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We now know all about the world according to Clarkson. In a series of bestselling books, including How Hard Can It Be? and Round the Bend, Jeremy has revealed it to be a puzzling, frustrating place where all too often the lunatics seem to be running the asylum. But in The Top Gear Years, we get something rather different.
Because ten years ago, at an ex-RAF aerodrome in Surrey, Jeremy and his friends built a world that was rather more to his liking: they called it Top Gear HQ.
And Top Gear is for Jeremy what the jungle is for Tarzan: the perfect place to work and play.
But they didn't stop there. With this corner of Surrey sorted out, Jeremy and the boys decided to have a crack at the rest of the world. With Top Gear Live charging through with the subtlety of a touring heavy rock band and far flung outposts across the globe from North America to China - an empire of petrol-headed upon which the sun never set.
And all along Jeremy was writing about it all. Here, collected between hard covers for the first time, are the fruits of his labours: the cars, the hijinx, the pleasure and the pain. Brilliantly written and laugh out loud funny, The Top Gear Years is Clarkson at his pithy, provocative, hilarious best.
Praise for Jeremy Clarkson:
'Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube' Evening Standard
Jeremy Clarkson began his writing career on the Rotherham Advertiser. Since then he has written for the Sun, the Sunday Times, the Rochdale Observer, the Wolverhampton Express & Star, all of the Associated Kent Newspapers and Lincolnshire Life. Today he is the tallest person working in British television.
Because ten years ago, at an ex-RAF aerodrome in Surrey, Jeremy and his friends built a world that was rather more to his liking: they called it Top Gear HQ.
And Top Gear is for Jeremy what the jungle is for Tarzan: the perfect place to work and play.
But they didn't stop there. With this corner of Surrey sorted out, Jeremy and the boys decided to have a crack at the rest of the world. With Top Gear Live charging through with the subtlety of a touring heavy rock band and far flung outposts across the globe from North America to China - an empire of petrol-headed upon which the sun never set.
And all along Jeremy was writing about it all. Here, collected between hard covers for the first time, are the fruits of his labours: the cars, the hijinx, the pleasure and the pain. Brilliantly written and laugh out loud funny, The Top Gear Years is Clarkson at his pithy, provocative, hilarious best.
Praise for Jeremy Clarkson:
'Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube' Evening Standard
Jeremy Clarkson began his writing career on the Rotherham Advertiser. Since then he has written for the Sun, the Sunday Times, the Rochdale Observer, the Wolverhampton Express & Star, all of the Associated Kent Newspapers and Lincolnshire Life. Today he is the tallest person working in British television.
First published January 1, 2012
130 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Clarkson
59 books1,078 followersJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born April 11, 1960) is an English broadcaster and writer who specialises in motoring.
He writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun, but is better known for his role on the BBC television programme Top Gear.
From a career as a local journalist in the north of England, he rose to public prominence as a presenter of the original format of Top Gear in 1988. Since the mid-1990s Clarkson has become a recognised public personality, regularly appearing on British television presenting his own shows and appearing as a guest on other shows. As well as motoring, Clarkson has produced programmes and books on subjects such as history and engineering. From 1998 to 2000 he also hosted his own chat show, Clarkson.
His opinionated but humorous tongue-in-cheek writing and presenting style has often generated much public reaction to his viewpoints. His actions both privately and as a Top Gear presenter have also sometimes resulted in criticism from the media, politicians, pressure groups and the public.
As well as the criticism levelled against him, Clarkson also generated a significant following in the public at large, being credited as a factor in the resurgence of Top Gear to the most popular show on BBC Two, and calls for him to be made Prime Minister. Clarkson himself was keen to downplay his perceived influence on the British public, stating he regularly contradicts himself, and would make a "rubbish" Prime Minister.
He writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun, but is better known for his role on the BBC television programme Top Gear.
From a career as a local journalist in the north of England, he rose to public prominence as a presenter of the original format of Top Gear in 1988. Since the mid-1990s Clarkson has become a recognised public personality, regularly appearing on British television presenting his own shows and appearing as a guest on other shows. As well as motoring, Clarkson has produced programmes and books on subjects such as history and engineering. From 1998 to 2000 he also hosted his own chat show, Clarkson.
His opinionated but humorous tongue-in-cheek writing and presenting style has often generated much public reaction to his viewpoints. His actions both privately and as a Top Gear presenter have also sometimes resulted in criticism from the media, politicians, pressure groups and the public.
As well as the criticism levelled against him, Clarkson also generated a significant following in the public at large, being credited as a factor in the resurgence of Top Gear to the most popular show on BBC Two, and calls for him to be made Prime Minister. Clarkson himself was keen to downplay his perceived influence on the British public, stating he regularly contradicts himself, and would make a "rubbish" Prime Minister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 28, 2013
Too long. If it had stopped about a third of the way in I would have found it humorous in a guilty pleasure kind of way. But having finished it I just think he is fairly obnoxious and excessively repetitive. An auto-biography would be much more interesting.
November 17, 2012
I found myself alternately grinding my teeth, grimacing and chuckling as I read through this collection. Really, Clarkson can be such a twat and sometimes comes across like the last rugger bugger at the bar that you'd want to bump into. At other times though, he seems like the lone voice of sanity screaming against a media world full of Notting Hill liberal arts graduates. Is he the voice of forgotten, middle class, working males? I veer between hoping not and hoping so. Jeremy often says what a lot of us wish we could say, if we didn't fear it may make some of our social betters splutter into their Sauvignon Blanc and deny us that next step on the middle-management ladder.
I think many people who submit entries on Goodreads would like Clarkson because Clarkson likes to write, and it shows. I tend to think that the people writing reviews here like to write too, and I think that you have to give Clarkson the credit for creating and maintaining a voice that changes little through the years as he barks at the moon. You might disagree, you might not like the tone and you might get tired (as I have done) of the relentless, relentless laddishness of it all. But I kept returning to this collection as I worked my way through it, if only to see what he'd come up with next. It is about cars, but it's more about a world view that isn't often expressed as well as Clarkson can express it.
I think many people who submit entries on Goodreads would like Clarkson because Clarkson likes to write, and it shows. I tend to think that the people writing reviews here like to write too, and I think that you have to give Clarkson the credit for creating and maintaining a voice that changes little through the years as he barks at the moon. You might disagree, you might not like the tone and you might get tired (as I have done) of the relentless, relentless laddishness of it all. But I kept returning to this collection as I worked my way through it, if only to see what he'd come up with next. It is about cars, but it's more about a world view that isn't often expressed as well as Clarkson can express it.
June 2, 2016
Curiosidades e Humor
Sabiam que:
- "Há 22 milhões de automóveis (agora até já serão mais) a circular nas estradas, matando árvores, pessoas e tudo aquilo com que possam cruzar-se e atropelar"
E ainda que:
- "Em cem anos, os carros mataram mais pessoas que qualquer batalha alguma vez travada"
Etc, etc,...
Note-se que, ao dar destaque a estas informações, não pretendo assumir qualquer posição anti-carros.
Tenho perfeita consciência que os automóveis são imprescindíveis a muitos e longe de mim opôr-me à sua existência no planeta!
No entanto, nunca é demais recordar quão perigosos podem ser!...
Todavia, este livro é muito mais que um rol de informações sobre carros, dos quais até se gaba de falar muito pouco!
Entre múltiplas e variadas coisas, ficaremos a saber que:
Norfolk é uma terra de Filinstones, Bob Seger gosta de carne de jacaré, na Islândia a Miss Mundo é a segunda rapariga mais feia ( a primeira é a Björk ), Michael Schumacher é um troglodita intratável, em Detroit os habitantes machos ou são músicos ou homens-carro, etc, etc...
Basicamente, trata-se dum conjunto de retalhos da vida real repletos de Curiosidades e Humor!
Nota: Em português o livro intitula-se "Os Anos Top Gear"
Sabiam que:
- "Há 22 milhões de automóveis (agora até já serão mais) a circular nas estradas, matando árvores, pessoas e tudo aquilo com que possam cruzar-se e atropelar"
E ainda que:
- "Em cem anos, os carros mataram mais pessoas que qualquer batalha alguma vez travada"
Etc, etc,...
Note-se que, ao dar destaque a estas informações, não pretendo assumir qualquer posição anti-carros.
Tenho perfeita consciência que os automóveis são imprescindíveis a muitos e longe de mim opôr-me à sua existência no planeta!
No entanto, nunca é demais recordar quão perigosos podem ser!...
Todavia, este livro é muito mais que um rol de informações sobre carros, dos quais até se gaba de falar muito pouco!
Entre múltiplas e variadas coisas, ficaremos a saber que:
Norfolk é uma terra de Filinstones, Bob Seger gosta de carne de jacaré, na Islândia a Miss Mundo é a segunda rapariga mais feia ( a primeira é a Björk ), Michael Schumacher é um troglodita intratável, em Detroit os habitantes machos ou são músicos ou homens-carro, etc, etc...
Basicamente, trata-se dum conjunto de retalhos da vida real repletos de Curiosidades e Humor!
Nota: Em português o livro intitula-se "Os Anos Top Gear"
December 7, 2013
"Don't judge a book by its cover" - never a truer word spoken in the case of this book. The back cover blurb would have you believe that this is Jeremy's behind-the-scenes commentary on Top Gear and the Top Gear Live show. It's an utter lie.
What you do actual get is a collection of Jeremy's columns from Top Gear magazine, many of which are available on the website. Only a small percentage of these are in any way related to the show.
It is, in turns, funny, interesting and as politically incorrect as you'd expect - well worth a read - but the blatant false advertising on the back was a real let down.
What you do actual get is a collection of Jeremy's columns from Top Gear magazine, many of which are available on the website. Only a small percentage of these are in any way related to the show.
It is, in turns, funny, interesting and as politically incorrect as you'd expect - well worth a read - but the blatant false advertising on the back was a real let down.
March 9, 2016
Have The Sunday Times lost the rhythm of publishing Jeremy Clarkson's columns? Quite possibly - I was surprised reading
Is It Really Too Much To Ask?
that the book covered three years of his News Review columns when publication of them usually alternates annually with his In Gear columns. It's probably no surprise then that Clarkson, or his agents, chose to fill the fallow year by publishing material written in other places. So here we have
The Top Gear Years
, featuring material written for Top Gear Magazine between 1993 and 2011.
A little (just a little) more thought has gone into this book than my comments above might suggest, however. The columns are grouped by year, with each year beginning with a referral to the European car of the year and the top five singles and box-office films from that year. I found this a great device to help orientate myself and in the early years it provoked fond memories of what I was doing when that song was around or who I was dating when we saw that film. After a while though it was a little depressing seeing how few of the songs or films I'd heard of as the years flashed by and became more recent. I really am now old and out of touch with popular culture.
As for the columns themselves, they're not as car-oriented at the source material may suggest and fans of The World According to Clarkson will find much to enjoy here. These pieces are generally two to three times longer than those News Review columns that make up that series and I've written elsewhere that Clarkson's writing adapts well to a slightly longer format - this collection reinforces that opinion.
A little (just a little) more thought has gone into this book than my comments above might suggest, however. The columns are grouped by year, with each year beginning with a referral to the European car of the year and the top five singles and box-office films from that year. I found this a great device to help orientate myself and in the early years it provoked fond memories of what I was doing when that song was around or who I was dating when we saw that film. After a while though it was a little depressing seeing how few of the songs or films I'd heard of as the years flashed by and became more recent. I really am now old and out of touch with popular culture.
As for the columns themselves, they're not as car-oriented at the source material may suggest and fans of The World According to Clarkson will find much to enjoy here. These pieces are generally two to three times longer than those News Review columns that make up that series and I've written elsewhere that Clarkson's writing adapts well to a slightly longer format - this collection reinforces that opinion.
June 30, 2014
Dreadful. I've enjoyed Clarkson on the TV show 'Top Gear' where his puffery plays well against his co-hosts, guests, and producers. However, this book is merely a collection of columns from 'Top Gear' magazine over about 20 years. With no foils to play off, and no give and take with others who get in their own digs, the columns read as mere opinionated spout-offs from a boorish individual.
So, stick to the TV show which is entertaining and give this rehash of previously written material a pass.
So, stick to the TV show which is entertaining and give this rehash of previously written material a pass.
September 3, 2014
Disappointed, but merely because the description of the book given by the publisher made it sound like it was a collection of writings done by Jeremy during the different Top Gear events over the years - sort of like Hammond's books - but as it is 'just' a random collection of his columns from the TG magazine over the years I was disappointed.
That said, I do enjoy having another collection of Jeremy's writing on my shelf. I was just expecting something else.
That said, I do enjoy having another collection of Jeremy's writing on my shelf. I was just expecting something else.
October 29, 2015
Not as good as some of his other books. Found it rather dull.
May 30, 2023
Aż wstyd, że tyle czasu ją czytałam 🫣
May 2, 2023
As a self-respecting commie, I can’t give this five stars, so. But just so we’re clear, in the words of Jeremy Clarkson:
Quality, PC literature is brilliant.
But I like this.
Quality, PC literature is brilliant.
But I like this.
February 6, 2017
This is not a book about Jeremy Clarkson's years making Top Gear as the title and the blurb suggests. No, this is yet another collection of magazine column articles. Which is fine, these are usually released in book form every year. But this is a re-hashed book of the best of columns from previous books, which were originally magazine columns. Right. It's great, but a complete cash-in.
March 20, 2025
3.5 stars
Jeremy Clarkson is, without a doubt, one of the best in the business when it comes to talking about cars, and, often, society as a whole with his signature mix of sharp humor, biting sarcasm, and complete disregard for political correctness.
The Top Gear Years is a collection of his columns spanning a decade, packed with hilarious observations and genuinely insightful takes on cars, culture, and the absurdities of modern life. Whether he’s ranting about speed limits, eco-warriors, or the latest supercar, Clarkson’s voice loud, hilarious, and purposefully offensive to damn near everyone. Some of the vignettes are downright brilliant, offering not just comedy but also genuine insight into the automotive world and society at large. His ability to weave car reviews with social commentary makes for some truly memorable moments that had me laughing harder than I thought possible, especially when he goes on at length about the amount of idiots in the world or the sheer stupidity of trying to stop terrorism on planes when trains are wide open and have zero security.
Furthermore, his true admiration of cars is on full display as he praises many of the classics as well as newer models, and even goes as far as to begrudgingly take James May’s advice, buy a baby Gallardo Lamborghini, and actually fall in love with it.
However, as entertaining as Clarkson is, the sheer volume of material does start to feel repetitive after a while. Since the book covers a decade’s worth of articles, certain themes and jokes begin to wear a bit thin, making it harder to sustain the same level of enjoyment all the way through. We get to be told more than a few times how much Clarkson hates the Porsche 911, or how terrible traffic cameras are, or how annoyed he is with British government and caravaners. All things that are easy to read in Clarkson’s signature and familiar voice, though also lose their humor after repeating multiple times.
Still, though, it is hard to find a journalist so unapologetic, yet knowledgeable and actually has a passion for the things he talks about. The Top Gear Years can grow to be too much as the collection nears its end, but you would be hard pressed to find such a consistent writer and observer like Clarkson.
Jeremy Clarkson is, without a doubt, one of the best in the business when it comes to talking about cars, and, often, society as a whole with his signature mix of sharp humor, biting sarcasm, and complete disregard for political correctness.
The Top Gear Years is a collection of his columns spanning a decade, packed with hilarious observations and genuinely insightful takes on cars, culture, and the absurdities of modern life. Whether he’s ranting about speed limits, eco-warriors, or the latest supercar, Clarkson’s voice loud, hilarious, and purposefully offensive to damn near everyone. Some of the vignettes are downright brilliant, offering not just comedy but also genuine insight into the automotive world and society at large. His ability to weave car reviews with social commentary makes for some truly memorable moments that had me laughing harder than I thought possible, especially when he goes on at length about the amount of idiots in the world or the sheer stupidity of trying to stop terrorism on planes when trains are wide open and have zero security.
Furthermore, his true admiration of cars is on full display as he praises many of the classics as well as newer models, and even goes as far as to begrudgingly take James May’s advice, buy a baby Gallardo Lamborghini, and actually fall in love with it.
However, as entertaining as Clarkson is, the sheer volume of material does start to feel repetitive after a while. Since the book covers a decade’s worth of articles, certain themes and jokes begin to wear a bit thin, making it harder to sustain the same level of enjoyment all the way through. We get to be told more than a few times how much Clarkson hates the Porsche 911, or how terrible traffic cameras are, or how annoyed he is with British government and caravaners. All things that are easy to read in Clarkson’s signature and familiar voice, though also lose their humor after repeating multiple times.
Still, though, it is hard to find a journalist so unapologetic, yet knowledgeable and actually has a passion for the things he talks about. The Top Gear Years can grow to be too much as the collection nears its end, but you would be hard pressed to find such a consistent writer and observer like Clarkson.
September 7, 2023
Absolutely hilarious at times! Normally I wouldn’t give more than three stars to a book I skipped so many parts of (by no means a car enthusiast) but I was even ready to give it five after his description of a Mercedes GL which made me cry from laughter.
***
I really do believe the civilized world is at a crossroads right now. We can either go down the American route: busy, busy, busy, no time for lunch, eat on the move, cupholders in the car, golf, working breakfast, working supper, work out and styrofoam food. Or we can go down the European route: style, pasta, more style, some red wine, smoke, laugh, style, friends, drive fast, see more, do more, eat more and take longer over doing everything
***
I try on opinions like I try on clothes, standing in front of a mirror and wondering if they suit me. Sometimes, I take them home and realize I made a bad choice, so I throw them away and get new ones.
***
I really do believe the civilized world is at a crossroads right now. We can either go down the American route: busy, busy, busy, no time for lunch, eat on the move, cupholders in the car, golf, working breakfast, working supper, work out and styrofoam food. Or we can go down the European route: style, pasta, more style, some red wine, smoke, laugh, style, friends, drive fast, see more, do more, eat more and take longer over doing everything
***
I try on opinions like I try on clothes, standing in front of a mirror and wondering if they suit me. Sometimes, I take them home and realize I made a bad choice, so I throw them away and get new ones.
June 8, 2017
I am a big Top Gear (now Grand Tour!) fan and a fan of Clarksons ...so i had high hopes for this book !....but once again its just a load of clarksons now outdated colums from his newspaper/magazine !...although this dissapointed me initially,i still read it and found myself laughing or saying "oh Jezza!...really" a lot ...as i dont always agree with his views!....
I just wish that he would sit down and write his own story about all his adventures i am sure it would make a bloody brilliant read ! ....till then we have to put up with collection after collection of these monologgs of his !! oh well ...one day !?
I just wish that he would sit down and write his own story about all his adventures i am sure it would make a bloody brilliant read ! ....till then we have to put up with collection after collection of these monologgs of his !! oh well ...one day !?
April 13, 2020
To start off...I'm not a car person. I don't even own a car and when I did it was a small and economic one. But I just loved Top Gear until they fired Jeremy Clarkson that is.
Yes the man can be rude and at times misogynistic...but his writing is witty, sarcastic and on point. This collection of articles was a fun read. Every time I thought to put it down I figured.... one more article.
Did I enjoy them all? Nope. Some of the more technical car talk parts were boring to me but it was saved by the sarcasm. I swear at times I could hear Jeremy Clarkson say the things he wrote and that made it better. The snark is strong with that one!
Yes the man can be rude and at times misogynistic...but his writing is witty, sarcastic and on point. This collection of articles was a fun read. Every time I thought to put it down I figured.... one more article.
Did I enjoy them all? Nope. Some of the more technical car talk parts were boring to me but it was saved by the sarcasm. I swear at times I could hear Jeremy Clarkson say the things he wrote and that made it better. The snark is strong with that one!
March 22, 2020
One of the finest books to read, The Top Gear Years is a collection of Jeremy Clarkson's articles that he wrote during his times as a journalist and a presenter at Top Gear, the TV show by BBC. It is a hilarious book, with the author poking fun in a way we all know (at least for those who have watched Top Gear and The Grand Tour). Guaranteed for smiles and laughs, this is a book that you should not miss, enthusiast or not.
February 26, 2019
Perfect for a lazy laugh
It’s the book equivalent of listening to Monty Python records. It’ll make you laugh often and return to the really hilarious bits over and over. If Jeremy could have done this stuff on his feet instead of on a typewriter he’d have been a phenomenal stand up comedian.
It’s the book equivalent of listening to Monty Python records. It’ll make you laugh often and return to the really hilarious bits over and over. If Jeremy could have done this stuff on his feet instead of on a typewriter he’d have been a phenomenal stand up comedian.
December 24, 2019
What I expected? More of the brilliant and compelling narratives that were voiced over Top Gear's legendary videos.
What I got? Some half-hearted ramblings that were nowhere near as well written as his non-car articles and appear to be as disjointed as papers written after a boss hounds someone after a deadline has passed.
What I got? Some half-hearted ramblings that were nowhere near as well written as his non-car articles and appear to be as disjointed as papers written after a boss hounds someone after a deadline has passed.
August 4, 2018
É refrescante ler crónicas que não são auto-censuradas. O Jeremy, como sempre, diz o que lhe vai na alma sobre todos os assuntos, e é interessante perceber um pouco dos bastidores de um programa tão global como é o Top Gear
November 4, 2018
The importance of being Clarkson
If you appreciate Clarkson's irreverent sense of humour, you'll enjoy this collection of his columns from Top Gear magazine. If you don't, buy something else.
If you appreciate Clarkson's irreverent sense of humour, you'll enjoy this collection of his columns from Top Gear magazine. If you don't, buy something else.
January 18, 2021
Very good book,in which Jeremy consistently and in a very funny way desribes everything what went well and mostly not so well on the show. Honestly this is a very,very good book which I can only recomend.
September 17, 2021
The first half of the book is funny and hilarious, the second half is repetitive. It's a collection of Clarkson's articles and the book could have done with less. Not all of them are of the same quality.
September 1, 2022
The name is clearly misleading, as it sounds like a memoir. It is actually a compilation of Clarkson's columns in TG magazine. If you want to read Clarkson's columns, it is a great book, 5/5. But it's not a memoir, as the title clearly suggests.
October 31, 2017
I suppose that this book will be the most favourite book in English!
It's marvelous!
It's marvelous!
November 29, 2018
Another masterpiece by Mr.Clarkson!
April 21, 2019
Funny, satiric, some say arrogant... But brilliant book. Jeremy just know how to write. Some may not agree with him or like his style but for me - i love it. I laughed a lot...
June 4, 2019
Hilarious car reviews which basically are little stories not always only about cars! Jeremy Clarkson at his best!
January 17, 2020
A fun book to drop into a few minutes at a time
October 26, 2020
I loved the wit and the sarcasm. The misogyny not so much. Enjoyed the Monty Python references. I also learnt a lot about cars. I guess I am ready to own my first car next year!*
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August 9, 2021Nope.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews