I am extremely excited to see books like this hit the 'shelves'!
Guides to aide disgruntled cry-babies off-shore is EXACTLY what we need more of. If only those who read through such pap would take it to heart and ACTUALLY LEAVE we would be a better country for it.
I had a former colleague who lost his mind who has developed a following on intstaface or whatever nonsense platform he uses who claims to be taking a 4-year long cruise to leave the U.S. because he can't bring himself to stay! I tried to contact him and offer to help pack his bags.
We have all had to suffer through insufferables in elected offices. To think that anyone would negatively compare Donald Trump to the likes of his predecessor! It's utterly comical.
To the author: I hope you take your own advice and leave. Please don't come back, though. Or you can pull the Barbara Streisand move and just talk, but please do continue to convince those of your ilk to buy themselves a one-way ticket out of the United States of America.

What a great volume on such an arcane topic. As the author and others will ask "Why?" "Who cares?" Nonetheless, the author does a brilliant job of covering the topic and does so with insight and a light-hearted manner. Certainly not an engineering text but an historical romp through the vagaries of the humble, taken for granted piece of rubber that often annoys one, who simply wants to take a leisurely spin on their bike, by being low on air or worse--flat as a pancake.
The only criticism is that at times the author can be a bit verbose and glib. Verbosity notwithstanding, the glibness is perhaps intentional given the anticipated perception of the subject matter, nonetheless, it can become tiresome.

A nice addition to the Pure Calisthenics line-up. This volume is focused, as the title indicates, on the Core and exercises to strengthen your central region. There is a bit of overlap, assuming that you've got one or more of the other Pure Calisthenics volumes, but that's to be expected. The intro as to what calisthenics are, etc.
The core exercises get right to the point. The approach uses descriptions with photographs to visualize the exercises. They are effective and useful. There are some exercises that are going to be beyond the beginner, but this being a specialized volume, that, too, is to be expected.
It appears that if one is dedicated to giving these a 'go' they should be able to avoid the overhead of gyms, rigs and even free weights.

This is a nice intro to the concept of calisthenics with exercises and images of progression through the movements. The concept of calisthenics is intriguing (vs weight workouts, for example) or extended repetitive cardio (running, cycling) and is appealing for strength, flexibility, etc. The book is well done, but has a few limitations. For one, the photos are snapshots sequenced through the movements. In some cases, the photos and the text don't really jibe. There are also no graphical markups to show how the snapshot may have progressed from the previous image. Think about something like a knot tying book where arrows or markings show how the rope is to be manipulated. It seems like a minor issue, but given that doing body movements 'incorrectly' can lead to injury, it becomes a concern.
Also, it seemed implied that the moves needed only one's body, yet pull-up bars and other equipment are featured which, while not elaborate, may limit some people if they don't have access.
Overall, a nice effort with good color imagery. May be worth consideration if you're interested in trying out a workout without (much) equipment.

A nice concise but complete effort aimed at the amateur racer. Mr Parenteau lays out the foundational concepts necessary for the person dabbling with racing. From the racing line, pedal usage, braking, shifting (heel and toe), etc., they're covered. This volume won't make you a winner but it may help you to decide whether to do it (or not). There is risk that is undeniable, but he lays out what one needs to know about accepting it.
It reminded me a bit of Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist" for two-wheel racing.
Good stuff

Mr Parks has added a nice volume to the Car-Tech series. This volume is well constructed to touch on many of the needs of those working nor simply on the 40 year Chevy / GMC truck series, but any vehicle in that range. Touching on wiring, connectors, sensors, gauges, basuc circuits, etc. These ideas apply across the board. About half of the volume addresses Chevy / GMC specific topics to include stereo, lighting, etc installations and mods.
Thus is a well done effort with good color photos throughout. A recommended volume for those working on virtually any vehicle dating from the 40's through the 70's or 80's.

Just what I needed!
I have been looking for a current volume covering DIY paint and body as I am approaching that juncture in my vehicle's restoration. Professional work is ridiculously expensive. Given that much of the cost is in labor, a DIY volume on the topic fills a need.
This volume provides most everything that the DIY'er would need from body repairs (not major body work, of course, that is out of the scope of the title) through paint and finishing. The authors cover personal protective equipment (PPE), the chemicals involved (most are dangerous), the products needed to prep the surfaces, paint the vehicle and finish off the paint job.
A really nice piece of work that I will benefit from.

What a great book for the budding blacksmith / metal worker. All of the content necessary to go from 'What's a blacksmith?' to being able to speak with knowledge about the materials, tools, techniques of blacksmithing. There are no fancy color photos or elaborate tables and graphs, just black and white line drawings, but that's part of its simplicity and charm. Too many current books just want to 'wow' the reader with graphics and imagery. This book is to the point and communicates meaningful information. Mr. McDaniel has written a valuable text (revised in this Second Edition) and one who is interested in the fundamentals, and even some advanced techniques, would benefit from owning it.

This book is an amazing compilation of information regarding engine management and reporting systems! By only the second chapter, I learned more about OBD and OBD-II than I ever knew there was to learn. Mr. Banish's volume collects information that is both necessary to evaluate the specifics of codes for a given vehicle, including unique codes used by some manufacturers, but also the history and future of the systems.
This is a very interesting volume for those intrigued by engine management systems and their applicaiton and use.

The inner workings of a bureaucracy are laid bare here for all to see. Ed Conley does a good job of providing insight into of the more humane organizations within this massively bureaucratic entity known as the U.S. one government. Kinder than he probably could have been, Conley describes the many disasters that he and FEMA have supported. There are many committed individuals at work in FEMA and in this volume Conley provides the reader with a window into the inner-workings. FEMA's reputation has been tarnished over the years by some mis-handled disasters, but disasters are difficult to deal with by their nature. In an ideal world, a government with as much overhead as ours should do a better job of handling any situation, yet most are mis-handled by those who can't lead getting in the way. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." isn't a spine-chilling clique for no reason. Alas, Ed Conley can't be blamed for big government's failings.
Give it a read.

Decision and problem analysis is an area of great interest to this reviewer as I have taught it professionally to engineers and technology professionals. The process for critical decision making and problem solving can be rigid and numeric and must be fact-based. When you are making decisions that can cost a company millions of dollars, it is not a 'touchy feely' process. That said, teens and young adults find these processes dull and boring and, therefore often don't have the paience to learn them. The end result is that they don't internalize good techniques and go on habitually making using poor, intuitive processes. In comes this book. The author does an admirable job of taking complex processes (I'm assuming that she has at least some grasp on the more formal processes) and makes them relevant and applicable to a younger audience. She does a good job of bringing the mental processing of information and data into the realm of the teen and young adult and makes it useable. The volume is a good effort and young adults would be well served by it.

We're starting a garden after a long hiatus so this was a welcome addition. Ms Fatima's effort does a nice job of approaching vegetable (and flower) gardening in a categorical and comprehensive manner. After an appropriate introduction of the logistics of gardening, tools, techniques, zones and other necessary details, she dives into vegetables category by category and addresses the demands of each in turn. Nightshades, legumes, leafy greens, cruciferous, root veggies, etc. all get their equal time. The benefits of herbs and flower growing synergistically with your veggies is covered as well.
All told, a very good effort. While our current effort is small scale, this volume may help us grow it (pun intended) and increase our scope. The only area that isn't covered that I would have liked to see discussed is how to deal with critters. In the past, our tomatoes, peppers, pineapples, and others, have been found quite appealing by squirrels and racoons (maybe others that I'm not aware of) just as they get close to ready for harvest. I'm sure that I will struggle again, but hopefully they will leave us enough!

A captivating read! I began reading while in the midst of a work by a favorite author and this volume grabbed my attention. Mr Katwala, through extensive research and detailed character development, walks the reader through the development and maturation of the polygraph highlight the major players in that effort along with detailed discussions of a number of cases where the technology was applied for better or worse. The Wilkens murder case is especially well relayed.
The relationships between Vollmer, Larson and Keeler--the machine's sponsor and primary developers--is complex and interestingly conveyed.
All told, a very interesting read well done by Mr Katwala. Recommended.

Butch Leal, The California Flash, is a legend in the drag racing community. This edition covers his life and career in great detail. From his 19 year old start and his season with Ford in 1964 through his illustrious career that say him with Ford and Chevy but most prominently with Chrysler, this nicely done volume by Bob McClurg provides a beautiful set of vintage and more recent photos of Butch, his cars and his career.
Part of the era when cars were doing amazing things with 'low tech', Butch made a mark for himself and whomever he was driving for. An NHRA champion 11 times, The California Flash deserves to be recognized for his amazing career. This book provides just such recognition.

As someone challenged with a loved one with a form of dementia, this work resonated with me.
The story of Jane and Sky's challenges with recognizing the onset of mental issues and differentiating general mental decline from dementia was something that we have observed. A poignant picture of the very difficult experience of managing the difficulties of mental decline in someone that you love and care for. Alzheimer's has its own unique character with short term memory loss being a primary feature. Other forms of dementia may differ, but the experience of the couple here will be beneficial to anyone who is dealing with mental degradation in a loved one.

The Bronco is back! After a 25 year hiatus the legendary 4x4 is back in production. This volume, by John Elkin, touches on the return of the 'new' Bronco to the scene, but the focus here is on the long, successful racing career of this great vehicle. Made by Ford, initially, from '66 - '96 model years, the compact 4x4 was adopted as a 'real' off-roader, not an all show, no go 4-wheeler. Elkin spends most of his time highlighting the '70's era when the Bronco was dominating off-road events. He notes how, in the '80's the Bronco's star dimmed a bit as rules reclassified it to compete against a heretofore different breed. Nonetheless, the Bronco remained a prominent player in the off-road racing scene. He also touches on the 'new' Bronco and how it is making its way back to the racing scene.
If you're a Bronco fan or one interested in the off-road racing competitions, this volume will be of interest. Rich with photos of Broncos in action, you'll enjoy Elkin's effort. The only shortcoming is that there isn't much discussion of the vehicle's technology or the modifications made to make the vehicles off-road worthy. While not a knock against it, that content would round out this work.

What sportscar fan hasn’t fallen in love with at least one version of the iconic Corvette? Maybe the classic earliest models complete with tail fins, all the way to the exotics of today? Whatever your Corvette interest may be, Scott Kolecki will have something of interest to you in Corvette Concept Cars. The volume is a compilation of history and details related to the original development and continual maturation of the car that has been lusted after by so many owners for nearly 70 years!
Kolecki’s volume is chock full of photos of cars that hinted at the next generation Corvette before it became a reality. He introduces the people and personalities that were largely responsible for getting the car introduced and keeping it at the forefront of America’s sportscars for so long. Mr. Kolecki does a fine job of giving the Corvette owner and/or fan insights into a different side of the car—the history and the thought processes that went into developing the car as the classic that it is and will remain even after we’re driving flying Jetson-like ‘cars’. Maybe a flying Corvette is being envisioned as the next concept car!

I lived it. The murdered boys were my classmates. The murders, if one is to believe the murderer, occurred within 1/4 mile of my home. The murderer visited our home in his capacity as an extended representative of the city government. I lived through this event intimately.

Given my history with the event, I looked forward to reading the details and, hopefully, gaining insight into the details that I was not following daily in the newspaper or on television newscasts. There were many allegations, rumors and innuendo about an accomplice and/or a second perpetrator. The book, sadly, is either silent about these details or glosses over them in favor of the prosecution's theory as they sought conviction. The tone of the book could have been inferred given that it was co-authored by the District Attorney who prosecuted the case, but after 45 years and the death of many of those involved, including the convicted murderer, I expected more to have been discussed and revealed--even if it represented leads that led to no obvious end.

Weaknesses in the story/case include the timeline, the eyewitness account--related to the event and a previous event in the area, the method of abduction and more.

The timeline is likely the weakest portion of the case. There are various accounts of when and where William Wright was on the day and time of the abduction. Working through the boys' walk home and the timing of the abduction given the murderer's whereabouts on that day make the case as show more described specious. The authors also give short shrift to the composite sketches drawn up in response to an eyewitness account. The one perpetrator drawn bears an uncanny resemblance to Wright, but dressed as a woman. The accomplice was depicted as a round-faced man, but more importantly, a man who exactly matches a composite sketch developed months prior based on a different witness's description of a person who was attempting to lure children in the same area. That the authors ignored or chose not to include a detailed discussion of this 'coincidence' as part of the book is incomprehensible. I could delve further into the inconsistencies, but suffice it to say that the book simply focuses on the monologue that got Wright convicted. The former DA's version of events dominates the book at the expense of any other.

In addition to the shortcomings of the content's full credibility, the structure of the book is not well executed. The events of that fateful November day in '73 and the perpetrator are effectively discussed within the first 60 pages of the book. Much of the remainder of the volume reads like the court transcript from the trial of William Wright. It is tedious and unless one is determined to read, the volume cover to cover--as I was--is likely to be off-putting.

This book was truly disappointing to me. On a positive note, it serves as a compilation of events of the days and months that followed the tragedy, however, even in that capacity it is lacking as noted above. As a non-fiction volume delving into the events and developing the characters of who these boys were and how the community was so affected by their deaths, it is only middling. Overall, I am glad I read it, but it could have been so much more. show less

Transmissions aren't what they used to be! I knew the owner of an automatic transmission repair shop 'back in the day'. The process was complex, but straightforward. Today's transmissions are marvels of electo-mechanical engineering. Mr. Garrett does a nice job of breaking down the complexity into manageable chunks. He overviews and introduces the transmission before delving into the disassembly and servicing aspects of the tasks. The tools necessary are shown, hydraulic schematics provided and many color photos show the sequence necessary. The final section highlights the TECHM electrical module evaluation.
Automatic transmission work is not for the novice. Mr. Garrett walks those who are willing to dive in through the process very effectively.

The iconic Mustang experienced a rebirth in 2005 with the introduction of the extremely well received 5th generation of the model. A handsome and well-engineered version that was improved further in 2011 and followed on in latter years with the introduction of new engine and transmission options.
Wes Duenkel does an excellent job of addressing mods to the later 5th generation Mustangs. He covers a range of performance topics with an emphasis on chassis/suspension and handling. Wheels, tires, chassis and suspension topics cover nearly one-third of the book and it's well done with forays into the physics--at a high level--of handling which is a refreshing addition.
Duenkel doesn't neglect power-related bolt-ons and injection systems. The Coyote engine 'care and feeding' gets a short chapter and Wes touches on PCM Tuning as well.
A well done effort by Mr. Duenkel to cover this popular model for the aficionado.

Purple cars and other special editions. I read Duncan Brown's effort highlighting the Special Editions of the muscle car era with interest. Mr. Brown does an excellent job of digging into those dealers, independents and even the factories who took the already niche market vehicles to the next level, be it in power, looks or both. The volume is rich with photos or the vehicles as well as copies of original advertising and the dealers and shops that modified the cars; some nice vintage shots. The lead sentence addresses one of the brief vignettes of the book--the '68-'69 Purple Mercury Cougar and its People Eating kin. These days, with a resurgence of interest in muscle car-like performance, lime green, purple, lemon yellow, etc cars are not uncommon, but purple cars in the '60's was unheard of. As a result, specialty versions of the Cougar were produced in the color. The details are in the Ford/Mercury chapter with other chapters dedicated to Chevrolet, Pontiac, Old/Buick, AMC and Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth.
A very attractive and well executed volume for those who have interest in niche muscle cars without a bias toward a brand or model.

After his earlier Automotive Upholstery & Interior Restoration effort, I looked forward to Mr. Mattson's latest release, this time focused on interior kits. While his Restoration effort was excellent, it focused on skills, tools and techniques that are often out of reach to the home restorer/hobbyist. His latest effort focuses on the kits that are factory made to fit a given vehicle and require the restorer to install the compiled pieces. This task, too, demands skills and knowledge to execute and that's what Mr. Mattson provides in this volume. He guides the reader through the teardown and rebuilding of your vehicles interior without the need for industrial sewing machines and the like. Having a kit in my possession and the task in my future, this was an ideal addition to my auto book library.
The book itself is excellently produced, as are most if not all of the SA releases. Enameled paper and color photos throughout. This volume would make an excellent addition to the auto hobbyists collection.

For those who are prepping for the GRE, this is a very good volume to polish up your skills for the exam. All of the appropriate topics are covered starting with a review of the test and then diving into the quantitative specific areas each broken up into Easy, Medium and Hard sections. Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Data Analysis sections are included. The volume then provides 10 Exercises with answers and explanations.
While obviously intended for GRE prep work, this volume can be useful for those who simply want to keep their math skills sharp or prepare for any quantitative exam, e.g. SAT, ACT, etc.
A very nice volume from Vibrant.

There will always be those who, when they get their hands on something that moves, will try to make it go faster! This is a book about some of those people. Bob McClurg does a very nice job of highlighting that segment of the motoring crowd who were (and are) determined to make cars faster than the other guy's. He starts out with some of the earliest--the Model T crowd--and walks the reader through the various eras with a nice focus on the 'Boom Years' of '40 through '70. He highlights various particular shops throughout, some of which are still at it.
Overall, this is a great compilation of Hot Rod and Speed Shops and the history surrounding them. It's also a nice looking, solid book (hardcover) with lots of photos. Many of the photos are in B&W only because of the era when they were taken, but that doesn't detract from the book at all. A very nice effort.

If you own or are interested in the 69 Chevelle, this is a must have! Mr McIntosh has produced a concise volume jam packed with info and photos that the Chevelle owner will want / need especially for those wanting to document and/or understand the history of their car. The volume contains a great many color photos of the various forms of the Chevelle along with photos of original build sheets, ID plates, etc. Many tables of data are included to help identify, track and categorize the equipment installed.
This is a very nice addition to the Muscle Cars in Detail series for the book collector and, as previously noted, a must-have for the 69 Chevelle owner.

Yet another winner from Car Tech books. The owner acknowledges the relative rarity of owners who would be rebuilding one of these interestingly nicknamed engines, but for those who will, this volume will be invaluable. A very detailed book with great photography and plenty of helpful guidance, advise and tips for the prospective restorer. Furthermore, as I've found with other volumes by the publisher, the book contains content that will be of interest to those who may not be working this particular engine. Information on tools, shop tips, etc.
Another great addition to my auto tech library!

Mr. Pickering's Chevy/GMC Trucks effort is an excellent addition to the Car Tech How-To series. The volume has all the 'right' content for a restoration/rebuild along with features to appeal to those who want to upgrade their truck as well as features that are of general interest to many auto hobbyists.
The manufacturing history of the trucks is well discussed with photos and manufactured quantities of each model year by manufacturer listed.
The basic elements of doing the real work are covered well including getting ready to work, i.e. tools, shop equipment, etc. before diving into working on your Chevy or GMC and restoring and/or bringing it up to a more modern state. Each section covers the basics with a featured modification or upgrade, e.g. upgraded brakes, air suspension, improved instrumentation, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to see a nice discussion of brake and fuel line forming and flaring in the respective chapters. This is something that even specialty volumes short shrift. The sidebars are useful and informative.
If there is any area that is glossed over a bit it would be the Body, Paint and Interior chapter. The requisite bodywork to disassemble and reassemble is covered well, but body customization and paint, if that's your interest, isn't the focus here. This volume is largely about the mechanical elements of the trucks. That isn't to critique the work, just to set expectations.
This is a great addition to the library.

Alexander and Thomas have put together a quality compendium of topics to enhance the performance of the YJ Wrangler for off-road use. Starting with an introduction to the YJ and its role in the Jeep family. The authors then proceed to provide detailed information on tires, wheels, suspension and steering. These topics are appropriately prominent given the nature of the vehicles' usage. Also appropriately treated are transmissions and drivelines while brakes and bumpers/armor/protection are discussed. Interiors and electrical enhancements are not neglected with acknowledgement, again, of the application; GPS, radios, etc. are very useful additions when going off-road. The authors round-out the volume with a good section on winches, recovery items and trail tools.
This is a great volume for the off-road enthusiast to equip his/her Wrangler. I expect that most off-roaders would already be familiar with the unique features needing upgrading to effectively work in that environment, but this volume pulls together those items useful to the Jeep YJ owner to have at their ready disposal.

This is an excellent edition to the Workbench How-To series. Brakes on modern vehicles aren't what they once were. With ABS, ADAS, electronic brake assist and other technologies affecting your brake system, a current volume for the lay mechanic was needed and Mr. Cartwright has provided just that. That being the case, the fundamentals haven't been neglected. The very basics of braking systems are covered including disc, drum and emergency implementations before diving into the concepts and details of hydraulic systems. The author then discusses the technologies that have been applied to braking to make them easier to operate (assist technologies), more user friendly and safer (ABS, etc.). Mr. Cartwright doesn't neglect troubleshooting your system dedicating a chapter to said activity before discussing, in detail, the execution of a full brake job on either a drum or disc system.
A great addition to the home mechanic's bookshelf!

A fascinating introduction to the craft of wax modeling jewelry. As the author notes, the book is used as a text at the Jewelry Studies Institute and it has such a feel. The language and photos are very illustrative and guide the student/reader through the process of what, exactly, needs to happen to take the wax from its bulk form to a creative, inspired final form. Naturally, a text alone will not make one an expert; as in all crafts, craftsmanship takes practice, practice, practice.
The book is a very interesting guide to the materials, tools and skills necessary to create the wax models that are the beginning of finely crafted jewelry.