Category Archives: Book Review

Learning to Amazon: Cadillac Book Reviews

Posted on by
Reply

After reading an insightful post by David Meerman Scott on WebInkNow.com called Amazon as social networking I am trying to learn the zen of Amazon.com book reviews.

Bruce Nunnally

First I had to try to navigate my way through shared Amazon account issues with my Wife, who had already shared a few reviews over the years.  I think I have that fixed now, and have translated part of my review Books: Cadillac Participation in the World War (1919) to the appropriate Amazon.com page for the book here.  (The book appears to have 3 entries on Amazon; Index listing here).   I think my review is awaiting moderation at Amazon.

I enjoy buying and reading Cadillac books, so hopefully I can share portions of my reviews from the blog here with the book pages on Amazon.  I have not gotten all the way through my Cadillac book collection with reviews yet.  You can find my current book reviews in the Book Review category here on the blog or on my legacy webpage here.

Author's 2005 Cadillac CTS 3.6L

If you are experienced with Amazon reviews please feel free to advise on things to be sure to do or things to be careful to avoid.  The actual entry and mechanics of posting Amazon reviews seems straightforward so far.  The public profile info is partially updated and partially not updated from my previously mentioned unravelling, but I assume that will fix itself over database updates / time.  Any advice on the etiquette of Amazon review posts is welcome.

If you have a book about Cadillac you would like to have reviewed please contact me via the Facebook or Twitter buttons.

Books: Cadillac Participation in the World War (1919)

Posted on by
Reply

I found this treasure while searching through Google’s digitized archives of public domain works: Cadillac Participation in the World War.

It is a book produced by Cadillac in 1919, at the end of the first World War.  The book addresses the role of Cadillacs in the war zone, members of the Cadillac factory and sales staff who were called to service, and honors those who died in service to their country. It contains period photos of Cadillacs in Europe during the war.

Particularly of interest is letters from those serving in Europe which mention their experience with Cadillac motor cars on numbered page 25 and following. Here is one example:

“…It was my privilege to have for my service a Cadillac for one particular twelve thousand mile trip and during this time there was never a single interruption from anything except tire trouble…”
Hugh L. Cooper, (Courtesy Keokuk Cadillac Company, Keokuk Iowa)

The dedication from the book:

TO CADILLAC MEN
It is a lamentable fact that a war book had to be written — that there were in this world ideas so opposed and motives so conflicted that only a war could decide.
But it makes the American heart beat stronger to know that there were enough broad shoulders, well-set jaws, and hearts of strong and simple faith to take up arms for the principles of humanity and justice.
The Cadillac organization is glad that it was able to contribute something to the strength of the nation and its allies; proud if that contribution was even a step toward victory. It is an honor that Cadillac was called upon to manufacture machines of war, that there were in its employ so many competent, red-blooded, loyal men and women able to contribute to industrial requirements of war.
These veterans of the shops were allotted the industrial chores of the war. They remained at home, faithfully performing the various tasks to which they were assigned. There were no fond good-byes, no mothers’ blessing nor tears to soften their departure form their every-day pursuits. When the war was won, they wore no croix de guerre or other distinguished insignia of valor. They remained clad in the simple uniforms of their craft, content that they had done what they had been required to do.
In recognition of the patriotic efforts of these men, the Cadillac Motor Car Company dedicates this book. May it serve in a small way to pay a debt of gratitude.
R. H. Collins

PDF file of the book with Google digitization introduction: Read online or Download PDF
Buy the book on Amazon: Here.

Cadillac Books: The Cadillac that Followed me home

Posted on by
Reply

I recently finished reading The Cadillac That Followed Me Home by Christopher W. Cummings.   The book was published by McFarland & Company, London, 2003.  I purchased the book on Amazon.

The book tells the story of the Author’s lifelong love for older model Cadillacs.  The bulk of the book is very very detailed information about his restoration over decades of two 1941 Cadillacs.  The text varies from a mention that years went by before he was in a position to work on a car, to days that he would attempt to move a stuck crank then wait for tomorrow, to excruciating detail on individual repairs.  Throughout the book the text is understandable, although for the very technical portions more diagrams or pictures would help one to follow the repair or restoration described.  I finally gave up on some passages altogether and skipped to the summary or resolution paragraph for that section.

Restoration of antique cars has its own issues.  Wires and tires disintegrate over time and have to be replaced.    When young the author is often afraid to address very detailed repairs.  By the end of the book he seems fairly capable of doing most any repair given the space in the garage.

His lifelong dream was to have one of the great motorcars, a Cadillac V-16 from the 30s.  Almost as an afterthought, at the end of the book the Author finds such a Cadillac on ebay, and is able to purchase it.  My impression is that the book was basically complete as a description of the two 41 Cadillacs, and that the chapters that address the V-16 model were added almost as a postscript.

If you love antique cars, especially antique Cadillacs, this is a good book for you.  If you would be put off by very intricate, detailed descriptions of specific repairs on a 41 Cadillac, then I would look for another Cadillac book.

Although the rear flap gives the impression that it is, this book is not really about the V-16, and has very little information about these cars.

I liked the Author’s descriptions of resources, approaches, and help from other Cadillac owners he received along the way.  I think he would be a great person to have out for coffee, or to talk to at a club event.  In fact THAT is the way I perhaps should describe this work — a very long anecdote about one man’s love for Cadillacs.