No comments about Peter Egan on the Road: America's Favorite Automotive Writer Stays Off the Interstate.

2 comments about Ford Pick-ups & Expedition 1997 thru 2003 (Haynes Repair Manual).

1. If you want to make engine repairs, this manual gives basic "how to" information. But there is no "tricks of the trade" type information and to really use this manual you will need to be pretty familiar with similar vehicle types and engine repairs and have all the "mechanic tools." It has a decent number of pictures but I have to agree with others that the Chilton manual has a few more pictures providing a little better detail and covering a few more subjects. I am not sure of the accuracy of the book because I had no intention in rebuilding the engine or transmission, so much of it is a waste to me. I really purchased it for information on how to remove & replace interior and exterior items that a mechanically inclined consumer might upgrade or to perform maintenance work such as belts, breaks, struts. For some of the maintenance items, there is information to work from as part of larger projects but in general this manual does not provide that information and I am disappointed in the purchase. It does provide some info for working on breaks and suspension, but if you have have the airbag suspension, the detail is lacking.



2. We bought a book for our 99 Ford F250 It was great so when we needed one for my SUV 2000 we came back and ordered one form the same company. It is a great book with all and information you may need on your auto

5 comments about Suite Francaise.

1. The setting is 1940 France amid the German occupation. Ms. Nemirovsky and her family were caught in the middle of the French people fleeing the occupied territory. She tells the tale with beautiful imagery and descriptions, not making monsters of the German overlords who made their lives so difficult. What is even more amazing is that this novel was finished when Ms. N was sent to Auschwitz. She never left. Even though she was a French citizen, the Nazis used her Jewish roots against her and stifled one of the most gifted writers I have ever had occasion to read. This novel was hidden for about 60 years, and only recently was published to critical acclaim. A great read that tells the tale of a city, and a people, occupied--but now overthrown.



2. There are many reviews already, so suffice it to say I believe she had talent and am interested in reading a novel she had time to finish.
   
   If you read this novel, do not overlook Appendix II, which contains letters written by Irene, her husband and their friends and family. It will break your heart what they went through when the Nazis came for them.



3. When a friend handed me her copy of Suite Francaise my first thought was that it would not be my sort of thing, with its 1940's movie character cover and "secret manuscript hidden away by author's daughters for more than 60 years" backstory. How wrong I was! This is one of the very best books I've ever read. It is so beautifully translated that you catch your breath over its wonderful phrasing, elegant descriptions, perfectly paced plot, and characters all too human. Impossible to overstate the emotional impact of the loss of this powerful writer to the evil Nazi regime.



4. Perhaps the miracle of this manuscript is that it survived the internment and death of its author and all the mischances of World War II to achieve publication. Even in its unfinished condition (only two sections out of the author's intended three or four), this novel paints an unforgettable portrait of France in defeat.
   
   The first section, Storm in June, follows a number of people who flee Paris ahead of the German Army. The author hopscotches from character to character, trying to show the reaction of many different classes and types of people. The most poignant story was that of a middle-class, middle-aged couple who both work at the same bank. They report to the bank as ordered, only at the last minute the bank director decides to take his mistress in his car so he tells the couple that they are to report to Tours tomorrow or face losing their jobs! They have to walk and their faith with one another and their worry about their son in the army makes for affecting reading.
   
   The second section, Dolce, is set in a farming community under occupation. The tensions between the occupiers and the occupied are deftly delineated. The subtle choices faced by those who willingly collaborate and those who do so reluctantly are played upon. The author does this in such human terms, showing the relationship that grows step by step between Lucille, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a man now held captive, and the German officer quartered with her and her mother-in-law.
   
   These two sections, plus some of the author's notes, are all we have--this in itself is a tragedy and waste of war. Had this novel been finished we would be hailing it as one of the supreme works of literature. As it stands, it is like a great cathedral gutted by a bomb. The ruined shell still soars to heaven, a reminder of the human spirit triumphing despite human destructiveness.



5. A book like this only comes around once in a while and touched me greatly and even though the author died tragically at Auschwitz in 1942 she will be in my memory forever.. Thank god her daughter got this book published. I fell in love with all the characters who were written so vividly I thought I was there...So descriptive, with both humor and sadness. The next part "Captive" was not yet written only in bits and pieces before her death. I cried on the last two pages regarding her life and death. Such a talented writer. Rest in peace Irene..

5 comments about Honda Accord Repair Manual 2003-2005 (Haynes Automotive Repair Manual).

1. Like other reviewers have mentioned, this manual doesn't have the highest quality pictures (similar to black and white newspaper), but it's not terrible, either. The pictures aren't razor sharp, but you can still see what's going on.
   
   While the manual gives some good step-by-step instructions, it helps to know a few things about car maintenance and have some confidence in your own ability to begin with.
   
   I've used this as a reference for some basic maintenance tasks, and all-in-all, it's good to have around. If you're going to do car maintenance, for $15, just get it. It pays for itself after one use, even if it serves as a secondary source of information.
   
   Personally, my method is to use a combination of online research (some sites have good pictures) as well as this manual.
   
   When I approach a particular task I've never done before, I first read what the manual says a few days in advance. I think it over carefully, look up some websites with pictures and variations of the instructions, visualize what needs to be done in my head, and then I get the parts I need and perform the actual work.



2. Like the other reviewers I found the photos in this manual unacceptable. First the paper it's printed on is some horrible recycled junk that is only fit for text. Second the black and white photos (all are B&W) almost all have poor lighting and contrast. They may have looked good on the computer when they were editing it but by the time they were printed cheaply on cheap paper they are completely unacceptable. There also aren't enough photos in some cases. They show you a close up of something but you have no idea what general region the item is located.



3. I purchased this manual to gain insite into issues I have with my car's navigation system. The topic is not mentioned in this book. As a matter of fact, the identification or location of the elements that make up the system is not covered by the book at all. As I suspect the problem is a matter of interconnections, this most easy and trivial presentation of this information is lacking, making the book useless for my immediate needs.



4. This book is not for the novice. You will need some background in fixing cars to use this book. I agree with some of the other reviews that the pictures are of poor quality which is why you will need some experience in doing some of the repairs but compared to what Honda charges for their book, I'm happy with this. Consider the savings though, one screw and about $20 in transmission oil and I don't have to pay the $80-$100 every one else charges to change it for me. I bought 4 plugs for $48 and the dealer wanted to charge me $150 total and the plugs were at $25 each with them. Bottom line, if you have some experience working on cars and are good at asking questions when necessary, this book can still save you hundreds to thousands of dollars in general maintenance at a shop
   
   6/15/08 UPDATE!!! The book is a little more accurate than the dealer's computer. The dealer and my local Kragen both swore that my car used Iridium #6994 but make sure you know which model of Accord that you have. I had kept telling them that mine is the 2003 Accord LX SULEV model and it uses the #6774 type for NGK. The guy at Kragen kept telling me that I could use either and the dealer service said to use the one that is required and they are not interchangeable. The dealer's parts dept. had to look it up by vin to confirm the correct plugs. I finally returned the one's that I got from my local Kragen and lucky enough, Amazon had the right parts for my car. A word of caution; the specifications for cars of today are more precise. Any time someone tells you that you can put any part or switch parts on a car, research everything. If they do not sign something that they will be held fully responsible for what they are saying, do not trust them. We are no longer talking about something as simple as different oils, these cars are monitored by computers now and if you put the wrong part on the car, you could really do some damage to either the motor or its computer systems. do you really want to be pay for the damage because of some ignorant car parts dealer says either will work?



5. I just received my copy of this book and I don't find anything wrong with the photos like many other reviews posted here. This is my second Haynes book, the first one is Honda Civic 1984 thru 1991 which I have used extensively for my '89 Civic Wagon 4WD. I used it to do some major maintenance work and the photos were worse than this one. I also supplemented that with an official manual and additionally looked up things I did not quite understand on the internet. I look forward to using this manual in the same way - and if I do decide to get as involved in maintenance as with the Civic I would probably spring for the official Honda manual as well for $75. My experience with the official manual for the Civic Wagon is that it was obtuse at times compared with Haynes which is more down and dirty. The paper is recycled newsprint of a slightly lower grade than the printing for the Civic manual of a few years ago, but so what it will help soak up and camouflage the oil smudges better than white bond paper. This is not a poetry book, it's a car repair reference manual - just buy it and learn - you will have no regrets, especially for this price.

5 comments about Toyota Prius, '01-'08 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual).

1. It appears that the majority of scheduled maintenance on a Prius consists of fluid and filter changes. Why give hundreds of dollars to an indifferent repair shop when you can perform such relatively elementary service yourself for a few dozen dollars? And know that the job was done right.
   
   I'm not interested performing complicated repairs, just maintenance procedures like changes of coolant, transaxle fluid, oil, and filters. While the Haynes manual is OK, it doesn't provide as much detail as I would like to have before starting a job on a complex vehicle that I've never worked on before. For example, when draining coolant the text discusses 4 drain points - one being the engine block drain plug. However, this plug is NOT labeled on the undercarriage photo provided in the manual.
   
   I returned the book and pre-ordered the Prius Repair manual prepared by Bentley (a more expensive book) in the hope that such details will not be left out. The Bentley Prius manual is not due out until June or July 08, so I have no comments to relay on its merits or shortfalls.



2. For under $20, this might be an ok repair manual, but it has glaring omissions, as is usual with Haynes. For example, when replacing the spark plugs on the Prius (a typical DIY procedure that you might expect to have thorough coverage in this type of repair manual), the torque value for the plugs is provided, but the torque value for the individual coil hold-down bolts (a critical connection for environmental sealing and ignition electrical ground) is not provided, or even mentioned as being important to check.
   I'd wait until the Bentley manual is published and take a look at it first before buying this manual.



3. Seems that it was the first after market service manual for the Toyoto Prius for which I am grateful as the factory manuals cost rip off prices. I have felt helpless owning a car for three years with no manual although there have been no problems not even a burned out light bulb. The paper could be better. I wish that manuals were printed on greasy finger resistant paper.



4. This manual fills a critical need for Prius owners. From those who do not like being helpless at a repair center or dealership to those who like to do their own maintenance and repair this is a simple well-photographed description of almost all jobs to be done on the Prius. The only thing it lacks are the exploded diagrams that made the earlier Haynes manuals the state-of-the-art resources to which many of us "shady-tree" mechanics were accustomed . Photographs are acceptable, but due to focussing, printing and labeling limitations are just not as good. The instructions are concise, logical and well-written and include appropriate safety information. Having priced the Prius shop manuals at over $700.00 the reasonable price (about $15) makes it a bargain. It is a good book even for the average owner for it goes a long way toward demystifying Prius characteristics such as the hybrid system and regenerative braking. I still miss the exploded diagrams though....



5. I bought this book to learn more about the hybrid systems in this car, which is becoming more or less ubiquitous here in San Francisco. Who knows, someday I might even have one. The cover of the book even says, "Includes essential information for today's more complex vehicles."
   
   Unfortunately, the chapter covering the hybrid systems (ch. 5) is a scant seven pages. Service on these parts is limited to removal and replacement on a module by module basis. (Wearing thick rubber gloves, for insulation.)
   
   Still, it's interesting info, and if you own a Prius, you'll want to have a copy of this book for when your car goes out of warranty.
   
   By the way, there is zero info on "hacks", if that's what you're looking for.
   
   Otherwise, this is a typical Haynes book. It's only about half an inch thick, and I'd expect a factory manual to be 2-3 times that, so, you can bet it's both simpler to understand and missing a few details.

3 comments about Managing 12 Volts: How to Upgrade, Operate, and Troubleshoot 12 Volt Electrical Systems.

1. for a long time now, i was looking for a "start from scratch" book in understanding auto electronics. a book with illustrations that actually explains how it works. this book is a great introduction, a must buy if you really want to know the fundamentals. even though it's about RV's too, it tells you all you need to know about autos.
   the more you read, the better you understand what you read.
   i now know how the battery really works, know what it really does, what the altenator does. i know about switches, sensor,actuators and solenoids now. at first you you need time to grasp the concept, but it gets easy to understand very quickly. 5 stars.



2. I've used it,and it helped me solve my problem and it saved me the cost of having someone else do it.



3. Ordered book to help me plan an RV electrical system upgrade. Found it easy to follow and it answered virtually all the questions I had about how to add a second battery to my RV, upgrade my battery charging capability, install an inverter, etc. Recommended.

3 comments about The Complete Book of Boondock RVing.

1. This is a well written book, but geared toward people with large RVs. There is an extended section on Boondocking electricity, monitoring batteries and engine alternators. Then a chapter on solar and wind power, which is all very nice, but not what we were looking for and not what a large majority of people can afford. We have an 18 foot super light-weight trailer and use a Honda generator. I guess we thought this book would be more about places to go that were interesting. The list of "Selected" Boondocking sites was very limited. If You are looking for a better choice try the FREE Campgrounds book by Don Wright, either the Western or Eastern edition. Lots of great sites listed in this book.
   The bottom line is that the Complete Book of Boondocking will go on our next garage sale.



2. This book has it all! Written by a couple who have been "living the life" for many years, every word has the feel of authenticity and experience-based knowledge. A lot of the material might be found in other sources but we needed a guidebook to read AND have on the shelf for reference. My wife and I have been "fulltimers" for 11 years, but have spent little time dry-camping, or "boondocking." We wanted more information on solar panels and water maintenance and we found it all here. I found no negatives about this book.



3. This books covers a wide range of subjects associated with boondocking in an RV. Am quite impressed with it, especially the parts about batteries and electrical systems. Most stock RVs are not designed for being "off the grid" for very long at all (without running a noisy and $$ generator) and it really helps you design improvements in boondocking capability. At least, it'll let you speak the language of electrical systems if you go to professional to have improvements made. There are books that offer more detail in the subjects covered, but that means buying several books. This one will get you started and then some. All the info in the book is useful, researched and concisely written. Have fun and we'll see you on the road.

4 comments about Toyota Camry (Chilton's 1997-2001 Repair Manual).

1. 
   It has a great step-by-step explanation on how to look into your car. Also, it has numerous pictures and photos. So, even though you are a really beginner, we can do something.



2. Even if you don't intend to do your own work, you owe it to yourself to check with Chilton's to see what's involved. I knew a set of front brakes on my Camry was going to run upwards of $250 at the dealership. But after reviewing the step by step instructions with illustrations, I knew I could do this one myself. Great way to get to know your car better. My only complaint - the book 'construction' isn't great. The paper is a step up from newsprint, and I'm not impressed. All in all, worth the investment; this one paid for itself the first time I used it.



3. I've found this book to be very complete. It provides both background and step-by-step instructions. It also recommends the types of tools that are necessary to perform the maintenance. I recommend this book even if you aren't planning to do the work yourself. Knowledge is power, especially when you go to the automechanic's shop.



4. I ORDERED A REPAIR MANUAL FOR MY RECENTLY PURCHASED USED CAR. I WANTED A MANUAL THAT HAD EVERYTHING , BUMPER TO BUMPER, AND CHILTON'S HAD THAT. I GOT IT AT AMAZON.COM AND IT WAS ABOUT 10.00 CHEAPER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE AND IT WAS BRAND NEW JUST LIKE IT SAID . I ALSO RECIEVED IT IN HALF THE TIME THAT IT SAID IT WOULD TAKE FOR SHIPPING. I'M A RETURN CUSTOMER AT AMAZON.COM AND WHENEVER I NEED ANYTHING I ALWAYS LOOK FOR IT ON AMAZON FIRST.

5 comments about Supercharging, Turbocharging and Nitrous Oxide Performance (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. Yes, at one time a cover for this book was incorrectly displayed on this site, however, the one showing is what you will get. At any rate, there is an old saying that you "don't judge a book by its cover" and any serious performance enthusiast will understand that. The contents of any book are what count. If you are looking for information to help you differentiate between superchargers and turbochargers and the various types of nitrous oxide applications, along with other information on systems to help you make a knowledgable choice, this book will be of great value to you. It has a large amount of in-depth information for those already familiar with these applications, but was also written to aid newcomers to the field. In addition, any good mechanic also understands that information is not "make and model" specific when it comes to theory, production of boost and horsepower, staving off detonation, and gaining the most from your vehicle for what your budget and ability can handle. This is a great reference book for learning about these particular applications, and no matter whether you are a Chevy, Ford or Toyota enthuisiast, principles of producing horsepower remain the same!



2. this book has all you need to know about turbochargers, superchargers, and nos. I also suggest giant spoiler, loud exhaust, and fast driving. this has all you need to give your car the extra little horsepower you need to push minivans into the road to be run over, or to get a few more mpg. good buy



3. A great book, the author(s) did a wonderful job of describing information and kept it from being too complex. Examples given for real world understanding... very recommended



4. this is a good book to have an idea how the SCs work,also it has some ideas and formulas to tune your car in general!



5. This book is simply an overview of different systems, with no detailed information on the design and setup of actual installation. While it may be a good primer for someone who knows nothing about nitrous or forced induction, if your serious about learning how the systems work there are many better books on the market. Out of all the books I own this is one of the few I would gladly get rid of- It hasnt been opened in years.
   -Jack

1 comments about Applied Codeology: Underrstanding The 2005 National Electric Code.

1. I'm a Journeyman Electrician and I have always found the NEC difficult to manuver through, because it covers so much and the language sometimes can be a bit hard to decipher. This book cuts through all that. This book is better than the NEC Handbook because it taught me why the code is written the way it is, the steps the code panel takes and the "style manual" they use to carefully select just the right words to make the Code as Clear as possible. If I were to give an Electrician a Code Book, I would also give "Applied Codeology" with it.