read for a quick laugh If you haven't red them online (beeing in the states finding them might be a problem however, and the older Clarkson stuff damn near impossible)

*everything that follows is nicked from wikipedia*

James May's books :

May on Motors: On the Road with James MayVirgin Books2006
Oz and James's Big Wine AdventureBBC Books2006
May on MotorsVirgin Books2007
Notes from the Hard ShoulderVirgin Books2007
James May's 20th CenturyHodder & Stoughton2007
James May's Magnificent MachinesHodder & Stoughton2008
Oz and James Drink to BritainPavilion (Anova)2009
James May's Car Fever (H/B)Hodder & Stoughton2009
James May's Car Fever (P/B)Hodder & Stoughton2009
James May's Toy StoriesConway (Anova)2009
James May's Car Fever: Volume 2Hodder & Stoughton2010
How to Land an A330 AirbusHodder & Stoughton2010


Hammond's books


Car Books


  • Hammond, Richard (13 October 2005). What Not To Drive. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 276 pages. ISBN 978-0297848004.
  • Hammond, Richard (5 October 2006). Richard Hammond's Car Confidential. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 144 pages. ISBN 978-0297844457.
  • Hammond, Richard (28 May 2009). A Short History Of Caravans In The UK. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 144 pages. ISBN 978-0297844464.
  • Hammond, Richard (20 May 2010). Richard Hammond's Caravan Confidential. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 144 pages. ISBN 978-0753826713.
[edit] Biographies


  • Hammond, Richard (20 September 2007). On The Edge: My Story (Hardback). Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 308 pages. ISBN 978-0297853275.
  • Hammond, Richard (29 May 2008). On The Edge: My Story (Paperback). Phoenix. pp. 308 pages. ISBN 978-0753824047.
  • Hammond, Richard (7 August 2008). On The Edge: My Story (Abridged). Phoenix. pp. 256 pages. ISBN 978-0753823309.
  • Hammond, Richard (18 September 2008). As You Do: Adventures With Evel, Oliver And The Vice President Of Botswana (Hardback). Orion Publishing Co. pp. 268 pages. ISBN 978-0297855200.
  • Hammond, Richard (28 May 2009). As You Do: Adventures With Evel, Oliver And The Vice-President Of Botswana (Paperback). Orion Publishing Co. pp. 314 pages. ISBN 978-0753825624.
  • Hammond, Richard (1 October 2009). Or Is That Just Me? (Hardback). Phoenix. pp. 256 pages. ISBN 978-0297855217.
  • Hammond, Richard (20 May 2010). Or Is That Just Me? (Paperback). Phoenix. pp. 352 page

Jeremy Clarkson:

Jeremy Clarkson's MotorworldBBC Books
Penguin Books
1996
Reprinted 2004
Clarkson On CarsVirgin Books
Penguin Books
1996
Reprinted 2004
Clarkson's Hot 100Virgin Books
Carlton Books
1997
Reprinted 1998
Planet DagenhamAndre Deustch
Carlton Books
1998
Reprinted 2006
Born To Be RiledBBC Books
Penguin Books
1999
Reprinted 2007
Jeremy Clarkson On FerrariLancaster Books
Salamander Books
2000
Reprinted 2001
The World According To ClarksonIcon Books
Penguin Books
2004
Reprinted 2005
I Know You Got SoulMicheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2005
Reprinted 2006
And Another Thing...Micheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2006
Reprinted 2007
Don't Stop Me Now!!Micheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2007
Reprinted 2008
For Crying Out Loud!Micheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2008
Reprinted 2009
Driven To DistractionMicheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2009
Reprinted 2010
How Hard Can It Be?Micheal Joseph
Penguin Books
2010
Reprinted 2010


Btw, all tree of them ow me a beer for plugging their books all the time.
 
Last edited:
Quite a response, Cowboy. Loads of thanks. If anyone comes up with anymore, would love to have 'em. It looks as though they've ceased printing of the Car Design Yearbook, but I'm sure earlier years will provide a wealth of knowledge. Would also be kind of cool to see the prevailing ideas of the industry from 2003 and 2004 and compare those to what we have today. I wonder if they'll mention the GM Hy-wire.

I've gone ahead and ordered Via Corsa's Car Lover's Guide to Southern Germany and Clarkson's Driven to Distraction. The latter is coming from the UK, which is exciting. Can't wait to begin reading!

Thanks again guys.
 
Top