A trucker's world...

And what a world it was and is. The author started as a truck driver – lived for the road and the challenge – before moving into writing for and editing truck magazines. I loved the first-hand stories he shared about life behind the wheel not only in his native England but in Europe and the Middle East.

He travelled a lot, met a lot of interesting people and tackled situations that for me would be totally out of my depth. His love for the lifestyle was clear even as he moved away from it and watched the changes over time. The early days of his career seemed carefree no matter the direst of situations that he seemed to thrive on. His second career as a writer meant his memories were shared clearly with great detail but also with openness, honesty and a satisfying way with words.

If you’re like me and know nothing much about cars and even less about trucks, don’t let that stop you from picking up this book. Whether you are a truck enthusiast, a real (or armchair) traveler, or simply curious about the world, this book is an enthralling feast for any reader. It makes me want to hit the open road. Without a schedule, GPS or a micro-manager of course! Oh and with the very capable author/driver as wingman.

The sign of a good nonfiction book is one that you enjoy reading even if the subject itself is not of much interest to you. This book is very readable, engaging and full of interesting information about the life of a truck driver - lorry driver in my day. The introduction clearly and concisely explained the delivery problems we are having at the moment. George Bennett was a lorry driver for many years, but he was also a journalist, so he can write well. He knows how to get information across and keep you reading on. I read this because I love travel books, and this book is a travel book with a unique hook - travelling with a lorry. But it also is a great insight into the long lost world of long distance truckers - the days before the only requirement of the job became "to keep the truck between the lines on the road".

I found this book fascinating and informative. The author's trip down memory lane (pun intended) to his time as an international truck driver in the 1970s is the work of a skilled practitioner who writes with dexterity and exuberance.
This is one man's intimate memoir but at the same time it provides invaluable snapshots of travel across Europe, into the communist Eastern Bloc (where black market trading was rife) and the Middle East (where British drivers were still welcomed and respected before the political landscape soured everything).
The author's time as an academic and a journalist add a polished finish to a book overflowing with personal insights and worthy nuggets of information.

There are a lot of books like this, life within a certain profession. I did enjoy this, the experiences, the issues to overcome and the countries visited. Made me smile and was certainly of interest. Certainly worth a read.


Thanks to NetGalley and Troubador for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I’m afraid this book wouldn’t download more than 1kb! It wasn’t available to my Kindle app nor as a downloaded file on my iPad.

Such an interesting read! I can’t wait to share more thoughts on this snd my full review. I apologize I’m a but under the weather at the moment. I always was fascinated by this lifestyle and the people behind it. It is so interesting to hear their experiences and stories. My grandfather who passed away before I was born was a trucker I believe and I’ve always wanted to know more about him and his experiences