Search  for anything...
NA

The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told

  • Based on 339 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for the best price...
$35.19 Why this price?

Buy Now, Pay Later

As low as $8 / mo
  • – 4-month term
  • – No impact on credit to apply
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.

Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Free shipping on this product

This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

Availability: 20 left in stock
Fulfilled by Audible,
Arrives Sep 12 – Sep 14
Order within 12 hours and 36 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout
Protection Plan Protect Your Purchase
Checking for protection plans...

Recently Viewed

Description

New York Times bestselling author Bill Janovitz delivers the definitive story of The Cars, one of the most popular, beloved, and influential bands to emerge from New Wave—with a foreword by Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes. The Cars formed in the late 1970s as an alliance of five journeymen musicians with roots in Maryland, Ohio, New York, and New England. They had each performed in a series of bands before finding one another—along with the right sound at the right time. That sound, soon fortified by their iconic imagery, turned them into Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Biographer, critic, and musician Bill Janovitz explores the musical, cultural, and commercial impact of the band with articulate and knowing insights. He draws on his own exclusive new reporting along with the enthusiastic participation of the surviving members of the band, as well as nearly everyone who surrounded them over the years. The band's unusual providence is fully explored here for the first time, and each of their landmark albums is masterfully chronicled and dissected, as is their profound support of the Boston music scene that has reverberated around the world and throughout the decades. Yet, with all of the success, there were also significant conflicts within the band, which led to an untimely end. Janovitz reveals the stories of each member, and of the group as a whole, with great care and understanding. To paraphrase The Car's own lyrics: Hello again, you might think this is just what you needed. It's magic. Let's shake it up and let the good times roll. Read more

Listening Length: 19 hours and 56 minutes


Author: Bill Janovitz, Greg Hawkes - introduction


Narrator: Corey Carthew, Bill Janovitz


Whispersync for Voice: Ready


Audible.com Release Date: September 30, 2025


Publisher: Grand Central Publishing


Program Type: Audiobook


Version: Unabridged


Language: English


ASIN: B0DYL3KLB1


Best Sellers Rank: #22,979 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #37 in Rock Music (Books) #42 in Rock Band Biographies #86 in Music (Audible Books & Originals)


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Sep 12 – Sep 14

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • Zip Pay in 4
  • Financing through Apple Pay
  • Financing through Google Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Similar Products

Top Amazon Reviews

    • Great Tribute to a Great Band
Format: Kindle
I hesitated to buy this at first because I thought I mostly knew the Cars story. Turns out there was way more to the men and the music than I imagined. Fascinating detail on the making of a band, the crafting of classic songs, and the unfortunate control issues that divided band mates, paint a multilayered picture that show a side of the music industry that is not some perfect fairytale. The author Bill Janovitz writing style had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn’t stop reading! The detail given to the musical creative process of the band will delight musically interested geeks like me. And surprisingly this book caused me to revisit the Cars music and hear new elements I missed previously, especially in the song lyrics. I also didn’t expect to feel the emotions I felt. I almost titled this review “HEARTBREAK CITY”. It is sad to see a group you love reach such satisfying highs and then slowly break apart. I felt my heart ache for both Ben and Ric as their friendship deteriorated. But the author chronicles it all with the right balance of honesty and dignity. Overall I believe this is a story that celebrates an amazing musical legacy.If you are a Cars fan, this book is a must. Great job Mr. Janovitz. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2025 by S. Castlen
    • Excellent read
Format: Hardcover
Great book, goes in depth on the band and its members. The albums are talked about also. Heartbeat city was my favorite. Read the book and bought all the other disks. All are excellent. Great band! Ahead of there time, in my opinion!
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2026 by Scott Mcgaugh
    • Enlightening History of The Cars
Format: Hardcover
A bit redundant but overall a good read. A bit sad to learn some of the behind the scenes stuff about this great band.
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026 by Ricky Spanish
    • Excellent Book. Super Well Researched
Format: Hardcover
I had a friend who worked for Ric & Paulina so I had to buy thgis book. Plus I loved The Cars Music
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2026 by D. Day
    • Lots of music industry knowledge
Format: Hardcover
It was a fascinating read about The Cars. The book was rich with granular detail of rock instruments, the technology used to enhance the output. Lots and industry names and how it seemed everyone in the industry worked with all the same people at one time or another, if you stick around long enough. Very good read. Triumph and tragedy. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2026 by T.Wayne King
    • A great biography of a pivotal rock band.
Format: Hardcover
The Cars. They helped define the late 70’s and 80’s sound of radio and New Wave. But as the excellent book points out they existed before that including Ben Orr and Ric Ocasek having recorded an album as Milkwood prior to ever being signed. Both were much older than most fans suspected (particularly Ocasek) who was 33 when they finally broke through on their debut album “The Cars”. The band had a storied history with former Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson joining the band giving them additional credibility during this time. Ocasek managed to distill 70’s influences (Roxy Music, David Bowie) with 60’s (The Velvet Underground) along with more contemporary acts (Suicide) that Ocasek integrated into a hook driven style with sarcastic and oblique lyrics. With Orr’s good looks, it gave the band sex appeal (along with Robinson) in some respects they were kind of like Cheap Trick with the unusual (but well dressed) Ocasek, Greg Hawkes on keyboards and sax (and occasional guitar) and Elliott Easton’s 70’s rock star shag appealing to a wide audience. The book covers the band’s history well including the childhood of the members and how they initially formed. It also covers Ocasek’s insecurities about the band, his issues with control (he never let anyone, aside from Hawkes who occasionally co-wrote material, write material for the band) over the band’s songwriting. When Orr wanted to resume writing (he had written a couple of tunes on the Milkwood album they recorded) with his girlfriend, Ocasek balked and it helped drive a wedge between them that lasted until shortly before Orr passed away. There’s plenty of stories on the recording of the material and an acknowledgment of the pivotal role that producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, Journey, Ian Hunter) played in helping them establish their sound on record with extensive overdubs. There’s some great candid pictures as well. For fans, I’d recommend this. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2025 by Wayne Klein
    • Another great one from Janovitz
Format: Hardcover
Author Bill Janovitz, in my opinion, wrote the greatest Rolling Stones book with "Rocks Off: 50 Tracks that Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones." His approach to telling the band's history through individual songs was so unique (and countless writers quickly copied the format!) because he offered new insight and info on the band through quick hits that added to the narrative of the band that everyone already knew. This book is so different but every bit as effective. Janovitz tells a linear story that, at times, is filled with info about The Cars that we never knew, while remaining as compelling as any novel for long stretches. And he gives us detailed breakdowns of each album, from inspiration to production and performance. Music fans are going to love this book. You'll read it and immediately go out and start listening to The Cars all over again! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2026 by Jeffrey Horrigan
    • I was impressed...
Format: Audiobook
I am a huge cars fan (especially Ben) ... This was so good I finished it in about 4 days .. I was sad in certain aspects about it , but it was a fantastic book . I did kinda feel like there were parts that were difficult to read , but that's just part of it . There are a couple conflicting pieces of information and some misdated or misquoted parts to the book . I do recommend reading this book if you're a fan of The Cars and want to dive deeper and know more about the members ( good and bad ) . ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2025 by andrea lawrence

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.
Checking for best price...