Hemi Muscle Cars by Darwin Holmstrom weighs 5.9 pounds and most of that is photographs. And they are great photos (I’ve pasted about ten after the jump). This book covers the entire history of the Hemi, from the first production cars of the early 50s to the modern LX platform cars. I should point out that the book is printed in China, which could be a deal breaker for some old school Mopar guys. But if you can get past that, love the Hemi, have $50 burning a hole in your pocket and own a burly coffee table, I would definitely recommend this book.

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If you’re over the age of say, 45, you might remember a quaint institution called a "service station." Instead of your wallet just being $100 lighter after each fill up, your car was greeted by uniformed attendants who’d fill your tank, wash your windshield, and check your tire pressure. A gallon of petrol cost 30 cents a gallon or less, and if you asked, the attendants would even pop the hood and check your oil, all for under a 10-spot. For gearheads who want to remember, those good old days are recalled in Fill’er Up! The Great American Gas Station, by Tim Russell.

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This video is just a plug for Richard Hammond’s new book, On the Edge, but it’s still funny. And if you ever thought that the guys who host Top Gear have perfect lives, well, from the looks of this clip, you’d be right. In an unrelated note, since it’s Sunday, I’d rather be watching Meet the Press. But now that will never be the same. Rest in peace, Mr. Russert.

I love racing. And I love dogs. And the only things which make modern air travel tolerable—aside from alcohol and Xanax—are good books. So I’m going to take Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain on my next flight. The story revolves around Denny, a guy trying to make it as a professional race driver, and it’s told from the perspective of his dog, Enzo. Since I haven’t read so much as the first paragraph, I can’t recommend the book. But I’m intrigued by the concept, and the little movie-trailer-like ad below has made me curious enough to go pick it up. Hey, haven’t you always wondered what a dog thinks about racing? Stay tuned for my review.