Automobiles Books

Hilarious and too, too true. I learned to drive in and around Boston (took my driver's test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles near North Station), take pride in the dings in my car and consider driving in California a walk in the park compared to what I grew up with.

I especially appreciate the updates in this latest edition with respect to the Big Dig.

I'm not a Boston native, but moved here seven years ago. This book ... who wrote this? How did they KNOW? :)

I always thought of myself as a good Step 9 driver: granted, it took me two tries to get my license, but I've had exactly one parking ticket, I've been pulled over exactly once and got off with a warning, and every dent and ding I've put into the car has been below the deductible and couldn't be reported to the insurance company. After reading this book, it seems I am a bigger psychotic behind the wheel than I had known. I never thought that most of the manuevers listed here were borderline vehicular suicide, and I was even taught how to do the Boston Left Turn (you pull halfway out into the road, blocking the traffic on your left until a car coming from the right lets you go) in driver's ed. A lot of the diagrams are hilarious (you'll never make sense of Brighton intersection dynamics), and they also include the obligatory pedestrian scoring scale (you don't want to be Tom Menino or Mitt Romney). The best part is the epilogue describing the future of Boston driving--by the end of this century, it will become an Olympic sport, and the Central Artery Tunnel will become a pedestrian shopping mall.

This book is written to sound tongue-in-cheek, but having lived and driven in Boston for two years, I can assure you it's not. I've seen every manuever described in this book, some of them by the Boston and Cambridge PD. For anyone moving to Boston, this should be required reading. It will teach you how to make Boston Left Turns, how to park in Back Bay, even how to cross a street as a pedestrian. Yes, it's amusing, but it's also a survival manual. (Oh, also get your car licence changed before you try any of these--out of towners get ticketed for these moves. For in-staters, about the only way to get a moving violation is to hit a pedestrian voter.)

Driving in Vancouver can be a dicey affair, as many of the drivers here are very strange and don't appear to know what they're doing. It annoys my wife even more than it does me. When my wife and I were looking over a list of books to review, The Boston Driver's Handbook: The Almost Post Big Dig Edition jumped out at my wife. "That should be funny," she said. So I asked for it. Does it live up to its promise? One thing I do know. After reading this book, driving in Boston sounds even worse than driving here. And that takes some doing!

First, to explain the title (though readers in Boston will already be familiar with this). "The Big Dig" is a massive construction project that is intended to make the main artery of traffic through Boston go underground. It's been very expensive and it's tied up traffic since 1991. However, it's almost over. It's scheduled to be finished in 2005, which is why this is the "Almost Post Big Dig" edition. The authors, Ira Gershkoff and Richard Trachtman, wrote an earlier edition of this book which didn't include this information, though since it was written in 1994, I'm sure it had some information about the current state of construction at the time.

The book starts with a basic overview of driving in Boston. It tells us about the philosophy ("Commandment Number 1: Thou shalt reach thy destination as quickly as possible. Everyone and everything else be damned."). It talks about what kind of car you should drive. A sparkling new car is just an invitation to be hit, or at least bumped. The best kind of car is an old, beat-up car that already has plenty of bumps and paint scrapes. The authors then go into the street layout of Boston and how confusing it is. They say that there is no way that you can navigate by street signs. The streets twist and turn and confusing one-ways abound. The cool thing about this chapter is that they talk about every section of Boston, detailing the different traffic and parking problems that they present, like how street fairs in the North End can play havoc with basic navigation, sometimes absorbing drivers who are invited to join the fair and then never seen again. This was an extremely interesting section, especially for somebody who's completely unfamiliar with Boston. It may be even more so for the experienced Boston driver, forcing a nod of the head and an "amen, brothers!"

The third chapter is about the Big Dig, with the authors explaining just what is planned, what has happened so far, and what will happen once construction is complete. They tell how the Ted Williams tunnel is currently (or at least at the time of this book's writing) quite beautiful and relatively empty, but as people get wind of it, traffic patterns will adjust and it will become just as dirty and polluted as the other tunnels. One thing that just sounds horrifying is how the new Central Artery will only have three exits, while the old one had 27. I don't even have to live there to find that idea frightening. You don't have to be familiar with Boston to find this chapter interesting as an example of the lofty goals of major construction and how the reality of it usually doesn't quite fit. Again, the authors are quite detailed in telling how the construction has affected things, and they don't avoid giving the positives as well as the negatives here. They're just cynical, not unfair.

The rest of the book is full of the basic and more advanced maneuvers that the expert Boston Driver has to learn. There's the basic cut-off, where you cut in front of the car next to you in order to pass the car in front. There's the sidesqueeze, where you ease into the other lane until the car next to you brakes to avoid hitting you. You then cut them off and go on your way.

The authors also tell about entering the endless traffic circles, really confusing left turns (one of the diagrams in the book is an intersection where you're actually going into the oncoming lanes in order to actually make it through the intersection before the light turns), parking, and many others. Some of the information would be useful here in Vancouver as well as any other cities where traffic is a nightmare. However, a large part of the book is based on Boston Driving culture, such as going the wrong way on a one-way street being the only way to get to some places. Thus, it's funny to read about, but don't try this at home. I especially enjoy the suggestion that parking and driving on sidewalks is sometimes necessary, as long as you look out for pedestrians.

The book is written in an easy style that is entertaining and won't take you too long to read. It's also a short book, which helps as well. I found the information on Boston and its environs to be fascinating, and it almost makes me want to go there, though there's no way I'd want to drive there after reading this book. There's no way I'd survive! The book is marred only by the final chapter (before the final exam), which gives there ideas for how Boston Driving will evolve in the next 100 years. It tries hard to be funny, but usually falls flat.

If you're planning a trip to Boston or planning to move there, this book could prove invaluable. Even if you're not, it's a funny look at driving in the wild streets of a city, and it just may make you appreciate your local traffic a little bit more. Either way, it's a fun read.

David Roy

Having had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. Doering personally while working in a north Chicago dealership, he provided a very down to earth, easy to understand way of looking at the pros and cons of leasing an automobile. The book has been a tool for me ever since. Good Job and I'll look forward to more.

My wife and I both read this book -- and we both learned how to lease a new family car correctly! The book is written to the audience of private consumers. The author explains the pluses and minuses of leasing and compares leasing vs. buying. I'll read it again before I lease our next car.

Buzz Doering's, "The Buzz on Leasing" is terrific! While many articles on car leasing seem to lean toward the negative, Mr. Doering clearly describes how leasing can be much better than purchasing.

I like the idea of pocketing the difference in payments and investing or utilizing that amount over the term of the lease. I also like having a new car that is in warranty. If you purchase, your warranty would expire in the third year with perhaps 2 more years to go on the financing.

Thanks Mr. Doering for your easy to understand ideas!

Angelo Stalis

Buzz is THE expert on leasing. His down to earth and easy to understand explanations are great for everyone, expecially those who know very little or nothing about leasing. Don't get another car without reading this book! I know I will never own another vehicle. Leasing is the way to go!

I have had the pleasure of attending a seminar given by BUZZ. I am a car salesman. I learned more about LEASING in 1 hour than all the leasing classes I have taken in the last 4 years. Easy to understand. His book is for the buyer as well the salesperson. My sales have increased as a DIRECT result. My customers have complete understanding AND they are very happy. Many say they will NEVER pay cash or buy a car again!! Leasing is the way to go!! Thank You BUZZ

This is one of those books you can act out and do sound effects for. The illustrations are very original--they seem to be collages of found objects.

The book is an account of the children's imaginary journey underwater while going through the car wash. Very appealing to preschoolers. Not too many words per page, so it keeps young children interested. My 3-year-old son loves it!

What a great adventure---to experience a car wash. This book brings a child out of the car and into another world experiencing an imaginative view of a car wash. With plentiful colors and big illustrations, this book is an excellent choice for young children who cannot read or just beginning to read.

My almost three year old daughter loves going to the car wash and she loves this book. The simple story is about two kids and a parent who take their muddy car through the car wash. As they go through the wash the kids imagine their car is a submarine and they have an underwater adventure. They kids imagine they pass coral reefs, sea monsters, sharks, and a giant octupus. Once the car is clean, the family goes out to lunch and then it's oh no! dirty car all over again. The illustrations are done collage style using fabric, pearls, and buttons. It's a very cute story and an easy read. Whenever I am tired and my daughter is begging for a story I reach for this book. There are very few words on the page so I can sit back, relax, and let her narrate the story for me. We both really enjoy this book.

Sandra and Susan Steen have written many children's books together (yup, they're sisters), and "Car Wash" is especially enjoyable. Kiddos who love car washes will get a kick out of the ride here, as the siblings in the back seat pretend that they are deep-sea adventurers. But even kids who are spooked by going through the car wash will enjoy it, too, as it suggests a different attitude and a different approach for their next trip.

G. Brian Karas has done some remarkably imaginative illustrations here, incorporating paint, glass beads, strips of sponge and fabric, and so on to create a textural collage. It's lots of fun, and perfectly complements the manner in which a car wash incorporates all different sounds, smells, and rhythms.

It's time to take the car to the car wash when the family automobile goes through a huge puddle and gets thoroughly splashed by the muddy water. The car wash is a fascinating place that requires closed windows while traveling through a foamy deluge where giant octopus arms whomp against the windows, creatures hide in seaweed, and tidal waves come crashing. Enchantingly illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Sandra and Susan Steen's fanciful tale of a car wash adventure is highly recommended and entertaining reading for youngsters preschool through first grade.

Jeez, am I glad I found this book. I felt well armed going into the car dealers. I know I saved a ton of money (aroud $1000, I figure). It's very useful and easy to read. Two thumbs up!

Until reading Blazak's book, I had no idea how many ways that car dealers could rip you off. It's shocking and sometimes criminal. This book is a wonderful guide to preventing fraud and the simple rip-off. After reading it, I feel confident that I will save money on my next car purchase. It's very well organized, easy to understand and has lots of humor, which makes the whole process much less daunting. It's obvious that Blazak's experience in the auto industry has given him the inside scoop on the tricks of the trade. I'm sure that this book will make many sales people uncomfortable, but I can't imagine trying to buy a car without reading it first! Randy Drake Portland, OR

I am so glad that I got this book! It was the best thing I have ever done to prepare myself to buy a car. I followed the instructions per the book and everything that Bob Blazak stated the dealers would do, they tried to do. I saved thousands, by following the guidelines that Bob Blazak laid out. This book is a very easy read, I have already recomended it to several of my friends. I also called Bob Blazak and spoke to him personally and he was very helpful, Thanks Bob!

I bought this book after looking at several of the plethora of books on this subject. If you are looking for a book that tells it like it is with a very succint presentation & a logical flow; is a fast easy & enjoyable read, but you will keep it for reference too, this is it. I kick myself for loaning it out and forgetting to whom I loaned it. I've looked for it on the shelves at local dealers and have been told it's out of print. Amazon still lists it though. If you're looking for the fastest way to level the playing field in the world of car buying, this book is the needle in the haystack. I'm going to buy more than one copy this time.

Although Robert Blazak's "Carbuying 101" did not actually allow me to buy a car with the change in my ashtray, it did save me a significant amount of money and frustration. Blazak walks his readers through the entire car buying process from finding a reliable car to closing the deal at a great price. Based on his experience in the auto industry, Blazak exposes the tricks of the trade used by car dealers to get their customers to sign on the dotted line and to spend more than necessary on all the extras. Readers of "Carbuying 101" will learn:

-The best time of the year, week, and day to shop for a car.
-What charges are negotiable and what charges are fixed.
-How to identify when they are being manipulated by a sales person and how to best respond.
-What information to look for on the title and V.I.N. number.
-Why many dealers make more from their financing office than from the price of their cars.
-And many other strategies for how to maintain control and avoid spending more than necessary.

This easy and fun to read book will make an excellent addition to anyone's personal financial library.

The Fifties was a great time for Detroit and the look of their products reflected the carmakers optimism for the good times that were sweeping over the middle classes during the decade. Never mind racial tensions and the Cold War didn't everybody deserve to drive around in a flamboyant dream on wheels.

Books about autos of the period are steady sellers but I think this volume can't be beat. To get over sixteen hundred color photos and graphics in one book is pretty impressive. I like the editorial format, too, with each model getting a page per year. The mix of car company PR shots, period ads and graphics, dealer showroom and gas station photos plus the captions makes the pages sparkle. There is a very comprehensive index in the back, which makes Cars of the Fabulous 50s probably the best reference book available.

I see that this 416 page all-color book is available at some amazing low prices. Clearly a bargain.

Another book (by the same publisher) 'American Cars of the 1950s (ISBN 1412711568) covers the same ground but has an interesting twist in only using car graphics from ads and brochures for the picture content. It's also a square, chunky 320-page book. This publisher has also put out the same two books covering cars of the Sixties.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

My whole family is enjoying this book very much, brings back a lot of memories too. Thats why we also ordered a copy of the "Sizzling 60's".

Basicly you get a hugh book full of lush high qulity pictures , each picture has little commentry text attached and all are arranged by year , make and model . Most of restored cars but also b&w oldies , advertising , promo etc. I would have liked to see more interior pictures of the cars as well as all round view of the same car and not many image of differnt cars ,but still this is a really great book for 50's cars and you'll surely enjoy browsing it .

I bought this book as a gift for my dad, so I can't say whether or not I personally liked it. I thought it was a perfect gift for my dad because it has lots of pictures and not a lot of text (my dad isn't big on reading). The most text it has is captions under the pictures. He seemed to enjoy it - he spent an hour or two rummaging through it, and he still pulls it out every now and then (which is something he doesn't usually do - once the book gets put away, it stays put away).

So, if you prefer looking at pictures of cars from the fifties instead of reading about them, then this is a good book for you.

This comprehensive compilation of photographs and anecdotes about the fabulous automobiles of the 1950's will appeal to any nostalgia buff, whether a collector, a would-be collector, or to anyone who just likes the cars of the era. Organized year-by-year and then by make, the book makes it easy to find the model you are looking for. The photo reproduction is excellent and the brief descriptions (including prices)are to the point. You will find almost any car made in the U.S., both popular models that sold well and many that were sold in limited numbers.

Beautifully put across anthology of the evolution of the profession and technology of automotive styling as a major weapon in the competitive battles for the market-place.

It is understood that to better appreciate anything in our modern life we need to go back to its origins. Authors Lamm and Holls did that quite adeptly with a wonderfully organized automotive chronology...with the pages beautifully arranged. Most striking is the contrast and resolution of the black and white photographs, which, as the professional photographer already knows, are often preferred over color for those very reasons. Beginning with a light treatise on shipbuilding as a starting point, our authors lead us on a journey through coachbuilding, the "Nuts and Bolts of Early Automotive Fashion" (Chapter 2) and styling designs of the Big Three Automakers: Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

This book is not, however, simply an encyclopedia or recalling of events. It analyzes the overall effect that the lives of the designers themselves, and their families, had on our own modern culture. These insights are precisely what sets this book apart from a simple narrative with pictures. Consequently, we can then appreciate how much work is actually instilled into what we drive today. This book basically teaches us that automotive design is at the very foundation of our modern heritage.

Covering 306 pages over fourteen chapters, highly illustrated and perfectly indexed, "A Century of Automotive Style" is practically an education by itself, or more specifically, that of the social and economic impacts of automobile styling on our American culture. Knowledgeable, well-written and extremely detailed, this excellent work is clearly indicative of our author's background at GM's advanced design facility and formal schooling in industrial design. ... My top recommendation for all readers.

Like sweets in a hiding spot, you'll keep coming back just to sample. Open it to any page, and you're immediately swept into the world of car design as you've never seen it presented before - the faces and names behind the cars, the corporate struggles, the hits, misses, and might-have-beens. Peppered with fabulous design sketches and factory photos, there's enough eye candy here to guarantee that even the least auto-savvy among us will never look at a parking lot the same way again. For any kid who drew on the back of his or her notebook, wondered where fins came from, (Not Finland - sorry), or got giddy over riding in the front seat, this is wonderful - heck, required - reading.

Lamm and Holls have hit a home run! This book will provide any car lover with many hours of informative and pleasurable reading.

What Mike Lamm and Dave Holls have done is a truly monumental task . . . to take the history of automotive styling over the last 100 years and compile it into a readable resource that you can (and will) pick up and put down as you move from era to era, manufacturer to manufacturer, and personality to personality. The numerous "sidebars" offer much-needed insights into the people, places and processes that have produced the "look" of what is argueably the most important invention of the century - the car. This is not a book for an evening's diversion, or a straight-through read. It is best digested in small ( say, one-hour ) doses, over a long period of time. The serious reader will no doubt be led by these doses to other books in his library for more in-depth research, and then tomorrow night return for another dose. There will be only one disappointment when you are finished . . and that is the fact that you ARE finished. So put on the tea kettle, mount the La-Z-Boy, and spend some sustained "quality time" with the great cars and their designers. I thought I had a pretty thorough body of knowledge concerning automotive styling, but I learned a lot . . . you will, too. If you consider yourself a serious student of things automotive, you must have this book.

I have been looking for "The Cobra Ferrari Wars" for many years. I am thankful for libraries and interlibrary loans. Only about 4 libraries in the country have this book. The story of Carroll Shelby's quest for the World Championship is one of the best in U.S. racing history. The information about the GT cars of that era, such as the Ferrari 250, Aston Martin, and Cobra is outstanding. The stories of the development of the Cobra and Daytona Cobra, gave me a new insight into the creation of these great racing machines. These stories are told from the point of view of the people who where there. This is one of the many strengths of this book. Another great feature is the race-by-race summary of every race the cobras competed in from 1963 until the final race of the championship season of 1965. Each race is told in the words of the mechanics, drivers and team members who were there and played a vital role in the winning of the championship.
The Cobra Ferrari Wars took place during a time when the U.S. had some of the best racing cars and drivers in the world. These cars and drivers won the biggest and best races in all of the major racing series. They won in F1, Sports Cars, and Indianapolis. We don't seem to produce drivers that can win F1, Le Mans or even the Indianapolis 500 any more. What happened!

I hope that the producers of this great book will come out with a second edition. I don't need to have a signed first edition. If this book was put back in print, more people could have the opportunity to read about Carroll Shelby's 1965 GT Championship. I can afford to pay $...for this book but not $...or more. This new printing would give more racing fans a chance to own this book.

This is one of the best historical works about motor sports published during the last twenty years. With over fifteen years of research put into this work Michael Shoen has created something we will long refer to as a classic. In an era where automotive racing was almost completely dominated by European sports cars Carroll Shelby managed to not only build a competitive sports car but also upset the seemingly invincible position held by Ferrari. The Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965 accounts, on a race by race basis, the amazing story of the Cobra's climb to the top during those glorious three years.

Not only is this book extremely well written and thorough but the accompanying photographs and diagrams bring this infamous battle to life. Few other motor sports books have been able to accomplish this. I wouldn't recommend this book to the average Cobra or Ferrari enthusiast, however for the serious die-hard this is definitely a must have!

GREAT READ! Unbelievable amount of history on the subject here.

Lots of wonderful pics.

I can't say enough about how good this book is.

A MUST HAVE/MUST READ for any auto enthusiast, but especially for Cobra owners.

AUTHOR MICHAEL SCHOEN was there when the Cobras were rewriting the record books, a fact clearly reflected in his landmark work, "The Cobra-Ferrari Wars" (CFW). Escorting the reader into the thick of the story from the very first page, Schoen eloquently describes the rare brew of ambition, focus and raw talent that propelled Carroll Shelby's youthful and capable team to the 1965 FIA World Manufacturer's Championship. At the same time, the author recounts the fortunes of other opposing teams, details the politics rendered behind the scenes by both Shelby and Ferrari and, perhaps most importantly, provides ample first-person narratives by almost everyone who was involved in the Cobra effort, including an impressive line-up of the great drivers of the day. Complemented by a wealth of evocative period photographs, "The Cobra-Ferrari Wars" stands head and shoulders above anything else in the motorsports history genre, and belongs in every enthusiast's library.

I have about every book extant on vintage motor racing--COBRA-FERRARI WARS is the best by far. The quality of the research is staggering, the photos superb--it puts you into the pits as American motorsports came of age.

I bought this book to help me in my search for a car to buy. It was useful in that regard, but it is also a very interesting history of an iconic automobile. My research interest was in the fifth generation of the Corvette (the C5) since that is the model I was interested in buying. The chapters on the other models were very informative and entertaining. I enjoy reading history, especially automotive history, and this book fit the bill for the Corvette. It is a little short on raw data, but I don't think that was the intent of the author in the first place. All in all, a good buy.

I bought this book for a Vette fan's birthday--he loved it!! I flipped through it before I gave it to him and became mesmerized myself--beautiful photography of a beautiful car!

This was a birthday gift for my brother...a lover of Corvettes, old and new!

I own a C4 Corvette and try to buy every Corvette book that comes out. I was given a truly bad Corvette book for a Christmas gift this year ("Corvette: America's Sports Car: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" by Jerry Burton), a cheesy, vinyl-covered tossed-together collection of factoids and tired photography. I went out and bought this one myself. This is the book all Corvette owners should own. It is a well-written history of the Corvette that is so complete it serves as the ultimate Corvette resource book. Best of all, it's filled with 100s of never-before-seen photographs from GM Design's archives. That alone is worth the price of admission. If someone got you that low-rent red vinyl Corvette book as a gift, bring it back to the store and exchange it for this one.

This book has a well written history on the Corvette!! Great Cars - If you are a lover of Corvettes, like me, this is the book for you!! It is a book your wife will let you leave on the coffee table!

Billy Wannyn

If you're a Corvette owner, or a collector, this is one book you shouldn't be without. The Black Book is a wealth of information in condensed form about each and every year since the Corvette first hit the market.

If you own a corvette (regardless of the year) you should have a copy of Corvette Black Book It list all the available options, the cost and how many were ordered.

This book is updated each model year. It is a concise and excellent information source for the Chevrolet Corvette. It includes every production year up to the date of printing. I buy a new copy every couple of years.

The only source to get the year specific correct data on options and key information

The 2008 version of the Corvette Black Book carries on the tradition of the "standard" by which all other Corvette guides are compared.
Revised data and information on the current year model is always top-notch!

Crash Burn Love: Demolition Derby is a gallery of black-and-white photographs, embellished with a couple of brief essays by photography expert and sports enthusiast Bill Lowenburg. Crash Burn Love strives to capture not only the thrill of demolition derbies, but the lives and feelings of the men and women who participate. Some crash for money; some for the thrill of the sport; some for the feeling of surviving the incredible. The timeless still images range from a shattered car converted into a roadside sign, to people hard at work on their demolition vehicles, to blurred moments of intense action, to portraits of pit crews and competitors. A superb giftbook for any demolition derby enthusiast.

Crash Burn Love: Demolition Derby is a gallery of black-and-white photographs, embellished with a couple of brief essays by photography expert and sports enthusiast Bill Lowenburg. Crash BUrn Love strives to capture not only the thrill of demolition derbies, but the lives and feelings of the men and women who participate. Some crash for money; some for the thrill of the sport; some for the feeling of surviving the incredible. The timeless still images range from a shattered car converted into a roadside sign, to people hard at work on their demolition vehicles, to blurred moments of intense action, to portraits of pit crews and competitors. A superb giftbook for any demolition derby enthusiast.

Small Press Bookwatch from The Midwest Book Review

Crash Burn Love: Demolition Derby
Photographs and Essays by Bill Lowenburg

"Mayhem is just the song that allows us all to dance."
-Bill Lowenburg

It's funny that I got this book right after reading Chuck Palahniuk's new book "Rant" because they both involve demolition derby and amazing visuals. Chuck's book is more of a twisted disturbing visual of the sport while Bill's book shows us the beauty of destruction but they both open the eyes of the reader to a new reality.

The essays in this book sound as though they are written directly to the reader, it's a spoken word book and I can hear Bills voice as I read it. When I first flipped through I saw pictures of dirty people, mechanics, and blue-collar workers; after reading Bills essays, I see sons, daughters, loved-ones, and family. His voice takes away every stereotype that could be put on these people and shows that there's a lot more to life than a job or a boss that doesn't understand what a catalytic converter is.

Bills humor is dry and scattered perfectly throughout the book. When the reader isn't in awe of the photography telling its own story, they are on a rollercoaster of smiles and self-analysis. A line that one of the derby drivers said that really sparked something in me was "the family that demos together, stays together." This wasn't just a sport or a time to get frustration out; it was a time to get together with family and friends. Many of the drivers spend hours putting their cars together and taking them apart again with friends and family, so, maybe they're on to something.

Attention to detail is apparent in his writing as well as his photographs. After eight seasons watching and interacting with these drivers, Bill has found something that many of us would have entirely missed if we went to one or two derbys, and that's that demolition derby isn't about destruction, it's about life, love, and camaraderie.

Flipping through the pages of the book, which are full of black and white photos from various derbys, the reader realizes that many of the spectators want to see the legs sticking out of the hood of one car to be smashed by a car named "Fender Bender," but where Bill was, behind the scenes, a young woman kisses a man before the race with love. The contrasts of reality of these races is explained in the writing and elaborated on in the photographs which can be called nothing but beautiful.

In his last essay of the book, Bill shows the past, present, and future of demolition derby. While its beginnings are uncertain Bill believes that its future is bright. With books like this and "Rant," as well as specials on TBS about the sport, we should all be so lucky to catch a glimpse at the reality of demolition derby. This book deserves a look by anyone that wants to find beauty in a world full of anything but.

Bill Lowenburg's book captures Demolition Derbies like nothing I've seen before. It is exciting, epic, and beautiful. The photos not only capture the crashes but also the drivers and fans. You can tell they were taken not only by an amazing photographer but by a true fan of derbies and the result is exceptional. In the months when there are no derbies by me, it doesn't get any better than looking through "Crash Burn Love" . This is a must have for fans of demolition derbies and Ameircana but the quality of the images makes it perfect for anyone interested in photography

This photo-documentary is very unique. I have never seen a collection of photographs quite like it. It is also a great resource to own. I have been using Lowenburg's essays and referring to the photographs in my American Photography and Visual Studies courses in college. When left out on my desk, my guests pick it up, leaf through it, and comment on its quality. I would recommend it to everyone.

UPDATE! Here's a review from Book News:

At the heart of this book are 80 extraordinary b&w photos (presented in a
10x9.5 inches format) depicting people, cars, and scenes of demolition
derbies. The photos are aesthetic, intimate, and compelling - curiously
delightful for outsiders, and a celebration of the familiar for those
involved in the sport. Photographer/writer Bill Lowenburg also includes an
essay on the history of these events and a bibliography listing books,
magazine articles, films, and websites. (Annotation C2007 Book News Inc.
Portland, OR)