American Naval History in 50 Ships: Unsung Vessels from the Colonial Era to the Cold War

by James M. Caiella

They may have been “unsung” but each of the ships—and their crews!—discussed here played a significant role in American history.

Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe in Profile

by Daniel Uhr and Dan Sharp

Building upon earlier, similar books this one introduces new or refined data and interpretations of German jet-propelled military aircraft designs into the record, especially regarding the historical context of their development.

A Technical & Operational
 History of the Liberty Engine: Tanks, Ships and Aircraft 1917–1960

by Robert J. Neal

One of history’s most famous engines, and very possibly the one with the longest active military service life, the Liberty represents an ambitious and visionary solution to what could have become an intractable problem: too much creativity resulting in too much incompatibility.

The Book Bus

by Melanie Moore, Brian Wray

Do you read to your car? Unexpected things might happen. The bookmobile at the center of this story really exists, operated by a former teacher who found her second calling and requisitioned her husband’s vintage VW.

Formula One, The Champions: 75 Years of Legendary F1 Drivers

by Maurice Hamilton

A handy guide to the 34 men who have won the F1 World Championship so far, a few of course multiple times. Between the competent text and the benchmark-setting photography of father and son Cahier, this book is a winner.

Auto Racing Comes of Age

by Robert Dick

It is nothing short of amazing that the transition from rickety horseless carriage you could outrun on foot to fire-snorting record-breaking racecar took so little time. This excellent book examines the European and American history of the origins of motorsports.

Bella Mangusta, The Italian Art and Design of the De Tomaso Mangusta

by Dick Ruzzin

GM’s styling chief ordered a bespoke Mangusta to show his bosses that they were missing out on the sort of exciting sporty car that would be good for the bottom line. They passed, but the car is still around, owned by the author.

Formula Atlantic: Tales from the Champions & Top Competitors, 1969–2009

by Gordon Kirby

If you follow F1 or IndyCar you’ll find an all but forgotten part of the backstory in this book. Lots of people, cars, places make an appearance here and you’ll surely recognize many, but from different contexts.

The VanDersarl Blériot: A Centenary Celebration

by Javier Arango & Philip Makanna

This spindly French machine made aviation history when it became the first heavier-than-air aircraft to cross the English Channel. Two American youngsters got excited. So they decided to build their own. It still flies, more than a hundred years later. See it here.

Landings in America: Two People, One Summer, and a Piper Cub

A Flying Memoir

by Peter Egan

A memoir of a 7000-mile flight across the US in a 1945 Piper. It took place 40 years ago, a boom time for private aviation in the US.

Formula 3000: Where Legends Earned Their Stripes

by James Newbold

Quicker, cheaper, more open racing—F3000 was supposed to bring all that. It lasted some 20 years so something must have been missed.

Peace Is a Shy Thing: The Life and Art of Tim O’Brien

by Alex Vernon

“Vietnam made me a writer,” says O’Brien. This meticulously researched literary biography explores the life and journey that turned “happening-truth” into “story-truth.” If these terms don’t mean anything to you, all the more reason to read this book.

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