No comments about Porsche Sixty Years.

2 comments about Toyota RAV4 1996-2002 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manual).

1. I consider that this it's a good book. This book describes detailed the procedures of repair for Toyota RAV4. It seems to me excellent to mention the amount of photographies that allow to see with clarity where each screw is located.
   
   In other hand, this book, also illustrates on the basic concepts of identification of screws and use of workshop tools.
   
   For all things mentioned above, I recommend this book.



2. My husband and I were able to fix a problem with our 2002 Rav4 at a tenth of what it would have cost at the dealer. Good illustrations. Straightforward, easy to follow instructions. If one person came up with the concept for this book, he deserves the Nobel Prize

1 comments about Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guide--Jan-June 2008: Consumer Edition (Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guide Consumer Edition).

1. Purchased a clean Plymouth Breeze for my son after his HS graduation. Spent a day at the used car lots and having this baby in my hip pocket was invaluable. Some of the asking prices from the used car con artists were a joke. I purchased the Breeze at top of Kelly Blue Book which was actually a good deal. I think low blue book is not a realistic value.

1 comments about How to Restore Your Muscle Car (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. Even though this book has been reprinted and extra colour pages added its still one of the best books on restoring cars.And,its published by "Motorbooks" in their "Motorbooks workshop" series so you know its good.
   
   The book gives you step by step instructions with appropriate b&w photos throughout and a few colour photos added.It set out in the order of disassembly,paiting tips,restoring each part,reassembly,as well as preparing the freshly restored vehicle for detailing,etc.This book is also ideal to helping with any restomod project.

5 comments about The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language.

1. I thought this was going to be a book about HOW to learn a language. I'm giving this four stars, b/c it's not really the author's fault that I picked the wrong book for my purpose. It's written well and explained well, but I really don't need someone to spend a whole lot of pages explaining to me that we instinctively learn. BUT I understand that there are people who do want to read a whole lot of pages explaining this theory, so...four stars it is. In case you didn't get that, it's NOT a book that teaches you how to learn a language.



2. I give this book five stars not because its reasoning is impeccable, or its writing everywhere beautiful, or its theme always engaging and irresistible. In none of these dimensions is it flawless. But I would nonetheless recommend it without reservation to all readers, so I feel I must give it five stars.
   
   This book is great because of its fascinating subject, and the myriad of relevant ideas and examples it reveals. The book is more of in interesting discussion on a topic than an orderly defense of a thesis. But so many of the examples are utterly fascinating that, were there no attempt to patch them together into a single narrative, this book would still be intriguing and enjoyable. To give you a sense of why I love this book I must mention a few of these here.
   
   Pinker discusses:
   
   >how children, in a single generation, can transform a pidgin (an awkward combination of two languages created by the mingling of two populations with different native languages) into a creole (a composite language that is no longer awkward but instead melds the parent languages into a new one with all of the richness and complexity of any other natural language). He further describes how deaf children creolized artificially constructed sign languages into a natural language with all of the features and depth of expression that extant languages have.
   
   >in depth, the concept that language defines the boundaries of thought and expression.
   
   >how varieties of brain injuries and genetic mutations can alter very specific language abilities while leaving other general cognitive functioning unharmed.
   
   >efforts to teach other animals language.
   
   >how languages change over time and what rules the changes preserve and what aspects of language are up for grabs.
   
   I will force myself to stop. As I flip through the pages of the book I find countless other examples and frequently get caught up in them all over again and have to tear myself away.
   
   Now, I must warn you, that if you are not interested in theories of linguistics and cognition and computer science then there are, here and there, some more nuts and bolts discussions of how language works that you will find to be a bit dry. They're really not bad, and if you ARE interested in the above they're actually quite fascinating. But if you find your interest waning as you encounter these rougher patches, never fear, they are a relatively minor component of the book, and there are many more vigorous discussions yet to come.
   
   If you are interested in language, how it works, how we learn it, and how it affects us, then you will love this book. I find Pinker's arguments in favor of the view that language is innate in humans to be compelling, and I think that most people would find the suggestion to be pretty intuitive. But don't let your feelings about the outcome of this argument obscure the many simpler pleasures available to the reader who innocently enjoys the many vistas afforded by this excellent tour of the world of linguistics.



3. i liked this book better than pinker's "how the mind works." it was a little more focused, obviously, and i feel that pinker had better explanations for his ideas re language and linguistics than for the mind as a whole (tho he did use examples from the "mind" book here, and vice versa). it got a little thick thru the parts discussing grammar rules, but on the whole a good read that kept my interest. less dense than "how the mind works" and on the whole more intriguing.



4. We all talk. (Some of us more than others). But all humans -- barring a problem such as deafness -- talk. Even our deaf friends talk by means of a complicated language of visual signs.
   
   And Steven Pinker tells this story, the story of human language, and why it's so essential a part of our humanity, well. Following Chomsky, he posits a universal language structure, an innate part of our being who we are, and how small children grow quickly into complex grammatical and syntactical structures.
   
   And for the most part, this is a good read. My only complaint is that on occasions, Dr. Pinker waxes a bit too eloquent, telling more information than is needed for the argument, giving pages and pages of examples when one or 2 would do. But this is a good introduction to the whole question of why and how we talk, and by inference how we think.



5. I found this book to be an interesting and informative read. While I am interested in linguistics (and thus was probably a bit more excited about the topic than the average person), I think this book would also be enjoyable for anyone. Pinker writes in an understandable manner, mostly avoiding linguistic jargon and always explaining complex topics in a generally understandable way.
   
   Additionally, the latest edition includes a "P.S." addition at the end that incudes Q&A with Pinker as well as a summary for each chapter of new advances that have been made since the book was originally written--a nice addition to an already great book.

5 comments about Auto Fundamentals (Text).

1. Reading 'Auto Fundamentals' is like taking a college Auto Tech class at your own leasure! Pretty much every question you have about the fundamental automotive systems WILL be answered by the time you finish this textbook. This is an absolute must-read for anyone looking to get into an automotive field, no matter what branch. Plenty of pictures (with thier own accompanying explanations) are placed throughout the book to give you plenty of visual aides to go along with the text. Although this is an excellent read, there are a few parts of the book that can overwhelm you (eg. automatic transmissions/transaxles and power steering systems we're so over my head I had to skip those chapters). The author goes into extreme detail at the beginning of the book, but that detail kind of tapers off near the end. Not so much that you won't be able to comprehend what your reading, but enough that it may get a little frustrating to read. I'm still giving this 5 stars though, it more than deserves it for it's wide variety of content and (for the most part) clarity.



2. I am new patent attorney working on patent applications related to the automotive industry. I was looking for a great book that was easy to understand and had tons of diagrams. I have found it!!!!



3. I've always been interested in cars but never knew very much about what was under the hood other than the very basics. All I'd previously done to my cars is top off any fluids, change burned out bulbs and change flat tires. So, I finally decided to learn about cars and do some maintenance myself which led to this book. It took me a full year to read completely (maybe 2 months actually reading) but with a new baby and a move to a new house mixed in, I think I did pretty well! I was very serious about learning and that is almost a requirement as this book is very detailed and needs to be studied in many areas to really understand the concepts, especially if you have nothing else to go on.
   
   This is a multi-semester text book intended for students in an auto shop class that covers all automotive systems from engine internals to wiring to air conditioning. Everything is covered in detail with multiple designs of components covered where appropriate.
   
   My only complaints are that many times the text references figures that are on the next page so there's a lot of flipping back and forth. Also, some illustrations are a little difficult to make out to really visualize a complex part while some exploded views (many direct from manufacturers) are so overly detailed that the important information discussed in the text is lost.
   
   These are small gripes though as the few gaps left from a few sections with bad drawings can be supplemented with an internet image or animation from sites like howstuffworks.com. These really help with things like differentials and transmissions.
   
   Otherwise, armed with the knowledge in this book you will have no problem understanding any shop manual and doing most auto maintenance yourself. Where the Haynes manual you buy at the auto parts store goes over your specific car and what bolts to loosen to fix whatever and the torque required when you bolt it back together, this book goes into much more detail on all systems in a more general but complete way. It doesn't assume you know any of the basics. The layout is pretty good too. Things are broken up so you don't have a lot of very detailed chapters all bunched up like engine internals, carburetors and transmissions. They are seperated by chapters like Tool identification and use, electricity fundamentals and wheel alignment. The best part is how everything builds on previous chapters or sections. For example, the engine internals section starts with just a piston in a cylinder, then they add valves, then cooling, then timing for those valves, etc until all the major components are added to the final engine drawing.
   
   I can't say enough good things about this book. It's obviously a mature work (previous edition copyrights go back to 1963!) and I can't see much that can be improved. So buy this book, a service manual for your car, a jack and some tools from Sears and do your own work and be able to knowledgeably discuss more complex procedures with your mechanic when it comes to that. Also find a forum on the internet for your car (such as automotiveforums.com) for help troubleshooting.



4. This book has alot of good information about automotive technology. It has the basics and foundation to get you started in your career as a technician or if your just curious about the industry in general. Great book.



5. This book is definitely not for beginnings. The authors have put too many technical words into each sentence, which makes for much confusion. There are many fine books out there for those who are beginning to learn about automobiles. This is not one of them.

5 comments about Modern U.S. Tanks & AFVs.

1. I have been looking for the most recent information on what our boys overseas are fighting with in terms of armored vehicles and this book definitely provides the most up to date information with references to recent events in 2003. Every significant armored vehicle in the current US inventory is described in detailed words and pictures. You will not be bored if you are into armor. Being partial to tanks I am alarmed to learn that more of our forces are depending on lightly armored wheeled vehicles now and in the future. It is my hope that recent experiences with RPGs rockets in Iraq will convince Pentagon planners to put our citizen soldiers under better protection.



2. Mike Green and Greg Stewart have done another outstanding job with "Modern U.S. Tanks & AFVs." This impressive single-source reference provides a very informative overview of U.S. armored vehicles. The photographs are impressive and include some rarely seen photos. This book will be an important addition to the library of anyone interested in the subject of modern U.S. armor.



3. Modern U.S. Tanks and AFVs condenses hard-to-find information into an attractive an easy-to-read format. The four chapters are Tanks, Armored Infantry Vehicles, Wheeled Armored Firepower and Indirect Armored Fire Support. The photography is uniformly excellent and the book's color reproduction is unusually high in quality. A glance at the credits shows that the authors went out of their way to get information from people directly involved with the development, fielding, operation and support of these vehicles. This book provides an easy way to learn about the latest developments in ground combat current technology and tactics. Highly recommended.



4. This publication goes out of it's way to show US Armor in all it's possible glory. Although I was at first horrifed to see the book was printed in CHINA, the money saved for highest quality printing and production was worth the irony of having our greatest 21st Century potential military foe printing a book cataloging our armored force.
   
   This is a rare gem of a publication that focuses exclusively on our current era equipment, the source materials, editing and content showing production topic and story discipline very rare in this book category. The book strikes a unique balance between pictures and content. It is not a "list" book - but a beautiful portrait of the US Army and Marine Corps in 21st Century military transition.
   
   Divided between "legacy equipment" and transitional/future combat platforms by track and wheel, tank, AFV, rocket and tube artillery, the book goes into a level of detail that keeps military buffs satisfied - and confuses only a minority of curious civilians. This is more than a starter book.
   
   I enjoyed the clarity of content and portrayal of weapons systems, comprehensive and easy to understand historical storyline and current contractors proudly displaying their latest (2002/2003)production. The detail level is astonishingly accurate - I being directly involved in many of these programs as a defense contractor/retired Army officer. FBCB2 (digital) data in the M-1A2 or M-1D tanks is bleeding edge state of the art capability shared with the reader!
   
   The nostalgia of reviewing early 1980's legacy equipment brought back fond memories of wonderful people, interesting places and threats that no longer exist. Anyone who has served from 1970 on will be be fascinated with the progress of armored vehicle development, capabilities and the lethality of newer equipment. Equipment is mostly shown in field use - photography is stunningly first rate. Looks like many contractor marketing and testing photographs were used.
   
   NOT included are pictures of our latest improvisations and armor updates to the threat our forces face in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since publication - "birdcage" RPG screens have been added to the Stryker and M1114 uparmored HMMWVs have undergone additional modifications. I hope a newer addition of this book sees print.
   
   Pretty enough to display to your liberal friends as a "coffee table" book - the rich color photographs and clear readable storyline of a force in transition is a wonderful addition to anyone's military library.



5. A good overview of modern U.S. "heavies". Although not a deep read this book has excellent illustrations, showing many different shots of U.S. armor in Iraq, Germany and the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin CA.

4 comments about Ford Focus, Revised Edition: 2000 through 2005 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manual).

1. many things were out of place. for example the micro cabin filter, the DPFE sensor were both at the wrong places in the book



2. Good book for user Who feeling good making repair in your Focus. Only pictures in w/b and no measures of bolts and nuts.



3. I bought this manual for my 05' Focus ZX5 with a Duratec engine. Unfortunately, the Duratec engine gets very poor coverage in this manual. It's almost like they added it as an afterthought just before going to press. Consider buying this manual only if you have the Zetec engine!



4. Easily the worst manual for a car I've used yet. Not only does it not apply to vehicles in any of the "Green" states with the PZEV/Duratec engine (including all 2005 model years since they all have a Duratec engine), but its often flat wrong in its descriptions of procedures for all vehicles newer than April 2002.
   
   If you need a repair manual for your car, don't wast your money here, spend the extra money to buy the factory repair manual, it may have more information than you need (for instance, the 2004 Ford Focus Factory Repair Manual covers all 4 engines, the SPI, the Zetec, the SVT and PZEV) but it WILL have the information you need, including factory torque specs, notices of special tools needed (and their part numbers) and a plethora of diagrams that are worlds better than the horribly exposed pictures in this guide.
   
   Don't be fooled by its inclusion of "wiring diagrams" either, I found them to be basically worthless, and if you are buying this manual for the diagrams, don't. Go buy the companion Factory Wiring Diagram Manual for your car as well.
   
   The factory guides may cost considerably more, but if you plan on working on your own car, they are the only guides worth purchasing.

5 comments about BMW 7 Series (E32) Service Manual: 1988-1994.

1. With all research Bentley does to make a wonderful repair manual, why couldn't they put the right car on the cover? The car on the cover is a 7 from 1997-2003.



2. This is the bible for maintenance and repair on the 7 Series E32 BMW.
   If you own one of these vehicles, and you plan on doing ANY maintenance yourself, you NEED this book.
   Easy-to-understand procedures, and plenty of pictures and illustrations, will help keep you from making expensive mistakes.



3. I think the Authors are trying to cram to many engine types into 1 book. The majority of the info simply refers you back and forth to different sections. None of which help you much when it comes to actual troubleshooting.The book doesn't take into consideration the various parameters you might encounter as a vehicle ages,or even list possible causes if a component is outside the listed values. A Haynes book costs about a third as much and is just as informative.



4. This book is the Bible of the BMW 7 Series.It tells you everything you want to know.Dont waste youre money on cd manuals,they only give you bits and peaces.This manual gives you all the mechanical know how and also gives you a complete wiring diagram of all the electronic components.The price is around £40 but it is the best £40 ive ever spent.



5. I purchased the book for my 20yr old college son,he has a 92 BMW 740iL, it was running really ruff... He was so excited to be able to read and understand the basicness of the book explaining he needed to change the spark plugs and the air cleaner to make the car run alot better. Besides saving tons of car repair costs, he now is going to tackle the brakes, everyone needs this book.

4 comments about Chaparral: Can-Am & Prototype Race Cars (Motorbooks Classic).

1. Excellent photos combines with an easy to read text. This book provides a good background and is a must for any Can Am or Jim Hall fan. If you can only have one Chaparral book Falconer/Nye version is preferred



2. I have been a fan for years. It is always wonderful to have this book out on my coffe table when I have my auto enthusiast friends over for something or other.. It is always a hit..



3. Being a child of the sixties and growing up as a fan of sports car racing during that era, this book truly brings the personal side of Jim Hall and his Chaparrals to the fore-front. Jim Freidman does an exceptional job in his writing as well as candid photography of the racing team during that glorious period. With quotes from Hap Sharp, Phil Hill, Roger Penske, as well as scores of other great drivers, the reader becomes a part of racing history we will never see again.
   Thank you Jim Hall for sharing your memories!



4. I was one of the fortunates that got to see the Chaparrals race! I never forgot it and forty years later they look as modern as they did in the 1960s. Lots of neat photos, but unfortunately, none in color. Sigh. I don't know why so many motor books are chock full of B&W! I love these cars, so no matter. Still recommended!