Transportation Books

I think this is potentialy a very interesting topic -- Boeing vs. Airbus that is. But this author was off the mark with this book -- it was disorganized and lacked direction. It seemed like a first-draft. Also it was far too technical loaded with names and #'s that I would venture are meaningless to 90% of the book's readers. Try another book on this subject.

This is obviously a story worth telling, with interesting characters and an international backdrop. Instead we get an unenlightening narrative that relies almost completely on silly generalizations and anecdotal quotes that are meant to pass as meaningful analysis. Boeing is "arrogant", but then Airbus is "resting on its laurels", then it reverses and the reader is left with nothing. The book is also aggravating for its lack of organization. Business books such as this require some ordering, whether it's chronological or parallel narrative threads, etc. This book is all over the place-- at one point you're reading about the rollout of the A380, then Boeing's tanker lease arrangement, then the 747 development program, then back to earlier Airbus rollouts. Frustrating.

The aviation industry is a fascinating one, and the Airbus/Boeing rivalry is certainly a unique one. The author does provide an interesting history of the topic and includes a lot of interesting facts and anecdotes. The problem with the book is the stream-of-consciousness style that is unstructured and poorly organized. Several stories were repeated multiple times, and the constant jumping back and forth in time made it frustrating to follow. Granted with so many themes and issues, it would have been hard, but not impossible, to make it chronological. Thomas Petzinger's "Hard Landing" was a fantastic treatment of the American Commercial Airline industry and if he could organize that chronologically, this topic could be as well.

I've read many aviation books and this is by far the worst. Not one shred of technical information or concepts that the aviation enthusiast might expect. This book is solely the politics of the governments and the corporations involved. A real snoozer.

Others have made the points well. This book takes an excellent, interesting subject and makes a hash of it. It is erratically written and poorly edited. There are some interesting passages, but they are interspersed with long segments of the authors undocumented assertions and broad generalizations. The analysis is superficial and unsystematic. I had hoped for something along the lines of the excellent "747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation" by Joe Sutter, but was sorely disappointed. There is rich material here, but sadly it is poorly edited and executed.

A pesar de no conocer gran cantidad de libros acerca de la mítica máquina italiana, esta obra entrega gran parte de la información que todo verdadero entusiasta de la Vespa desea obtener: Historia completa (desde los orígenes de Piaggio en el siglo XIX hasta los movimientos recientes de la empresa), desarrollo tecnológico, presencia mundial, "cultura Vespa", modelos producidos año tras año (aunque al parecer refiere únicamente los comercializados en Italia y Europa), muy buena cantidad de material gráfico y fichas técnicas no muy profundas pero con información suficiente para el aficionado promedio.
El libro de Sarti, adicionalmente, se edita en un año importante para la historia de la Vespa (además de cumplirse seis décadas de su desarrollo): aquel en donde la posibilidad de que se suprima la producción del modelo PX con motorización dos tiempos genera un crucial punto de quiebre para los amantes de los clásicos.
Muy buen formato, excelente impresión. Algunos errores de continuidad.

This is really a fun book. Its got pretty pictures, its got info, and it has a description of pretty much every Vespa ever made. I didn't say all Vespas, but pretty much all as collectors we have drooled over. The book describes the legacy of Vespa all the way up to the GT60. Everything from airplanes, to Apé, to outboard motors as well. It even has advertising throughout the ages, which should give a chuckle or two.

I bought this book for my two-year-old to read with his grandma, but it would be a GREAT gift for a grandma to give to a child. It's a small book, not a board book but about that size, so it's easier for little hands to hold. The grandma is traditional looking, but relentless in her pursuit to get to her grandchild. It's a sweet story and my son loves to have my mother read it to him - he requests it again and again. He even has it memorized and "reads" it to her.

Two year old Bella LOVES this book ... and as a long distance grandma, I really liked it too!!!!

Every page of this book exudes the love of a grandmother for her grandchild. On each 2-page spread, a plump, old-fashioned grandmother takes a bike, skis, car, etc. to visit the child. The pictures are amusing for an adult even after many readings (I especially like the woman in her rubber bathing cap and polka-dot swimsuit) and they are also filled with small details that keep a child's attention. The words have a wonderful pattern that is characteristic of classics. And the ending is perfect, a big bearhug when the grandmother arrives. A fantastic book!

I think that this is a wonderful book for very young children.
The bright and colorful illustrations are simple, yet
offer plenty of images for children to notice and learn from.
The text is comforting and conveys a loving message for little
ones. I look forward to reading it to my future grandchildren!

Somewhere between a board book (in its simplicity) and a picture book, "Here Comes Grandma" shakes itself out of predictability just in time. Other than the illustrations--Grandma looks like she came out of a Dutch fairy tale with her clog-like shoes and brightly patterned attire, the first few pages seem fairly ordinary. A youngster(also wearing Dutch or, at least, traditional Scandinavian clothes) receives a letter from Grandma, saying "I'm coming to see you." The story is told in first-person, as if the child is reading Grandma's letter. (I'm not using pronouns on purpose--it's difficult to tell if it's a boy or a girl.)

We then see Grandma and her dog walking "a long way to see you." The next several pages show her looking silly when riding a bicycle, resourceful when riding a horse, and fun-loving in her roadster. This "older person acting wild and crazy" theme is a little tired, and while the repetition of "to see you" on each page breeds familiarity, it also borders on the very ordinary.

However, just when you think you know what's coming, Janet Lord kicks things up a few notches. There's Grandma waving at you from atop a train, looking very much the "hobo." There's Grandma in profile, looking more than a little like Santa, skiing down a slope, her dog riding a sled atop the luggage! Next, Grandma floats amid the bluebirds and apple trees in a big baloon, the dog's ears just barely poking above the basket. It just gets better and better. Grandma shows up in a one-piece with giant flippers, leaving a sub and an octopus behind her:

"I'll race a submarine
and glide through the ocean to see you"

She even flies her own bright orange colored plane, wearing goggles (even the dog wears them!) Near the conclusion, we see a mural-like presentation of all the things Grandma did to see her grandchild, and the cute, old-fashioned illustration feels happy and light. The best is saved for last, because Grandma has planned her arrival:

"...We'll whirl and twirl,
and laugh and sing,
and I'll give you a
great
big
hug."

My grandaughter loves Bob the Builder Cartoons. I wanted to make sure to tie in READING to the cartoon. Great to see the books out!

My 4 year old, who LOVES traffic lights, absolutely LOVES this book! He even uses it with his cars to play with - and we read it every day. He never seems to get tired of it - a great buy indeed!

This is a comprehensive and clear book. It could be provide more information on electrical connections, but this is a relatively minor quibble. This book provides a very good overview of the lionel world.

This book with its excellent pictures and detailed descriptions will satisfy the model train neophyte as well as the old veterans.
It is geared especially to the famous "O" gauge Lionel trains of yesteryear. It can serve as a reference book for those just starting out or rediscovering the joys of model train collecting and operating layouts.

The book covers a wide range of subjects on planning, building and operating a Lionel O-guage layout, but does not go into a lot of detail. Both Post-War and Modern Lionel trains and tracks are covered as is the newer TMCC electronic controls. The photos of existing Lionel O-gauge layouts are excellent, but the book did not describe the type of track nor were track layout diagrams provided, which would have been very informative. Nevertheless, the book is interesting and provides a good overview of what to consider when planning and building a Lionel O-gauge layout.

if you are serious about lionel trains this is a must have for info

This book lays a great foundation for anyone starting out. Practical ideas and methods are shown for wiring track and accessories. Care and maintenance. High quality book with very thick glossy pages and many many color photos along with some B/W photos. This would be helpful for anyone interested in 3 track O-gauge even if they are planning on using non-Lionel trains and accessories.

This book has alot of information/data but none of it is useful unless you need specific concourse part numbers, etc. Even so, the diagrams are jumbled several to a page making them virtually unreadable and hiding any detail you might be looking for such as how exactly the 1968 headlight bucket attaches to the fender/grill (just as an example). If you need detailed, specific information, it would be best for you to purchase your car's make/model/year factory service manual. The most irritating issue I have with this book is that it's a regurgitation of diagrams and data tables but does not include listings of part numbers to match the diagrams. For instance, the body panel breakdown contains part numbers listed with the body panels but there's no cross-reference to find out what exactly the body panel's name is as you would need to order it from a parts house.

As long as you realize this book provides all the nitty gritty details of a Mustang, you should be happy with it. You will note many of the diagrams are the same ones used in the parts catalogs like NPD. Since I am in the stage of disassembly and early restoration, it won't get much use yet but once I start to put things back together, I see this book as very valuable. There is not much verbiage so this will not give you the "tricks" to put things together but should be a good supplement to other books.

Gives you good information about model development, and original and optional equipment and modifications. Good photgraphs. Good description of essential parts by model year. The exploded line drawings give you a general impression of the build and parts, but they are not adequate for do-it-yourself projects. I miss information about function (i.e. ventilation or heater regulation) and about fluids (oil, cooler etc.)

This book is an excellent guide for anyone who is restoring an early Mustang or needs information identifying an existing car or possible purchase. Richly supplied with photos, diagrams and tables of specifications, the book gives nearly all the informtion to do an accurate restoration of a 64-70 Mustang.

The biggest flaw is that many of the data charts do not include information past 1970. The engine identification photographs and charts fail to give information past 1970. Since the motive power for a Muscle Car is of great interest to most owners, this is an important oversight. The section on interiors also fails to show photos or diagrams beyond 1970. Since I am restoring a 1972 with a trashed interior, I was very disappointed not to be able to tell how my interior should look. The trim codes list didn't go beyond 1970 so I couldn't tell what the colors should be. The suspension section and driveline section is also short of critical information.

For a person working on a 64-70 Mustang, I highly recommend the book. It is richly filled with information and visuals. I would still get the book as a restorer of a 1971-1973 because there is lots of great information, such as complete information on the body and paint. Much of the missing information can be inferred from the 1970 model and since one also needs a shop manual, the rest of the information would be there.

I bought a 68 as a project in a semi dismantled condition, this book is an excellent reference for piecing together which bits go where (& which are missing!), the notes on options are also useful.

This is my first restoration & this book will be a valuable source of information.

Just about any Weber carb is in this book, plus Zenith Strombergs and SU carburetors ... with four or five pages dedicated to each. In other words, a mile wide and an inch deep. But where else can you find this much information between two covers? Just a shame it's published on newsprint paper...
pj

Good diagrams and rebuilding information but a little light on troubleshootin, diagnostics, and tuning.

It's what he wanted, and he uses it.

I brought a generator over the Internet. When it came, it does not start. Sending it back for replacement will cost about $100 for shipping, also I don't have a way to pack it in its orignal shape -- since I have assembled. In addition, it is over 200 lbs -- way too heavy to box in anything I have.

So I brought this book to try to make it work. I have so far able to adjust the valve to improve the compression based on reading this book. Check the fuel systems and other part. Just there is not enough information from the manufactuer or from this book to be able to tell the carburetor is good or bad, since this book is for gasoline engine and mine is a LPG/NG engine.

Although reading this book did not get the engine started, it is a fine book to read. Recommeneded.

This book starts out with the simplest 2-stroke engines, explaining different carburetor setups, and goes up through more complicated 4-stroke engines. This book would be a great basis for learning about gasoline engines in general... It also has advice on general maintenance and troubleshooting. Very informative book for learning HOW these things work so that you can fix them.

I looked at several small engine repair manuals and I was unimpressed by them. (The Haynes book is particularly disappointing) This one goes into a nice level of explanation of how something (e.g. a carburetor) works, the various types available and then how to trouble shoot it. Knowing how something works is crucial to really trouble shoot an engine.

I am an engineer so I like how this book describes the items function. Obviously some level of technical understanding is necessary to really appreciate an engine manual. But if you don't have that appreciation - you probably aren't trying to fix your own engines. So if you are looking for such a book, I can easily recommend this one.

The knowledge I've gained from this book has also helped with larger pieces of equipment - like full-size tractors. The older tractors (like my John Deere 3010) use the same basic components.