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As You Do: Adventures With Evel, Oliver, and The Vice-President Of Botswana | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Hammond
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Category: Book
List Price: £18.99
Buy New: £5.75
You Save: £13.24 (70%)
New (30) Used (5) Collectible (2) from £5.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 955
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 5.8 x 1.2
ISBN: 0297855204
EAN: 9780297855200
ASIN: 0297855204
Publication Date: September 18, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Unexpected gem January 4, 2009
I confess I brought this book after loving the Clarkson books and thinking that the other bloke of top-gear may have something interesting to write about.
Well Hammond's book is SUPERB, honestly the best book I have read in a long time. The style is relaxed and yet beautifully sums up the experiances he has shared on his travels, kind of like travel journal but with wit and charm.
I would never have thought of Hammond as a writer, but as long as you aren't phased by the liberal smattering of swearing, the writing style is brilliantly entertaining and elloquent.
One cannot help but be drawn to compare the book to that of co-presenter Clarkson, which as mentioned I enjoyed. But I would go as far as saying this book is the one I would rush to read again and again.
From Husky's to Harley's via Gloucestershire December 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Those looking for an in depth insight into the behind the scenes goings on of Top Gear, or a personal diary from Richard similar to the style of his `on the edge' publication then this book isn't for you. But if what you want is a light read that is easy to dip in and out of when you get a moment, this book is ideal. Light hearted in approach and jovial in tone, it covers the stories of his significant filmed events over the past year and his feelings and thoughts around those challenges. Personally I think Richard went back into the throws of Top Gear too soon and this book does at times show this, particularly with his reactions to certain situations (other peoples I-pod songs and his obsession with his clothing and the colour of his harley rental before meeting Evel for example).
Some say... that Hammond should take heed, slow down and curl up with a cup of coco after his accident. But others like me say good on you Richard for finding the strength to carry on and doing what you love. Without the Top Gear show and people like Richard our world be utterly dominated by back to back soap operas, expensive phone line dancing\singing\'talent' contests and tacky quiz shows. Top Gear and the presenters on it give us some sanity and relief from this mainstream dross, and long may they continue..
 as you do, the bits are missing !!!!! November 23, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I enjoy Richard Hammond and all he does. However I bought the Audio CD to listen to in the Car and i must say, there is a lot missing. To sum the Audio CD up, There is nothing about The Adventures With Evel. However the book is a much better read, not while your driving though !!!!!
Why am I annoyed? October 30, 2008
5 out of 12 found this review helpful
Having read and enjoyed Mr. Hammond's previous book,'On The Edge', and being a big Top Gear fan I jumped at this second volume of autobiographical tales.
And for the Top Gear fan there is much here to digest, how things are done to make the show as great as it is, behind the scenes anecdotes and what-happened-when-the-camera-went-off revelations abound. A large section is given over to their Polar adventure.
Also covered are Mr. Hammonds actions in the floods of 2007 and his meeting child-hood hero Evel Kinevel, all relayed in readable, funny stories that will make you smile.
But...
Having been so deeply moved by the sections of the first book written by Mrs. Hammond I jusy kept getting annoyed every time Hammond did something dangerous or silly for the sake of a TV show.
Now this is all just my humble opinion and Mr. Hammond is, ofcourse, free to live his life - but I just kept thinking that for a man who was so lucky to get a second chance he seems to have not learned from it or been changed by it.
Now maybe thats a good thing, maybe not... but thats why I got annoyed by it and thats why 3 stars.
Its a very entertaining read and fans of the show will not be disappointed.
Hammond versus Clarkson October 14, 2008
12 out of 18 found this review helpful
Read the piece below in the Evening Standard last night and it totally sums up what's great about Hammond and what's so annoying about Clarkson...
On Hammond: ...'there is a world of difference. Hammond may be doing some macho things....but his prose reveals him as a thoughtful, decent, generous-hearted man. He is capable of humility and his jokes are funny. As You Do is an unpretentious, well-built vehicle with pleasantly surprising extras and more speed and manoeuvrability than you would have thought.'
On Clarkson: ...'if Hammond's mind is open, Clarkson's is very firmly closed. The main thing to know is ...he doesn't know about anything except cars...the man knows very, very little, but is sustained by such self-belief that he expects us to applaud him. He wouldn't even be a car: he'd be the kind of noisy moped ridden by a 16-year-old berk outside your window at 2 am. Now imagine that that berk is being paid a small fortune every week to do so by the Sunday Times, and then gets even more money from the public at later date. Aren't there laws against this kind of thing?'
This book is fantastic ride - he does more in a year than I'll ever do in a lifetime! A perfect Christmas gift!
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