"Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic" is the #1 Selling Car Repair Book on Amazon

rsiegel · 06-14-2013, 06:47 PM

Hi guys. I have a terrible admission.

I sold my SC.

But I can explain. I thought I was going to get laid off. I sold three cars. And then... I DIDN'T GET LAID OFF! I was so pissed. (Not about not getting laid off; about... you understand).

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, my book "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. Bentley Publishers 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 Reviews - Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic by Rob Siegel *-* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books.

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?

Although there's a BMW on both the front and back cover, this is not a BMW book. It's a Car Guy book. It's my life viewed through the lens of cars. And there are several chapters on my ownership of the SC that y'all can read and tell me what I've gotten wrong. Flatsixes.com liked it ("“This is a must read for any self professed “car guy.” We're only about half way through it and so far it's fantastic!").

I can't tell you how good it feels to 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.

End of commercial. I'll go away until I get another 911. Maybe the next one will have a G50 in it.

Thanks.

--Rob Siegel

sacoffee · sacoffee's Garage

Awesome for you, I am sure it was hard work to get this far. Hopefully the good fortune continues

OttoBob · 06-14-2013, 06:57 PM

I have not bought the book yet, but I enjoyed the pages you wrote for Roundel immensely! I was a BMW guy and I thought it was great you had a Porsche. Now I have a Porsche (and 2 BMW's) and you don't! I should have bought a Porsche a long time ago. I'm have such an awesome time with my G50 Carrera! How about I go buy your book and you go buy a Porsche? Hey, when are you going to show up in Roundel again?

reachme · reachme's Garage

I see you have a release party locally on June 30th at Newtonville Books, see you there!

Matt

rsiegel · 06-15-2013, 01:41 PM

OttoBob, these days I'm in Roundel Magazine every other month.

Matt, in addition to the Newtonville Books event, I'll also be at German Car Day tomorrow (Father' Day) at the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation in Brookline.

Thanks guys.

G450X · G450X's Garage

I pre-ordered an autographed copy and I finished it last week.

I looked forward to reading a few of the short chapters each day, it's fun to read about some else's trials and tribulations with the automobile (I've had plenty).

I try to work smart and have the correct tool these days. I installed a two post lift after my last move, how did I get by without one before!

I replaced my ignition switch and door handle last week in my "Frog-Faced Interloper" ('82 SC coupe), great therapy. My BMW ('05 M3) has been an anvil reliability wise, the only failure was a bubbling rear view mirror (replaced under warranty). I bought my SC coupe to have a vehicle to "work on," and it has not been a disappointment...

I hope to have a 911 GT3 and a 2002 tii to work on some day.

Oh, and go give Maire Anne a kiss for me - what a woman!!

rsiegel · 06-15-2013, 03:01 PM

You may consider her so smooched!

WPOZZZ · 06-15-2013, 04:46 PM

That was my favorite column in Roundel.

88911coupe · 06-15-2013, 06:36 PM

Drove BMWs for YEARS and loved Roundel...even joined a few years ago again when I was looking for a E39 5 series for a daily driver...actually still considering it. Hate to admit it but I enjoyed reading Roundel more that Panorama.
Congrats on the success of the book!!!

scotricker · 06-15-2013, 08:36 PM

Great book, just finished reading my copy, thanks Rob, you're definitely one of us.

rsiegel · 06-16-2013, 02:07 AM

Thanks guys; that makes me feel really good.

The publisher requests that if you like the book, if you could post a short review on Amazon, it would be greatly appreciated. Hell, it'll help me save up for my next frog-faced interloper.

rokemester · 06-16-2013, 06:45 AM

Just ordered my own copy on Amazon. Let me know when you start your book tour and I'll bring my copy for you to sign. Congratulations. My daughters are published authors. It's a tough, but fun road. Enjoy. And keep us posted on your next Porsche acquisition journey. I'm sure it would be an entertaining read.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

I ordered it last month from Bentley when I got the email from the BMWCCA. My dad opened the autographed copy today and loves it.

mnez · 06-17-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

That was my favorite column in Roundel.

Me too.

testa-rossa · 06-24-2013, 09:45 PM

Just read the entire book in about 3 days. Wonderful! Highly recommend it. Do you have any other recommendations for books like this one?

Ronnie's.930 · 06-24-2013, 10:16 PM

Hey Rob, I just looked on Amazon for you book and it says "usually ships in 3-5 weeks" and I was wondering why that is?

rsiegel · 06-25-2013, 03:00 AM

Amazon is showing "3 to 5 week" because they have sold out of their stock and have reordered. I doubt it'll be 3 to 5 weeks, but the book is also available in several other places:

1) You can get it directly from Bentley Publishers at Memoirs of a Hack Mechanic by Rob Siegel *-* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books

2) Wayne stocks the book right here at Pelican; see Porsche 911 & Carrera Books & Technical Documentation - Page 3

Thanks!

--Rob

Carrerax · 06-25-2013, 03:40 AM

Rob, Ive been a CCA member since back in the "without space" days. Ive read every article of yours since they started. Yours was always the first followed by Mike Millers and then Mike Selfs (back when he still wrote for them. He actually lives a few miles from me). Anyway, congrats on the book. Cant wait to get my copy! I do wish you still had time to write for roundel every month though.

rsiegel · 06-25-2013, 03:44 AM

Thanks!. There has been much confusion over my status with Roundel. I AM still writing for Roundel, but when Roundel was restructured in January, I was cut back to every other month; my column alternates with Mark Jon Calabrese. But I am still there every other month.

Carrerax · 06-25-2013, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsiegel

Thanks!. There has been much confusion over my status with Roundel. I AM still writing for Roundel, but when Roundel was restructured in January, I was cut back to every other month; my column alternates with Mark Jon Calabrese. But I am still there every other month.

But...MJ Calabrese is always about electrical junk...I hate electrical. Yours is much better IMHO.