Carbolics: A personal motoring disinfectant

by James May

  , Why does a man with a Ferrari and a Porsche drive a Fiat Panda? Is going fast really necessary? Is it your fault if you get run over? Why will electric cars really save the planet (possibly)?

In Carbolics the UK's favourite petrol head (after Clarkson and Hammond) James May answers these questions and more.

Across 80 essays, James gives his quirky, entertaining take on cars, motorbikes, trucks - and explains why the bicycle might just be the best invention of all.

Written with James's characteristic wit and humour, Carbolics is the perfect Christmas gift for petrolheads.,

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Cars

336 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

James May is a British television presenter and award-winning journalist.

May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. He also writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph's motoring section. On Top Gear, his nickname is "Captain Slow", owing to his 'careful' driving style. He has, however, carried out some exceptionally high-speed driving (including taking a Bugatti Veyron to its top speed).

Reviews

[Robert Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual james may ramblings, gave me a chuckle.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing a fiction book midweek I was looking for something a bit different to read. Carbolics is a collection of articles James May (of Grand Tour, Top Gear and ‘Bim’ fame) wrote for DriveTribe. It was a fantastic website and a good place to read car information. But on the internet, my attention span is a lot less hence why I’m much happier to read away from a screen lying on the couch.

Carbolics is kind of a Fiat Panda sized book – it’s smaller than your average book but it is a cheery yellow. However, the ideas inside are much more interesting and varied. There’s the technical stuff that you would expect from James May – changing gears, stop-start motoring and the easiest explanation I’ve read on power and torque. But it’s not just supercars, hybrid vehicles, motorbikes and even bicycles are discussed. The articles are generally quite short (3-4 pages of the smaller format book) so if something doesn’t grab your fancy, you can skim read and move on. This shorter format also really suits May’s sense of humour. I think I laughed more during this book than the other books of his that I’ve read. (Or, perhaps I’ve just read his more serious books). For fans, there are multiple jibes at Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson.

Overall, it’s a good read to pick up and put down when busy, or during the holiday period. It’s got James May’s distinctive way of explaining things and you might even learn a thing or two (like the longest car name ever).

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Peter Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

As any reasonable person agrees, James May is the best thing to come out of Top Gear and motoring shows - Captain Slow, alternative, contrary, a gentleman. Sadly, this book seemed to reveal more of his cantankerous irritating side and manages to make you have some sympathy with Clarkson and even Hammond. To start with, it's not a book but a collection of ramblings posted to some now defunct website and only published, as Mr May admits, to preserve these ramblings for posterity. Not sure it was worth the effort; each piece is short, really short, so that none of them really develop into anything more than a 'this is what I think' piece and 'sucks to you if you disagree'. Also, what now really frustrates me as a viewer of auto media - Top Gear, Wheeler Dealers, Car SOS, Grand Tour etc is that a normal Joe like me hasn't had access to the myriad of car types that all motoring 'experts' think we have. My motoring history is governed by poverty and children so includes 2CVs, a Citroen BX, a Renault 21 estate, a Citroen Synergie, a Kia Sedona, a Fiat Multipla and now, my Mum's old Toyota Auris. Hardly the stuff of motoring legend (apart from the 2CV and the Multipla) so I can't identify with his whining stories about Ferraris and Porsches and other exotica and I can't help but think he's some sort of spoilt man baby who doesn't appreciate what a privileged life he has. Also, why does Captain Slow own a Ferrari or a Porsche?

[Grant S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of short essays or perhaps more musings. Generally I don’t like books of this type of format but I like May and his easy going, humorous and anorak ways. We are both very late baby boomers so readily identify with his reminiscing and reading the book on a cold dreary week in January it was rather like sitting in a quiet country pub in front of a fire chatting with the great man himself. I would give it 5 stars but it’s not really a book is it - just a nice bit of packaging in which to publish some old stuff that he wrote for Drive Tribe and given it’s success there was a good chance nobody had read them already. Hats off to James May , nothing wrong with a lazy, easily earned bit of poundage.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Let's talk about sects..."

A collection of James May rants about a variety of topics: always a fun listen even when the technical stuff crashes in and tries to take over (I know almost nothing about cars, motorbikes of general boy's toys stuff, only that cars are a pretty good way of travelling from a to b). There is more than simple car techno babble, of course, like finger pointing at Clarkson and Hammond, and each short article is amusing, sometimes even funny.

Not quite as humorous, perhaps, as other of his books but well worth like back and listen. Read by James May himself, it is, sadly, too quickly over.

[Jarrod Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Listened to the audiobook - which I feel is the best way to experience it because May reads it himself

Of the Top Gear/Grand Tour trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, May has always been the one I connected most with.

These essays are just a glimpse into his mind on various aspects of cars and other aspects of culture.

It may not be for everyone, but Captain Slow is my spirit animal, so I rather enjoyed it.

If you’re a fan it’s worth checking out.

[Khurley424 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit surprising to say that Richard Hammond may be a better writer than James May, but, here I am, saying it. May is certainly May, and his personality rings clear and true in this collection of essays- but it wasn't quite as captivating as some others I've read recently. All in all still enjoyable, and great for any gear heads or TG fans

[Adam Murfet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny and well thought out book. I love the personal anecdotes and use of hyperbole. It’s a very classic James May solo piece, a bit bonkers, unique, weird in a good way, dry wit, and just darn right fun. Well worth a read.

[John Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining missives on car culture

It's the usual James May and his wit. This is a collection of columns from the DriveTribe website that is now defunct. He's brought them back from his hard drive for our enjoyment.

[Paul Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical James May ramblings presumably from one of his columns (magazine or newspaper) covering a numerous things bt always associated with cars or motorcycles

[Jakob Jaworski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all arresting but occasionally amusing

[carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

British man rambling about very important car related journalism. James May... my goat...

I finished this about 2 weeks ago...once again did not update progress more than once

[Taylor Hutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d marry this man if I could.

[Paul Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A conforting philosophical digest for a new driver like myself about the future of motoring and what it means to be a motorist.

[Fahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very good book for toilet.

[Daniel Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read and really funny

[Peter Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light hearted and funny writing - re run of all his old DriveTribe platform pieces. Which if you haven’t seen these are worth a listen.

[Andrew Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little bedside book to pick up and put down when you feel like it

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy listening (audiobook)

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read of James May's humorous and detailed ramblings on everything from Bicycles to Hyper Cars.

[BenjaminDiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from my friend as a Christmas gift. From the first moment, I knew this book was going to be the typical James May style book, factual, opinionated, just like him on TV. Although this book covers many different topics, from cars to motorcycles, to green energy and bikes, it was super interesting to read. I would say tho some topics are a bit boring, however if you enjoy watching his shows on TV ( Grand Tour, Top Gear, Oh Cook, Our Man in Italy etc..), you would definitely want to read this book.

[Stepan Kuznetsov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Occasionally fun.

Sadly, even for the low bar set by the genre (blogpost compilation) it's mostly dull.