Rating: 
Summary: Every chapter an adventure
Review: After each chapter I found myself inspired to put a new twist in my cycling trips. A good read for the riding, and the non riding season for those of us in the mixed climate zone. Will remind you why you enjoy this lifestyle so much, or let you know how easy it is to become hooked by it. Peter is a cycling "soul mate" who hits home with every page.
Rating:
Summary: Peter Egan is way cool
Review: After reading this book I wanted to quit my job and become a motorcycle journalist, and I don't even own a motorcycle yet. Touching, funny and informative Leanings is a collection of the columns and features that Egan has written over the years, including travel pieces on motorcycle trips to the Isle of Man, Mexico and New Zealand that will make you want to pack up and go and informative and humorous articles that answer questions such as "How many motorcycles do you need" and "should you buy a British motorcycle". Now more than ever I want to buy a motorcycle.
Rating:
Summary: Peter Egan is way cool
Review: After reading this book I wanted to quit my job and become a motorcycle journalist, and I don't even own a motorcycle yet. Touching, funny and informative Leanings is a collection of the columns and features that Egan has written over the years, including travel pieces on motorcycle trips to the Isle of Man, Mexico and New Zealand that will make you want to pack up and go and informative and humorous articles that answer questions such as "How many motorcycles do you need" and "should you buy a British motorcycle". Now more than ever I want to buy a motorcycle.
Rating:
Summary: Going Back in Time on a Motorcycle
Review: I first read Peter Egan when I got enough money to have both a motorcycle and a subscription to Cycle World Magazine. His feature article "Down the Road Again" not only described the restoration of a classic Triumph with graceful prose, it also convinced me that reading about motorcycles wasn't just for illiterate grease covered guys.Over the years, I read and enjoyed several articles by Egan, and this collection, which consists of the best of his features and columns during a twenty year career. Reading Leanings is a chance to revisit motorcycling, if you abandoned it, or to remember why you love riding, if you straddle a bike every now and then. A wonderful collection, especially the early years.
Rating:
Summary: My most often read motorcyling book
Review: I own a lot of books about motorcycles, from Hell's Angels to Proficient Motorcycling. But more often than not, I pull Egan's Leanings off the shelf when I'm in the mood for a quick fix. Egan writes well and with insight, but without the pseudo-philosophical B.S. of Persig et al. This is a collection of aricles with the earliest dating back to the 70s, so some observations are a mite dated, but Egan captures the experience of riding (and buying, and fixing, and being stranded) so wonderfully, that I enjoy reading every word in this book. Egan has a good sense of humor that runs as an undercurrent through most of his writing. Leanings is like having a tray of your favorite appetizers at hand any time you fancy a snack. When I set this book down after reading for a spell, I don't feel as if I just finished Atlas Shrugged, but it always puts me in a better mood and makes me want to pick out a bike and go for a ride. Plus I give any writer that knows how to properly kick-start a large displacement single a bonus star, and I bet Ayn Rand couldn't do that. Without this book, I also never would have bought V Four Victory on DVD, so I owe Peter Egan for that as well.
Rating:
Summary: My most often read motorcyling book
Review: I own a lot of books about motorcycles, from Hell's Angels to Proficient Motorcycling. But more often than not, I pull Egan's Leanings off the shelf when I'm in the mood for a quick fix. Egan writes well and with insight, but without the pseudo-philosophical B.S. of Persig et al. This is a collection of aricles with the earliest dating back to the 70s, so some observations are a mite dated, but Egan captures the experience of riding (and buying, and fixing, and being stranded) so wonderfully, that I enjoy reading every word in this book. Egan has a good sense of humor that runs as an undercurrent through most of his writing. Leanings is like having a tray of your favorite appetizers at hand any time you fancy a snack. When I set this book down after reading for a spell, I don't feel as if I just finished Atlas Shrugged, but it always puts me in a better mood and makes me want to pick out a bike and go for a ride. Plus I give any writer that knows how to properly kick-start a large displacement single a bonus star, and I bet Ayn Rand couldn't do that. Without this book, I also never would have bought V Four Victory on DVD, so I owe Peter Egan for that as well.
Rating:
Summary: Leanings
Review: I own about 12 motorcycle books and this one is my favorite. Written in the conversational style of Clement Salvadore and Fred Rau it is a great read. A person could read the whole book at once or savor it over a period of time. The chapters are told over a period of time that I can identify with. If you are passionate about riding or working on motorcycles this book is a must. My only problem with it is that when I read a Peter Egan article, I hear Dave Despain's voice in my head reading to me.
Rating: 
Summary: Peter Egan: Man's Man
Review: If you are the least bit familiar with Cycle World Magazine you'll instantly recognize Pete Egan's name. His column has always been the first thing I turn to every month. Some times it's just so so but more often than not it's an outstanding piece of literary art. The same can be said for this book. Every page is a joy but towards the end it starts to be a little repetitive. But when the stories are this good repetitiveness isn't that big a problem. Pete is a rare individual, he's a gifted writer with a background made for storytelling. He's a true motorcycle enthusiast that finds the same beauty in a Honda Benly 150 Touring as a Harley Ultra Classic with a deep love of British bikes (especially old ones). Where the gift comes in is that while his subject is motorcycles he's really writing about passion and life. The story of his adventure with his friend across Canada is surprisingly moving even for this great collection. In the sixties Pete and a college pal went on an investigation into Canada as they considered dodging the draft. The terrible time they had and the warm welcome by family and friends when they returned convinced Peter not to throw that all away. As a result he did a tour in Vietnam. As with most of his experiences it was his love of a motorcycle (a Triumph) that helped him make it through Vietnam. This guy has done it all and writes about it with great detail. It's great to read articles dating from the seventies and early eighties. Pete was riding Route 66 before it was turned into an historical tourist attraction, all but gone. He was drinking Guiness before most people had heard of it. He's been married for 30 years or more. Several readers of Cycle World have accused him of making up the perfect wife, if you read this book you'll understand why. And he has been riding bikes through the ups and downs in ridings popularity. Peter Egan is to motorcycle journalism what Ernie Pyle was to war reporting. This guy has done it all and writes about it so well it's never a chore to read his stories. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to oversell this book but if you are the least bit interested in motorcycles and travelling this is a must read. It's a shame he hasn't expanded to a wider audience. He is in the top five on my list of fantasy dinner party guests and this is a heck of a collection.
Rating:
Summary: Peter Egan: Man's Man
Review: If you are the least bit familiar with Cycle World Magazine you'll instantly recognize Pete Egan's name. His column has always been the first thing I turn to every month. Some times it's just so so but more often than not it's an outstanding piece of literary art. The same can be said for this book. Every page is a joy but towards the end it starts to be a little repetitive. But when the stories are this good repetitiveness isn't that big a problem. Pete is a rare individual, he's a gifted writer with a background made for storytelling. He's a true motorcycle enthusiast that finds the same beauty in a Honda Benly 150 Touring as a Harley Ultra Classic with a deep love of British bikes (especially old ones). Where the gift comes in is that while his subject is motorcycles he's really writing about passion and life. The story of his adventure with his friend across Canada is surprisingly moving even for this great collection. In the sixties Pete and a college pal went on an investigation into Canada as they considered dodging the draft. The terrible time they had and the warm welcome by family and friends when they returned convinced Peter not to throw that all away. As a result he did a tour in Vietnam. As with most of his experiences it was his love of a motorcycle (a Triumph) that helped him make it through Vietnam. This guy has done it all and writes about it with great detail. It's great to read articles dating from the seventies and early eighties. Pete was riding Route 66 before it was turned into an historical tourist attraction, all but gone. He was drinking Guiness before most people had heard of it. He's been married for 30 years or more. Several readers of Cycle World have accused him of making up the perfect wife, if you read this book you'll understand why. And he has been riding bikes through the ups and downs in ridings popularity. Peter Egan is to motorcycle journalism what Ernie Pyle was to war reporting. This guy has done it all and writes about it so well it's never a chore to read his stories. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to oversell this book but if you are the least bit interested in motorcycles and travelling this is a must read. It's a shame he hasn't expanded to a wider audience. He is in the top five on my list of fantasy dinner party guests and this is a heck of a collection.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this Book!!!!
Review: Peter Egan and David Edwards are the reason I subscribe to Cycle World. Egan's feature articles and columns reprinted in this book NEVER fail to leave me with a smile. Absolutely a must if you're an avid motorcyclist.... and if you're not, reading this book will make you want to go out and buy an old Triumph and start riding. I don't know of any other writer who so adeptly sums up the love of motorcycles and riding in every article. Great stuff.
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