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Going Fast and Fixing Things: True Stories from the World’s Most Popular DIY Repair Expert and Car Aficionado

Hachette Go. Jun. 2024. 256p. ISBN 9780306832215. $30. HOME ECON
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DIY mechanical expert/influencer and car enthusiast Benoit, of the Rich Rebuilds YouTube channel, debuts with a book that guides readers through his DIY adventures in repairing and modifying cars. His parents are immigrants from Trinidad, and he was born in Boston. He is unflinchingly honest about the obstacles he faced as a Black child growing up there. Making repairs were initially a money-saving necessity, but then it became his outlet and a way to cope with his ADHD diagnosis. He recounts in detail his journey—the good, the bad, the ugly, and the lessons learned—to establishing his popular YouTube channel and becoming a well-known social media personality. Much of his book is also a commentary on social media and current U.S. culture; this section alone is worth the read. Sometimes the book is a bit unfocused, which may be challenging for some readers to follow. His language and snarky humor are breezy and amusing, but it may occasionally offend some readers.
VERDICT This title is part memoir, but it’s also an intriguing and insightful perspective that bounces from topic to topic as he conveys his messages about social media and typical societal practices in the U.S.
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