OK kids, step away from the coffee table as this book does not come anywhere close to that casual of a genre. Nope, this is a stout recommendation to the hardest of the hardcore engine tech guys out there. It’s The Design and Tuning of Competition Engines by Philip H. Smith.

First off, this book is dry, like Sudan dry, but it is so incredibly educational and chocked full of information that you can do nothing but keep reading. This is the book you need to read if you are looking to learn the fundamentals of what makes horsepower. If you’ve been building motors and 20 years and know why things work the way they do, than you can probably keep this one off your reading list, but if you are the type of guy getting ready to build a motor now or down the road, pick up this puppy and get reading.

With chapters dedicated to everything from the theory behind internal combustion engines to crankshaft design to efficient combustion, you will learn more than you thought possible. The best part is that the book is not written to be read by an engineering student, but an intelligent person who already has the most basic grasp of the subject material (like what a crankshaft is).

It can be a grind to get through this book, no doubt about it, and at times it does feel like work, but like all work, the reward comes at the completion of the job and the realization that you’ve gained something from the experience.

Our favorite chapters are at the end when the author breaks down specific engine types, like The American V8, Cosworth, VW Air and Water-cooled engines and a whole lot more.

You can score this book for less than 10 bucks on the web and although it’s not the most cutting-edge piece out there on engine building it is one of the most comprehensive in all aspects of the subject.