Going fast and fixing things True stories from the world's most popular DIY repair expert and car aficionado

Rich Benoit

Book - 2024

An entertaining and inspirational memoir by the world's most popular DIY expert and car aficionado, revealing how Rich Benoit went from buying a left-for-dead Tesla to becoming a successful YouTube entrepreneur and subsequently launching The Electrified Garage, the nation's first successful EV-only business devoted to repairing Teslas and electric vehicles of all makes.

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Subjects
Genres
Autobiographies
Published
New York : Hachette Go 2024.
Language
English
Main Author
Rich Benoit (author)
Other Authors
Lisa Rogak (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
xxii, 228 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9780306832215
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. Like Quiet Sex
  • Chapter 2. Misspent Youth
  • Chapter 3. Escaping the Barrel
  • Chapter 4. Gaining Traction
  • Chapter 5. The Land of Lost Toys
  • Chapter 6. How the Sausage Gets Made
  • Chapter 7. Fighting the Tesla Monster
  • Chapter 8. The Backlash
  • Chapter 9. Jumping Ship
  • Chapter 10. DWB
  • Chapter 11. ICE-T
  • Chapter 12. Unsocial Media
  • Chapter 13. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Leenda But Were Afraid to Ask
  • Chapter 14. Horse Sex
  • Chapter 15. Game Over
  • Appendix
  • Acknowledgments
Review by Kirkus Book Review

An entrepreneur shows why loving what you do is the key to creating a successful business. Benoit, a "Harvard dropout" and "lifelong car aficionado," has built a successful YouTube channel called Rich Rebuilds, focusing on car repairs and maintenance, especially relating to electric vehicles. In his first book, he sets out how he created his business. Refreshingly, the author doesn't engage in lengthy monologues of self-congratulation and indulgence. Benoit explains that his success was almost accidental, stemming from his love of cars and of taking things apart to learn how they work. His first major project was the reconstruction of a flood-damaged Tesla Model S when EVs were new to the marketplace, and he found it difficult to locate parts. Tesla did not supply parts and did not like the idea of anyone repairing one of their vehicles, so Benoit established a small online presence, with short videos to explain what he was after. This evolved into a series of videos to instruct others, and the YouTube channel grew into a business, despite Tesla's opposition. It was not easy, with Benoit learning as he went along and making numerous mistakes--as any new business owner will do. He was surprised when his channel reached more than 1 million subscribers, but he insisted on continuing to appear before the camera rather than move into a managerial role. Benoit offers practical advice for anyone seeking to create an online business, and he is adamant that everyone should have the right to repair anything they buy. The book is not a slick, polished narrative, but that is what makes it enjoyable. Even people who have little interest in cars will find plenty of material to inform and entertain. Benoit clearly communicates his passion for what he does, and he speaks with welcome authenticity and humor. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.