From the Publisher
Funny, poignant, wry, and delightfully candid.”—Car and Driver
“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.” —Kirkus Reviews
Library Journal
06/14/2024
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.—Marjorie Mann
Kirkus Reviews
2024-03-08
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.
