Automotive Books

This is the book for the true fire engine/pumper enthusiast. It provides a level of detail that far exceeds other books on the subject. Shapiro looks at each make/model of pumper and explains all the variations. The photos are execellent. The "uncommitted" might be turned off by all the information packed into this book.

Although I bought and read nearly all of Motorbooks on modern fire apparatus, I didn't read this book completely for reasons the previous review stated.

It IS a five-star book in terms of research, photos, details, and information. As the below post stated, it's all very technical with a lot of abbreviations that made it pretty slow reading at times. It makes a great reference guide.

The book describes most of the American fire pumper makers past and present and the models of each. Great exterior color photos accompany many company entries. Another section describes the major parts of the pumper: cab, pump panel, body and cab. Great information and some detail photos. Other sections talk about how pumpers are used at fires (hose hookup/ pump panel procedures, tools, placement, medical response, etc.).

The last section talks about a few future designs of fire pumpers.

Although probably not very politically-correct, one aspect I wished the book talked about was what made one manufacturer preferred over another. For example, why does a city buy just Emergency-One and another just Spartan? I also wished there were some opinions from firefighters about the pumpers they ride to working fires. How this 1990s brand compared to that different 1980s brand? What they saw as improvements made over the years? Missing is the human element in the book from the users of such vehicles so this book is mostly facts and specs on pumpers but no way to know if the users like the equipment they're using.

Recommended for the major fire pumper buff who wants photos and to learn the intricate details of the pumper. Great for someone who wants to build a model of a scale fire pumper. This book will be 5-stars to them.

This is a great book and may be interesting both to a Honda fan and to someone sceptical about those "riceboyz carz". This book not only talks about the success of Honda (and they have a lot to say!), but also openly discusses the problems and unsuccessful designs they had. This book tells you why, besides cars and motorcycles, Honda builds walking robots and airplanes. With every page I read I had more appreciation of Honda thinking and I was more proud to drive something designed by these people.

Some of the future car prototypes discussed in the last chapter are already on sale as production cars, and it leaves a feeling that this book is kind of old, outdated, but this is only another confirmation to how dynamic and innovative Honda is.

I really enjoy this book and recommend it to everybody who wants to know how Honda came about and what they are after.

This is one comprehensive history book of the most important motor company of all time: Honda. Honda was and is making progress in leaps and bounds. They are the past, present and future of the automobile industry, hands down. They even had enough foresight to develop a hybrid car while all of the gas consuming, muscle car fanatics stood back and laughed. But, like so many times in the past, Honda always gets the last laugh! Who was it that almost put Harley Davidson out of business...?

A great book. The name says it all

This book is the most excellent book I have ever read in TQM. The book's foreword is written by Quality Guru Armand V. Feigenbaum. Also, this book is highly praised by all quality gurus including Philip B. Crosby, Genichi Taguchi, and J.D. Power III. The authors explained how an effective quality systems to be implemented in any size of organization. This book is for any types of industry, not only for automotive. Every case study featured in the book is also reviewed by the renowned faculty from HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL and MIT's SLOAN MANAGEMENT SCHOOL. I highly recommend this book without any reservation.

This is the third book by Mr. Davis about, "doorslammers,". They just get better and better!

Larry Davis has another great book out as a follow up to Super Stock - Drag Racing the Family Sedan. This one mainly covers the factory built stockers and cars that made places like Woodward Avenue famous. Good clean photos (wish they could have been bigger though) of a lot of stockers. The focus is on the Midwest/Ohio are where Davis grew up. Great book, highly recommended!

As a sports photographer and long time Rally fan, I have been blown away by Reinhard Klein's photography in Autosport for years. I was so excited to see his book that I imported a copy from England before it was available here. Please note that his photos are not just about cars. His pictures capture the diverse environments of international rallying from his favorite Kenya to Monte Carlo. The photos of the mechanics working in awful conditions are splendid, too. As much art photography as sports.

Rally is nor a regular kind of racing. Rally, unlike F1, is full with passion, adrenalin ans views. The book RALLY gives the reader the exact feeling of standing next to a rally car. the book's size is big, gives the reader feeling of holding a black racing steering wheel between his hands. pictures are just wonderful. It's a very colourful book, with lot of information about rally, rally drivers and cars since the begining of the rally. this book, must be found on every rally lover's shelf!

Do you like that great product of Canadian humor, the New Red Green Show? If so, then you will like this book. Covering everything from British cars, through driving tips, dealing with police officers, to saying goodbye to your car, this book is hilariously funny. Along the way, the reader is treated to numerous humorous bumper stickers, my favorite of which is, "If you can read this, you are either too darn close or my bumper fell off again."

Yeah, this book is just chockfull of that great Red Green humor, sure to please anyone who drives...and even those that don't. My 15-year-old son and I both love this book, and we both highly recommend it.

MAN!! I had no idea of what was in store for me when I picked this book from the shelf. I read one page that was kinda funny and I thought it would be good. It turned out the it was so hilarious I was laughing so hard I could barely breath!!! I read the whole book in one day, and I loved it. The sheer stupidity of the book made it even more funny, with jokes about using engine parts to serve food and laying your tongue across the car battery terminals to test the battery. It had a wacky crossword puzzle that only the author could figure out because the clues made no sense, and that made it more funny. I would definately recommend this book. Jonathan Gray Age 14

An interesting well written history of the first women to attempt and then accomplish driving across the United States. I initially purchased the book because I found my great-grandfather, Eugene Gnehm, was mentioned in the book. I found Mr. McConnell's review of the events in the early days of American automobile travel a good view of how things were only 100 years ago.

Although I was familiar with Alice Ramsey's 1909 trip, I was pleasantly surprised at the detail of the notes regarding Alice's and the other ladies' trips. For the serious researcher these notes are indispensable! Although I was not so familiar with the other ladies save Blanche Stuart Scott, Mr. McConnel provides much insight into their travels and is able to make a research book as enjoyable as an adventure novel. Blanch made her way into San Diego and garnered several paragraphs in 2 issues of the San Diego Motor News. One thing Mr. McConnel overlooked, according to the Motor News, Blanche's trip had been free of serious accidents until she reached the seaside town of Pacific Beach. "The accident, the first and only serious one, occurred at Pacific Beach, was due to a bit of careless driving when any thought of care had been banished from her mind." Since the author of this article was a salesman and soon to be owner of the Willys dealership in San Diego, he is excused, I guess, from giving us more details. Mr. McConnel makes it prefectly clear throughout this book that "company men" were less than forthright when describing the exploits of their female drivers (even my favorite, Alice Ramsey). I was annoyed however to learn of Willys-Overland's and Blanche's attempts to ignore Alice's trip. All in all a fine book, carefully (as far as I can determine) researched and certainly entertainly written. Michael Miller, Education Director, San Diego Automotive Museum

Very good history and photos of the Mears family. Rick is truly an unique person plus a dear friend. It is truly worth the price if you are a true race fan too.

Kirby did an excellent job writing about a super race car driver and a super nice person. I was both saddened and happy that Rick retired when he did. I think he could have reached the magic number 5.

This book is excellent. It has all the numbers and stats that you could possibly want on any car sold in America.

Horsepower, options, engines, 0-60, pros, cons, and pretty much anything else that you can think of. All including pictures.

There are some extras as in new model spotlights, and coverage of some of the overseas autoshows.

Every car's page is layed out in a very easy to read manner. If you just like to know everything about cars, and I mean EVERYTHING than you must buy this book.

For any car person - this is the best guide to features and benefits on a model-by-model basis. Also, the reviews of the major International Auto Shows is excellent. I know of no other car book that even comes close to the content of this publication ! A Must Read !

I got this from my Grandpa and have read it through 4 times in the past 3 years. Each time I get more out of it. If you want a look at how a big aerospace company developed and works, and also all the phases of development of an aircraft, this is the book.

Author Cook traces the evolution of aircraft from Wright days to the jet, including the serendipity of men, machine, and Air Force. Technical but readable for the non-engineer; fascinating history.