No comments about New Car Buying Guide 2008 (Consumer Reports New Car Buying Guide).

5 comments about How to Hot Rod Volkswagen Engines.

1. Even though this book was written in the 70's and there are alot of performance upgrades now,compared to back then, it was still very informative to the basics of supin up your peashootin bug.



2. O.K. The book is archaic, BUT anyone who is seriously interested in the history of VW performance and understanding basic air-cooled fundamentals must read this. There are some sections of no practical use today, but many principles are timeless. Anyone who wants to understand the theory and physics of the engine should read this book. The knowledge base gained from reading this book can help prevent you from making the same mistakes your father or grandfather made when modifying their Beetle!



3. Has alot of good valuable information to add HP to your VW. And what combinations work well togather. How to get mor bang for your buck. Downfalls is it is a bit out dated and doesn't have a section on step by step how to put togather a hot rod motor.



4. This book gives you exactly what it claims. All the best ways to improve performance on your VW. There is quite a bit for the average bug guy but has great technical information for the top mechanics. I wish there had been a bit more on improving fuel injected engines though.



5. The How to Hot Rod Volkswagen Engines was over my head.

1 comments about How to Build a Bobber on a Budget (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, a gear head, have an active bike building project or just thinking about one this is a great book to have as part of your collection. The book is geared, no pun intended, to the beginner but regardless of your level of experience it has some great tips to think of when doing a project, especially, as the book is focused on when you are on a budget.

5 comments about Building & Tuning High-Performance Electronic Fuel Injection.

1. Read the book and follow the instructions to the letter and you can learn to tune your EFI. I did. Very clear and understandable. Even better, read the book and go to EFI University. Google it.
   
   G



2. If you have done troubleshooting on a stock e.f.i system, you probably know most of this. If you know nothing at all, it's a start. This should have "BASIC" somewhere in the title so we are not mislead.



3. I think this book did a good job of explaining the basics of EFI and how it works. Each chapter breaks down the pieces used to run EFI and why they do what they do. Then after explaining how it works he goes through some of the more popular EFI standalones and what their advantages are. Not a book thats going to help you tune out that nasty knock you get at part throttle, but good to explain how all the pieces to an EFI system works. I hear its a great warm up to his EFI classes also.



4. This book is a must if you are thinking about updating your Carburator system to EFI. It goes from what tools you will need through the different sensors that are required and has detailted descriptions of many of the aftermarket EFI systems available.



5. I can highly recommend this book. It is written in such a way that you will enjoy learning about the subject at hand. It is not overly complicated at all and has helped me understand a lot of things that I `thought' I already knew. The second half of the book is dedicated to an in depth look at what different companies have on offer ECU wise and the pro and cons of each one. This is all done in a very unbiased way too
   If you have an interest in tuning modern engines or are about to pay someone to do it for you then this is the one for you
   Mark

3 comments about My Life and Work - An Autobiography of Henry Ford.

1. I'll just say this about Ford. He was absolutely the greatest industrial mind off ALL TIMES.



2. Anyone who has read "My Life and Work" will understand exactly what is wrong with our country today. There are three ways to create wealth--grow it, mine it, or make it--and activities like flipping houses or trading carbon credits do not qualify.
   
   Ford developed what is now known as the Toyota production system, and readers will see a very explicit description of just in time manufacturing (and its benefits) in "My Life and Work."
   
   Ford also summarized effective labor relations in one sentence: "It ought to be the employer's ambition, as leader, to pay better wages than any similar line of business, and it ought to be the workman's ambition to make this possible."



3. A great insight into Henry Fords' way of doing business. Of course hindsight is 20-20 and Ford tells of his secrets to success with the Model T. A good reference for the automotive historian or budding entrepeneur.

5 comments about How to Rebuild and Modify Your Manual Transmission (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. This book is well written and easy to understand with many pictures. It is a good starting point for anyone considering rebuilding a manual transmission.
   
   The book covers material that is common knowledge for professionals, but that is hard to learn as an amatuer trying to learn on his/her own. Specifically in the areas of dianosis of problems, and explicit function of components.
   
   I recommend this book.



2. This book really presents the work and theory in a straightforward manner. It explains what you are doing and why, and what happens when something goes wrong. It's easy enough to follow lightly as you work, or to read in depth to really learn something. You can easily pull from it what information you need. I would recommend this book to anyone with a technical background, whether already you know what you are doing or just starting your first project, there is definitely something to gain here.



3. Excellent organization and structure. Lots of information on how manual transmissions work, and how to check and rebuild them. Many excellent color photos to go along with the text.



4. I just got this book and Have to say that it is one of the best automotive books I have ever read. Most automotive Books are either to Dry and Technical or have very little info. This Book is both easy to read and has a ton of information. I'll be referring to this book any time I have a problem with a manual transmission.



5. Manual transmissions aren't as sexy as some other engine parts that I could think of (like cams, or turbos), but that doesn't make them boring!
   
   This book covers the little-known and little-described topic of manual transmissions. The writer attacks the subject from the angle of a "weekend warrior" mechanic or car builder, which means it's neither dry and academic nor lowbrow.
   
   Manual transmissions, clutches and even differentials are covered in enough detail to be useful without drowning in theory. Unlike many automotive books it's full of meaty details and tips - the chapter on manual transmission diagnosis alone is worth the cost.
   
   Even if you're not a die-hard stick shifter, it's a fun read and an interesting look at the technology behind a manual transmission. If nothing else, you could read it and impress the guys at your local hot-rod spot with your knowledge of gear oil additives.
   
   Besides, where else can you get all the current thinking on manual transmission modifications in one place?

5 comments about 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 1965-1989.

1. This has got to be one of the most well put-together automotive do-it-yourself books I've seen in some time, whether Porsche or otherwise. The photos are extremely clear and detailed, in contrast to most auto manuals (even the factory oftentimes). The instructions are informative and even present alternatives or commentary on aspects of the project (for example, mentioning that while the H4 headlight update gives better lighting, some people prefer the profile of the original earlier headlamps on SCs). In addition, the initial summary boxes, which give statistics such as complexity of the job, time necessary, approximate cost, tools needed, etc. makes it easier to select a project for your next weekend, based on how much free time you have available. An excellent publication.



2. Great projects very well written. I recommend to someone who likes to work on their on car AAAA+



3. Great reference book. Very user friendly and provides information and directions that are easy to follow and direct. Great for the "weekend" mechanic who just wants to work on his Porsche in his own garage at home.



4. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO ADJUST VALVES IN YOUR PORSCHE PROBABLY A WASTE OF MONEY. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST AND ARE LEARNING HOW TO WORK ON IT, ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY.



5. This is a must have book if you own a 1965-89 911. I found the book to be as detailed as a shop manual on the subjects it covers yet with the friendly writing that anyone can comprehend.
   
   This book covers the basics like changing your oil to more complex tasks like fixing common oil leaks and fixing various transmission problems. -all with many excellent photos of the procedures outlined.
   
   I've read and referred to this book countless times both for enjoyment and for reference to maintain my Porsche.

2 comments about Call Centers For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. If you are like me, in business related to call centers, but not really in call center business, this book is the one. After reading it, I got a new level of appreciation for the processes and complexity involved.
   First part describes business aspect, goals, variables and how they influence goals. That's the part where I said, "It's not as simple as it seems".
   Next one, on technology, gives you a review of supporting technologies. I personally knew most of the stuff, but it's a light reading and gives you a perspective how the call center views the technology.
   Final two parts, on managing agent performance and call handling are valuable reading no matter what business you're in. Suggestions from the book can be applied outside of call centers, as well. And call handling... I think every employee that has a phone on their desk is the company's representative and should know how to handle calls. Dealing with angry customers, controlling the call, sales... it all goes beyond just call centre agents.
   To summarize, if you want to get the big picture, see all the elements, understand them and understand how they interact, this is where you should start. Doesn't dwell too much on any individual subject (and doesn't go too much in-depth) and therefore, it is an easy informative reading. And that's what books from Dummies series are all about, aren't they?



2. I'm a new call center manager and this book did a great job of explaining a lot of the basics. I was even able to share the technology section with my IT department so they could understand how to better support the needs of our department. Plus my staff fought over the book - because the information was in an easy to read/understand format.

5 comments about Secrets of Solo Racing: Expert Techniques for Autocrossing and Time Trials.

1. Great book, I just wish they would have had a diagram of a full course and how to run it. They showed one turn, with a late apex. made sense! They showed linking turns with early apex, into late apex. Made sense! But then when I got to the course for the first time, and it was like 75 linking turns? YIKES!
   
   Still, this book taught me A LOT...



2. This is the only publication available that gives a comprehensive overview into the sport, and somewhat eases the frustration of what to expect during the course of a day's event that goes beyond just racing. My driving skills are improving & I'm even thinking of moving up to road racing in Club Racing, or Spec Racing.



3. When I first started out autocrossing and doing high performance driving events (HPDEs), I read this book and found the driving techniques discussed to be very helpful and written in a manner I could understand. Even after obtaining additional experience, I found myself going back to this resource and picking-up new things. While the book I've written "Go Ahead - Take the Wheel" discusses the steps necessary to start autocrossing, HPDEs, and wheel-to-wheel racing, this book does a great job of explaining the other side: driving techniques. This book is well worth reading.



4. First off, racing is door to door and wheel to wheel. Solo or autocrossing is not racing. Fun with cars, yes. But not racing.
   
   This booklet is a waste of paper. It's for the guy who wants to talk about autocrossing to other people who've never done it and never will. No organization, stick figure drawings, stuffed full of "job descriptions" for working at an autocross with no usefulness except upping the page count. The "modifications" section is worthless.
   
   He talks of "weight transfer" when he really means inertia loading. He attributes cornering forces to the mythical "centrifugal force" and talks of your body being forced outward, when it's the car accelerating towards the center of the circle.
   
   The first chapter of Skip Barber's "Faster" has more useful information than this entire book.
   
   Oh yes, no "secrets" are revealed.



5. I am not an autocross expert, but I purchased this book as a gift for someone who is an award winning autocross racer. He told me that this is the best book he's ever read on the sport and that it provides extremely practical and useful advice.
   
   There are not many books for autocross racers on the market but the valuable tips in this book make up for that. I would say that if someone who is already successful on the amateur autocross racing circuit feels the book is helpful, it is a good buy(and trust me, this guy is not easily impressed!).

5 comments about Fuel from Water: Energy Independence with Hydrogen, 11th Edition.

1. This is an old college technical paper, put together to look like a book.
   It is very poorly written, but probably technically correct.
   The book jumps around with no particular sequence or direction.
   If you are not an electrochemical engineer in training who likes really bad diagrams ( bordering on hand written ) and REALLY TERRIBLE photographs ( which look like somebody's 3rd pass Xerox copies of twenty five year old black and white photos ) you will not like this book.
   It may be of assistance to a engineering student, who may need some of the obscure tables and reeeeally bad graphs.
   It looks like this guy printed this on a Commodore 64, in his basement,,,, him self,,,,, twenty years ago!!!!!!!
   The technical knowledge is there, but the book is a REEEEEALLY out of date, poor quality, and a piece of CRAP.

   But it's a great buy if you are looking for the spark gap setting for a 1977 Cadillac running a hydrogen conversion kit on a gasoline engine!




2. This book has been in publication since 1985? That is quite impressive that he started thinking about this stuff way back then. I can't believe all the negative feedback and this book is in it's 11th edition. If there are so many errors and everyone has the time to write about it here don't you think you could send the author a little note? Like "Hey Mikey, photovoltaic cells are made of silicon and implants are made of Silicone." The book is good as a rough start, I'll admit it has been very helpful to me - a professional engineer. Yes the facts and calculations need to be checked but what facts and calculations don't need to be checked? The web sites out there dealing with this stuff are either so simple that a 5 year old could understand or so in-depth that only someone very familiar with the technology could understand the tradeoffs. This book does a great job at bridging those gaps. With that said, good Job Mikey and to everyone else - if you don't like something fix it, or shut up that's what the Hydrogen Revolution is about people fixing something they don't like.



3. This more like a high school paper gone wrong than a serious book for adults. Typical of the nonsense circulating around lately regarding Hydrogen as an alternate fuel. Poor science, terrible reading...... Does not factually deal with the real issues such as cost of distribution, storage and gasification. An insult to any reader with a brain.



4. I too am surprised to see so much negative feedback on this book.
   On the positive side it is filled with hard to find information on making hydrogen and using it. It would have taken me dozens of weeks to find this information on the web - if I even knew where to look. So at less than $20 this is a real bargain. It reminded me of many forgotten methods of creating hydrogen. This book has real value.
   On the negative side...Mr. Peavey what were you thinking? You need to hire a good technical editor to remove all the typos. You also need to hire a graphic designer to make this book look good. The information is great for tinkerers and R&D people like myself, but when you package it in such an amateur way it gives the impression that the content also lacks value. If you fix the errors, redesign the book and put it in a hardcover (that cheap laminated cover curls like crazy) you could charge 3 times the price.
   Just my 2 cents worth.



5. Excellent reference source for detailed factual record of progress in the utilization of hydrogen fuel. Collates a wide range of industrial and academic research that has not had high u.s. media visibility.
   Especially useful index for further individual research.