For anyone studying Engineering or Technology, esspecially with an interest in racing, I strongly recommend you buy Engineer to Win by Carroll Smith, and any of his other books.
He manages to explain the most complex of metalology principles in a thorough and 'jocular' manner. A background knowledge of the subject helps alot but you'll still learn alot from it.
It was suggested to me by a lecturer who swears by the books so I bought one cheap on ebay and loved it. They can be picked up for very little if you hunt around, go find them.