Do you ever think, “Hey, I should read more often,” then instantly remember that books are boring before continuing your binge-a-ton of the entire Fast and Furious franchise? Been there, done that.
But like exercising, reading is important for your health; studies have shown that regularly reading can prevent or slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, reduce instances of “brain fog,” improve focus levels, and reduce stress.
So, renew or get your Joplin library card, grab a cup of java, and start putting your neural synapses to work! Here are the top 12 must-read books every car enthusiast and gearhead should pick up. (Tip: These make nice holiday presents, in case you needed some Christmas gift ideas!)
12. How Cars Work by Tom Newton
Any novice DIY mechanic should have this on their bookshelf. At under 100 pages, How Cars Work offers a quick read, with easy-to-understand illustrated overviews of all the major components that make vehicles chug. The drawings and terms are perfect for newbies, and the book is often one of the first pieces of reading material given to aspiring (teenage) auto service technicians. It’s no surprise why this was the most stolen book at Richmond, California’s Kennedy High School.
Borrow it | Buy it
11. Driving Honda: Inside the World's Most Innovative Car Company by Jeffrey Rothfeder
Spanning more than 300 pages, Jeffrey Rothfeder’s book has been lauded as a “fascinating and insightful analysis” of not only the Honda brand, but of the automotive industry as a whole.
Rothfeder covers the entire history of Honda, from its birth as a motorcycle company post-WWII to its 21st-century evolution as one of the world’s largest and most beloved automakers. He pays tribute to the badge’s most iconic models and the manufacturer’s most iconic figures, such as Nobuhiko Kawamoto, the Honda CEO who oversaw the development of the legendary CR-V and influential Odyssey in the 1990s.
For the historical info alone, it’s well worth a read if you’re a Honda nerd like all of us at Roper.
Borrow it | Buy it
10. The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market by Micheline Maynard
An absolutely enthralling account of “The Big Three” automakers, Maynard’s End of Detroit provides a hard-hitting, journalistic look at the rise of the American automotive industry, and its subsequent fall from grace in the 1990s and 2000s. If you’ve ever wondered how foreign car manufacturers like Honda broke onto the scene in the States -- and are curious to know which American car maker Maynard predicts will fail next -- pick up this book.
Borrow it | Buy it
9. Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile by Beth Landis Hester/DK Pub
Did you know that the first automobile to break the speed record went to an electric vehicle, not a steam- or gas-powered carriage? You would have known that if you’d read this amazingly detailed and interesting coffee table book on cars, which covers the history of automobiles from 1880 to the present. It’s a nice Christmas gift to give to that special gearhead in your life, too.
Borrow it | Buy it
8. The Art of the Automobile: The 100 Greatest Cars by Dennis Adler
Award-winning historian, photographer and author, Dennis Adler, takes you on an epic adventure through time, journeying from great automobile to great automobile. His list covers well-known models and unique relics of the past, like the Packard Dietrich “Car of the Dome” (what is that?). Most of Adler’s picks are accurate, though we dock him points for omitting the Honda Accord, one of the best-reviewed sedans of all time.
Borrow it | Buy it
7. Engines of Change: A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul Ingrassia
Ingrassia tells the tale of the automobile engine from the historical perspective of 15 unique, game-changing vehicles, including American Hot Rods, sports cars, hybrids and even the Honda Accord. Whether you grew up hearing stories of Grandpa’s first Model T or had one of your own, Ingrassia’s narrative, nonfiction storytelling will be a welcome trip down memory lane.
Borrow it | Buy it
6. The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby by Tom Wolfe
Originally published in 1965, this classic book of New Journalism essays covered a wide range of topics, including stock car racing, NASCAR and the then-growing world of custom cars, particularly through the eyes of cultural bigshots like Ed Roth and George Barris. Wolfe’s most recognized essay, “The Last American Hero,” which profiled racer Junior Johnson, was turned into a Jeff Bridges film of the same name in 1973.
Borrow it | Buy it
5. Clarkson on Cars by Jeremy Clarkson
If you’ve ever seen BBC’s iconic show Top Gear, you’ve watched Jeremy Clarkson in his element. For more than 20 years, the Englishman has been driving, writing about and filming cars -- it’s his wheelhouse, as it were. In his number-one bestseller, Clarkson has compiled some of his favorite pieces from over the years, including published opinion columns and previously unpublished essays. His book is irreverent, clever and funny, which is to be expected from one of the most respected authors, comedians and TV personalities of his generation.
Borrow it | Buy it
4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
How-to guides and historical nonfiction car books are great and all, but sometimes a good novel can do the soul good. Garth Stein’s acclaimed and best-selling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain, which was turned into a film in 2019, follows a racecar driver and his dog as they make their journey through life. It’s a tearjerker at times, so keep a box of tissues nearby (or just read alone and let those eyes get puffy).
Borrow it | Buy it
3. The DeLorean Story: The Car, the People, the Scandal by Nick Sutton
“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” It’s a classic line from one of the world’s most influential and beloved films, Back to the Future. The popularity of the film offered John DeLorean a golden opportunity to revive the movie’s then-defunct yet iconic car, the DMC-12. As we now know, the DMC brand never turned a profit. This book by Nick Sutton explains where and how the wheels came off for DeLorean Motor Company, both before and after the 1980’s film put them in the spotlight. It’s a very engaging read.
Borrow it | Buy it
2. 70s Concept Cars: Yesterday's Dreams of the Future by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
This German book features over 180 color photographs and background info of the most innovative concept vehicles in history. We’re talking about wedge-shaped Italian speedsters that never saw the light of day, solar-paneled wagons, and futuristic floating cars -- you know, the stuff on which sci-fi films are based. This book is fairly rare and can be a bit expensive, so start searching yesterday if you’re looking for a good Christmas present for a car enthusiast.
Borrow it | Buy it
1. A Man & His Car: Iconic Cars and Stories from the Men Who Love Them by Matt Hranek
As far as coffee table books about vehicles, A Man & His Car sits atop them all. Over the course of its 240 pages, the book pays homage to every type of automobile, from Elvis’s ‘71 DeTomaso Pantera to Hranek’s own Civic and 1985 Honda Accord that was inherited from his father. Each tale is a love song, an ode to the four-wheeled family members we’ve adored and lost, complete with accompanying (and stunning) photos of the vehicles themselves.
Borrow it | Buy it
Of course, if you still balk at the idea of turning a page that isn't in a car brochure or magazine, we invite you to visit our Joplin Honda dealership for some tangible excitement. We have a large assortment of used cars for sale and the newest Honda sedans, trucks, minivans, and Honda SUVs available for test drives. Just pop our address (902 N Rangeline Rd) into your GPS, turn the key, and let us take it from there.
Contact Roper Honda at (417) 625-0800 to speak with our sales team today!
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