The Bosch Automotive Handbook, now in its tenth English-language edition, is the standard one-volume reference. Older, but still useful, are Garrett et al., The

The Bosch Automotive Handbook, now in its tenth English-language edition, is the standard one-volume reference. Older, but still useful, are Garrett et al., The Motor Vehicle, and U.S. Army TM 9-8000, Principles of Automotive Vehicles. There are also many books on specific subjects, such as Limpert, Brake Design and Safety, or Hoag & Dondlinger, Vehicular Engine Design. If you’re more interested in servicing, I’d strongly recommend the automakers’ paper or electronic workshop manuals and training materials: for newer, more sophisticated models, these may be the only source of the information needed for safe, effective repairs and maintenance. There are also textbooks published for use in community colleges, and works such as the Honda Common Service Manual, which was written for motorcycle and power equipment technicians but has a good deal of information applicable to full-size vehicles.