Book Deal Signed With Bentley Publishers

[rsiegel]

It is with joy bordering on the profane that I announce that Bentley Publishers, publishers of the best damn automotive repair manuals in the world, has signed me to publish my 350 page book, tentatively titled "Car Nut: Why men love cars, and how fixing BMWs saved my sanity (a memoir with actual useful stuff)." It's my life, viewed through the lens of cars, in a way that other car guys and the women who love them will instantly relate to. It's that miserable Triumph GT6+ I owned in college. It's rebuilding the engine of Maire Anne's VW bus in the kitchen of the apartment in Austin. It's the 25 BMW 2002s. It's the way I love how my 911SC gurgles. It's teaching my kids to drive in the Suburban on the beach late at night on Nantucket. It's a defense of men as intimate caring creatures, even though we often appear to have the emotional intelligence of algae. It's an explanation of why, in a world in which we have so little control, I thoroughly enjoy working on cars and get such a charge out of identifying, diagnosing, and completely fixing a problem. I think anyone who enjoyed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or John Muir's VW "idiot manual," or, more recently, Matthew Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft" will find things to like in my book.

Can you tell I've been practicing the elevator speech? How does it sound? I think it's pretty good considering Maire Anne (the best wife a car guy could ever ask for) and I celebrated last night and I was drinking Death in the Afternoon (Hemingway's favorite cocktail -- champagne and absinthe).

--Rob ("Hack Mechanic") Siegel

[billybek]

Congrats!

Sounds interesting. Will there be an initial offering (signed) to Pelicans?

[kach22i]

Congrats.

Keep the movie rights.

[zippy_gg]

I will have a copy on my bookcase when it comes out.
Keep us updated on the release date!

See, all those years of writing for Roundel and listening to Satch have paid off. Congratulations, and I sure look forward to seeing it.

[rsrfan]

Congratulations. I would love to pick up a copy. Interestingly enough, Satch was my 10th grade English teacher...

[steely]

Wow, congratulations!

[BobbieShen]

I will have a copy on my bookcase when it comes out.

[Wayne 962]

From one author to another, congrats!

-Wayne

[manbridge 74]

Speech sounds good and I like these types of books. Congrats.

Even though Pirsig weirded me out a little in Zen I liked all the first hand experience about buying and owning a bike. Perhaps you've nicknamed your 911 'Gestalt?'

[jdbunda]

Congrats, Rob!

[jager911]

Rob, I thoroughly enjoy your car search and fix 'er up stories in Roundel, I'm also a BMW nut.
Looking forward to your book.

[mercury26]

Rob,

Congrats on the deal. Your monthly column in Roundel is always a must read for me. I find your stories entertaining and enlightening. Look forward to the book!

Best Regards,

Chuck

[sennasixty8]

Once again, congrats and I too read your column in Roundel. I can also relate to those countless BMW 02's, your M coupe, and the Touring as well ( I own and have owned the same cars).

I can't wait to share the read with my very very understanding wife!

[canonball]

looking forward to reading it!

[enzo1]

cool!!!