There is now a whole series of books on the essential 101 things you need to know about a particular topic - from basic knowledge about classic cars and steam locomotives to standard works on stand-up paddling, knives and Dynamo Dresden. Tobias Aichele, author of the book "Porsche 911 - Forever Young", has now added a volume about Germany's number one sports car brand to the series.
Not just 911 and Butzi
The paperback "101 things a Porsche lover needs to know" summarizes the basic knowledge about the Stuttgart sports car in 192 pages. On the one hand, it adds one or two points that are usually missing from the usual "beginner's guide". In addition to the road and racing sports cars from the 356 to the 917 and the Panamera, Aichele also mentions the unsuccessful Bundeswehr prototype Jagdwagen Type 597. The mention of famous personalities from the Porsche cosmos is by no means limited to sports car initiator Ferry Porsche and engine developer Hans Mezger, but also dedicates a chapter to the controversial Porsche tuner and self-proclaimed "urban outlaw" Magnus Walker.
Less would still be more
On the other hand, the book also contains mentions that suggest that the author slowly ran out of ideas for around 90 things that a Porsche enthusiast must know. Giving the curve (or the driving fun magazine "Curves") its own chapter is so banal that one inevitably wonders why the wheel, the primal meter of all inventions that made car construction possible in the first place, is missing from the list. And that is precisely the biggest problem with this type of book, which is forced to include 101 things by the self-imposed stigma of the title, even when 80 would have sufficed, but would have deserved a little more depth.
Historical images, surprisingly factual
Of course, Tobias Aichele can't help it and he makes the best of the very restrictive concept. In addition to the already mentioned, pleasantly underused fringe topics, his Porsche volume contains a pleasing number of historical racing and factory pictures that raise "101 Things a Porsche Lover Must Know" a good deal above the Internet picture gallery level of some other 101 Things volumes. In addition, Aichele avoids too much of the marketing-speak that one usually encounters in Porsche books.
A Porsche book, but not an Opel book
Written by the multiple Porsche book author in a thoroughly knowledgeable manner, small errors have crept in when it comes to things that go beyond the Stuttgart basin. James Dean collided with a Ford Tudor Sedan in 1955, not a pick-up. And the Opel Monza only appeared thirteen years after the Porsche Targa, so it can hardly have contributed anything to its naming.
Target group and price
That leaves the question of the book's target group. Long-time Porsche enthusiasts will probably already know most - if not all - of the 101 things they need to know. Newcomers might be overwhelmed by the amount of completely different information, as it is not always clear from the equally weighted chapters what is more important and what is less important. In fact, "101 Things a Porsche Lover Needs to Know" for 14.99 euros is a typical gift for a Porsche fan. The guests are happy that they can give something more personal - and the host is happy not to receive a gift voucher for once.
Bibliographical details
- Title: 101 things a Porsche lover must know
- Author: Tobias Aichele
- Language: German
- Publisher: GeraMond
- Edition: 2nd updated edition 2021
- Format: Paperback, 120 x 185 mm
- Scope: 192 pages, 100 illustrations
- ISBN: 9-783956-130632
- Price: EUR 14.99
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, online at GeraMond-Verlag or via the relevant bookstores
