Customer Reviews

Truck: On Rebuilding a Worn-Out Pickup and Other Post-Technological Adventures

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My copy is well-used, for I never tire of returning to Jerome's world. The author gets his old 1950s Dodge not to restore (he calls restorers 'nuts'), but simply to haul junk. Thumbing his nose at technology, Jerome undertakes the mechanical rebuilding of a simple truck from a simpler time, hoping it will sync with his vision of rural New England life. The book is an education about engines, removing rusted parts, junkyard hunting (hilarious and the best part of the book) with occasional but unobtrusive forays into questioning 'progress'. We feel the cold of winter as he works on the dirt floor of the barn, feel the heat radiating from the woodstove, feel the speckle of penetrating oil on our faces as he whacks away hopelessly at the kingpins. And when it's all back together, we share in his disappointment when it doesn't run (at first) and his juvenile glee when it does (much hand-wringing later). The story parallels what happens every winter in garages across the nation, as amateurs attempt to rescue old vehicles from the dead. This book is a classic, and I'm glad it's still available.

Read "The Outermost House" by Henry Beston, then go read this book; you will see what I mean. While it is true that Beston is a much better writer, the reader gets the same philosophical analysis and feeling of journey. You don't have to like trucks to enjoy this book; however if you've ever cursed at a rusted bolt, skinned your knuckles, or wrecked a hard to get part, this book is for you. It is funny, sometimes poignant view of technology.

Jerome's "Truck" is a funny and entertaining book about rebuilding an old truck and the soul searching that ensues in the process. It is similar to Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," but not quite as serious or self-conscious. But, it does have the same form of being about adventures in the mechanical world while really being about something else. Jerome's book is actually about trucks, but at the same time it is about life in rural New England, our relationship to the modern world, and just about anything else that comes to his mind on a given day. His randomness is refreshing because it is more real. Jerome can be a little judgmental at times and is a little bit on the naïve-liberal side, but not in the "suburban soccer mom" way of more recent rural immigrants. But, he is rarely preachy and the book is one of the few honest accounts of life in rural New England.

TRUCK reminded me a alot of the book: THE CONTRARY FARMER. Although I enjoyed this book and finished it quickly, I was left wanting more. I related to the author and share many of his original motivations. All in all, the small price of the book will probably save me many hours and dollars by learning from someone else's experience.

This is a great book for anyone who has or is thinking about rebuilding or restoring a vehicle. John has all the usual troubles and then some! I have read this book probably six times and never tire of it. Well worth you time and gave me many a laugh.

I've read the book five times since buying it, as the humor camouflaged some of the practical gems about rebuilding old trucks. A wonderful curl-up-before-the fireplace read!

I had found this gem of a book at Half Price Books.
From what I had read far this book thouches on the mind and may be the soul of working on an old vehicle.
Along with the wit and wisdom of a philosophy of the DIY mind set in a person. Also the thought of how the mind is during the change of the seasons. Even if you are not in rual New Hampshare but in urban Chicago you will still get this book and the vibe of the autor's mind set. This book is not about nuts and bolts but the high meaning of working on a vehicle.

The book was a good, quick read. It was shorter than I expected but full of deep thoughts. I enjoyed envisioning the author getting dirty and frustrated while involved in the rather futile exercise of "rebuilding" his truck. To call it "rebuilding" is a bit of a stretch because he starts off wrong and ultimately does a great deal of expensive damage to otherwise good components while tearing the truck down. While the book was good, DO NOT approach car or truck repair as the author does or you will waste a lot of money. At the end of the book, the author admits the whole exercise resulted in a truck that is not even dependable. Again, read it for fun but not for mechanical advice.

It was a Christmas gift wrapped in bridal shower paper, but that's My buddy's sense of humor at work. "Truck" really struck a chord with me,as it will with anyone who has ever taken anything apart with the hope of getting it back together. One of those moments was when he'd reached the point of only being able to walk out to the garage and rearrange the tools,then go inside to have a drink and think about it. Man, have I ever been there. There are some similarities with Chris Goodrich's "Roadster", but Jerome is motivated by a sturdy thriftiness,while Goodrich had other issues to deal with. Great book, one of the best gifts I've received and a good addition to the "Auto as Metaphor for Life" section in a gearhead's library.

This is a great book. I have fixed a 1950 FARGO and I loved his book but.... the language could get cleaned up be for the kids see the book. This is otherwise great stuff.