Read These Car Books While Youre Quarantined – Autoweek

Working from home? Youre not alone. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have asked at least some employees to stay away from HQ. So have Google, Apple, Twitter, Amazon, Airbnb you get the picture.

If social distancing (literally unheard of a couple weeks ago) is the new normal, youre going to need to curl up with a good book. Here are some Autoweek favorites to get you started.

Uncommon Carriers, by John McPhee

This is a book about people who do everything from drive trucks to pilot ships to drive coal trainsits a book about transportation. Why should you read it? Because McPhee is a nonfiction-narrative master, one of those writers who makes you interested in subjects you didnt know you were interested in.Uncommon Carriersis a perfect example of McPhee practicing his craft. Wes Raynal

Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans, by A.J. Baime

$14.36

In the '60s, Ford was faltering, and Henry Ford II, Lee Iacocca and racer Carroll Shelby figured the best way to bring Ford some needed publicity was to do something no American automaker had ever done: Design, build and race a car that could beat Ferrari at Le Mans,the worlds mostprestigious race. Wes Raynal

Country Driving: A Chinese Road Trip, by Peter Hessler

Hessler is considered one of the best writers on China. AfterRiver TownandOracle Bones, this is the final book in his award-winning trilogy on the countrys economic rise. Hessler spent seven years traveling the country, tracking how the automobile and improved roads were transforming it, and hedescribes the massive effort to build factories and roads in the traditionally rural nation. Wes Raynal

100 Drives, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Do, What to See, by Joe Yogerst

The title of this new road trip guide by the fine folks at National Geographic is self-explanatory. It lists 100 classic and off-the-beaten-path drives and offers tips, activities for the kids (theyre not in school!!!) and even has playlists. Wes Raynal

Reid Railton: Man of Speed, by Karl Ludvigsen

$140.22 (36% off)

Its about time Reid Railton, whom many consider one of the best automotive engineers of all time, got his due.Reid Railton: Man of Speedis a deep dive into his life, triumphs, tragedies and odd exploits.Im not going to lie: Its an expensive addition to the library at about $140. If you cant spare the cash, see if you can borrow a copy on interlibrary loan. Its worth it. Graham Kozak

Drive to Win: Essential Guide to Race Driving

$27.95

amazon.com

Drive to Win: The Essential Guide to Race Drivingis a book written byCarroll Smith,an engineer-turned-racing-driver-turned-team-manager that takes an unemotional approach to explaining how cars work and how to drive them better. The existing good books are all written from the point of view of the driver,says Smith.This book is not. Here we are going to look at what the driver does (or should do) from the point of view of the racing car. Robin Warner

My Years with General Motors, by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr.

Lets get one thing clear:Alfred Sloan is not a natural storyteller. Still, buried in his windy monologues are the roots of storied and beloved GM brands, the tough decisions and educated guesses that led to articles of gospel in modern business schools. And, most of all, the reminder of what GM once was: a seemingly unstoppable global economic powerhouse. Required reading for any student of automotive history. Andrew Stoy

Chiltons Auto Repair Manual, 1984: American Cars from 1977 Through 1984

$108.50

READTHE MANUAL. Good advice, but did you know you can gain incredible insights frompretty much any manual? Its true. My personal favorites are Malaise-era Chiltons automotive manuals, which are chock full of Rube Goldberg emissions control solutions and appalling specifications (190 hp from a 460-cid V8 engine in 1977, for example). If you cant find one on Amazon, check a local thrift store or library dollar "book" bin. Doesnt have to be about cars, even:appliance repair books, HVAC troubleshooting guides, you name ittheyllall make you a better mechanic. Andrew Stoy

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Read These Car Books While Youre Quarantined - Autoweek