other "memoirs Of A Hack Mechanic" #1 Selling Car Repair Book On Amazon!

[thehackmechanic]

I'm a little uneasy about self-promotion (I think my working guideline is do it until it feels icky, then do it once more, then stop), but Bentley Publishers has done some amazing things, and I'm trying to do my part.

 

Two weeks ago, "Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic: How Fixing Broken BMWs Helped Make Me Whole (a memoir with actual useful stuff)" had twin reviews in The New York Times and The Boston Globe. Last week the Roundel review came out, penned by our own Paul Wegweiser. Bentley did a local Father's Day promotion with radio spots on the local NPR station, including during Car Talk and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Yesterday autoblog.com published a review that got picked up by many web aggregators. Excerpts from and links to all the reviews can be seen at http://www.bentleypublishers.com/bmw/history/memoirs-of-a-hack-mechanic-by-rob-siegel/reviews.html.

 

I am astonished to say that, at present, "Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic" is the #1 selling car repair book on Amazon (it rocks in and out of the #1 slot depending on when you check). Not bad for a book that isn't really about car repair.

 

Perhaps even more amazing are the other ranking numbers. It's #12 in Humor-->Parenting and Families. Forgive me, but that's, well, funny! And the overall ranking... as of this post, the book has broken into Amazon's top 1000 best-selling books. Because, hey, a book with a round tail light and a guy in an insulated mechanic's suit on the cover is designed to appeal to everyone, right?

 

I can't tell you how good it feels to, as Paul Wegweiser says, shine a light on this car guy thing we all do. Indulging passions. Trying to keep 'em running. Finding that balance between playful madness and flat-out insanity. I'm still figuring it out, just like the rest of you.

 

Anyone who has purchased and spread the word about the book, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you've read and like the book, if you could post a review on Amazon, Bentley and I would be even more in your debt than we already are.

 

--Rob (just like you, only possibly smiling harder. unless you're Adam who wrote the petrolicious piece. he seemed to be smiling particularly hard.)

 

Edited June 14, 2013 by thehackmechanic

[tomscat1]

Congrats, Rob!   Baurspotting loves The Hack Mechanic!  Full Steam Ahead!

 

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-hack-mechanic-is-1-in-amazon-car.html

[Emyers]

Whooo  Hooo more bucks for the Lotus!! Plus it is a great read....

Earl

[vinceinIL]

Congrats, Rob!

 

I've ordered a copy through the FAQ, and will bring it to O'Fest to get it autographed, of course! 

 

vince

[mrgesq]

Got my autographed copy a couple weeks ago. I Told my wife she needs to read the fist few chapters because it puts into words what I have been unable to articulate for years. "It's an old car/BMW/thing"  is about the best I could do.  Although she is very patient to allow me my "time in the garage", Rob puts into words what compels us to day dream about "the perfect stance" and how to justify another parts order from Blunt. Fantastic read. 

 

Well done Rob.

[Retrogroucher]

Congrats, Rob! I'm getting one for Father's Day and I can't wait.

 

I'm excited to see what version you selected for the ending: does the guy get the girl or get the car?

[malaga]

Well done! And I kick myself for not picking up a copy at The Vintage.

[thehackmechanic]

<<I'm excited to see what version you selected for the ending: does the guy get the girl or get the car?>>

 

In my world, the guy gets the girl AND seven cars, but the girl gets six tarantulas. 

[gliding_serpent2]

I was at a lapping day on the atlantic side of canada chatting between sessions.  Without even being in the conversation, or mentioning my Tii a few guys were taking about how good a read this book is.  I still need to get it. 

[radio9phs]

Just finished the book. Good read. Will keep as a reference, especially for the "useful stuff" like the air conditioning chapter. I have my first 2002 now at age 53. I feel like I have missed out on so many decades of car wrenching enjoyment.

[thehackmechanic]

Thanks guys. Hope to meet some of you Left Coasters at O'Fest.

[jgerock]

In a round(ie)-bout way, I guess the selling of more of Rob's books helped Amazon purchase The Washington Post newspaper....

[roadhog0]

Been reading it slowly for a couple months now. Great book! Can't tell you the number of times I've laughed reading it

[Ian]

Just got my copy.  What a great read; a combination of humor, philosophy and justification for my need to fix old rusty cars.  The chapter on DIY auto air conditioning is worth the price of admission; I've always been leery of working on my a/c, but am now primed to get a set of gauges and start being one of the cool guys!

[MikeD]

I bought it.  Read it. Loved it.  Will probably read it again.  Great job and congrats Rob.