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The Top Gear Years [Hardcover]

Jeremy Clarkson
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
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Book Description

27 Sep 2012

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 in Top Gear magazine. 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.


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Product details

  • Hardcover: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Michael Joseph (27 Sep 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0718176855
  • ISBN-13: 978-0718176853
  • Product Dimensions: 16.2 x 4.4 x 24 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 71,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Product Description

Review

Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube (Evening Standard) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

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.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new here! 30 Sep 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Like the first reviewer I was expecting a book about his time at Top Gear but sadly a few pages in you get this note "The contents of this book first appeared in Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear magazine column between 1993 and 2011." Very disappointing.
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50 of 54 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Not What I was Expecting 25 Sep 2012
By Tozzy
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sad to say, as a Top Gear and Clarkson fan, this book didn't meet my expectations. I thought that all the years of Jeremy making money from having his old Telegraph columns printed as books was over and that we were getting something different this year...and we kind of are, but instead of the Telegraph columns, it's the Top Gear magazine columns. In fact the only newly written thing in it is Jeremy's introduction.

In the description it says 'And all along Jeremy was writing about it all. Here, collected between hard covers for the first time, are the fruits of his labours'. To me, this sounded like Jeremy had actually done like Hammond and actually written about a particular filming shoot or Top Gear live as it was happening. But no, it isn't, and whilst reading some columns from the 90s may be rather interesting, there's very little that makes me 'Ooh'. Some are just about a car themselves and Top Gear doesn't even get mentioned.

I never though I'd rate a Clarkson book so low but as far as I'm concerned, the description is misleading. If you love any column he writes, then you'll be happy with this, but if you wanted a proper in depth book about making the show, no such luck.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Top Gear Years 16 Nov 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the fourth Jeremy Clarkson book that I have read. The book was interesting and funny at the same time. I liked the way each chapter started with the car of the year and talked about the car throughout the chapter but also included the top five albums and movies of the year. I look forward to reading the next book.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff! 12 Nov 2012
By MT
Format:Hardcover
I hadn't read any of Clarkson's columns before, and found this fantastically entertaining and interesting, really recommend it, great light hearted diversion that's very much appreciated these days!
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20 of 24 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Totally misleading book description 12 Oct 2012
By MD Eden
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book expecting an autobiographical account of Jeremy Clarkson and his time on 'Top Gear'

All I got was a collection of previously published articles - while funny and sarcastic this is not what I wanted and paid for.

Even the book description gives a misleading sense of what to expect.

What a rip off!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Almost got it wrong 6 Feb 2013
Format:Hardcover
After reading the blurb and the first reviews here I thought, "I won't buy this. I expected to get some background info on Top Gear, and this isn't it."

Then I downloaded the reading sample to my Kindle when I was down with the flu and needed something that would make me laugh, and that's something Jeremy has always managed to do. And I was not disappointed. On the contrary: This book has helped me get better, because it's such fun to read.

Okay, the blurb's a bit misleading, but if you read the sample and the reviews here, you know what you're going to get. On second thought, I didn't want all that background info on Top Gear anyway, because it might spoil the fun. Have you tried re-watching your favourite TV series from your teens? Way to kill your memories. You see all the stuff you didn't see back then, when ignorance was bliss. Do you really want to KNOW who the Stig is? To me, the question is much more intriguing than the answer.

Like PG Wodehouse's books, Jeremy's columns are great medicine and should be available prescription free. And they are. Thank you!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be so quick to judge 16 Dec 2012
Format:Hardcover
I'm a big fan of Jeremy Clarkson, so when I read people accusing him of money grabbing by re-selling all of his articles in book form put a bad taste in my mouth. It is true that the only part of the book that contains new material is the introduction, where Jeremy states himself "One day, I may write an autobiography. But this isn't it." This so called flaw in Clarkson's book only applies to you if, a) you own every issue of Top Gear Magazine from 1993 where Jeremy has written a column or b) you're Rain Man and can memorize anything you read which would make owning this book redundant.
Now that I've cleared that up, I'll go on to write what my opinions are on the book. I love it. You could put it down to my highly biased opinion on Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson that makes me look past the grumbles and moans that his book is recycled material, but I don't care. It's a great novelty to have his articles in one book that you can carry around with you, read with caution however, as you will be smiling and laughing at his comical and witty experiences and anecdotes.
If you know Jeremy Clarkson you'll have a pretty good idea on what the chapters are about. Complaining, criticizing his co-workers Richard Hammond and James May, and finding solutions to his own complaints. In one instance, he solves Britain's drink diving problem by introducing a `green light system' where a person who has been drinking is allowed to drive home providing they place a green flashing light on the roof of their car, to warn others they are intoxicated.
A great attribute of the book are the pages that separates the years of his columns. They're accompanied by the car of the year, top 5 singles and top 5 movie releases for that year.
... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Vroom
Each year my son has to have a top gear book for Christmas - this was an excellent read and very funny
Published 2 days ago by Yvonne Curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars How Does This Awful Man Manage to be so Charming!
Enjoying reading the views of this misogynist, narcissistic, right-wing, anti-environment individual is like having a secret vice. Irresistible but you do feel it's So Wrong!
Published 13 days ago by Nancy Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny
Im a huge Top Gear fan. This book is very very funny. I Will recommend it to friends and family.
Published 26 days ago by Anne Clausen
5.0 out of 5 stars Just Clarkson....
Typical Clarkson read, fun, interesting, insightful and (in places!) Bigoted too. Regardless of whether you like him or not (and I do), its a great read, laugh out loud funny in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robin Bithrey
4.0 out of 5 stars gift for son-in-law
I'm sure it's the same Top Gear fare, with the views of Jeremy as per usual but nevertheless a very acceptable gift
Published 1 month ago by Mario
4.0 out of 5 stars misleading title
The title suggests that its about the program, but its just articles taken from topgear magazine

Still entertaining, just as funny as his other books
Published 1 month ago by jimmyo
4.0 out of 5 stars Best writings
Although a re-issue of former Top Gear articles, I really like it. I think it's his best writing. Any Top Gear or J C fans will love it.
Published 2 months ago by FelipeJuan
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Great read, if you like any other Jeremy Clarkson books, you will enjoy this one just as much. . .
Published 2 months ago by Nicole Collins
2.0 out of 5 stars Repeat, repeat, repeat
Like watching 'Dave' on cable. this book is simply a rehash of Clarkson's newspaper columns over the years. Read more
Published 2 months ago by David
4.0 out of 5 stars A good buy for any Clarkson fan
My husband always enjoys Clarkson's take on life so this was a safe bet - no complaints from him so far!
Published 2 months ago by loubilou
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