The <i>Bosch Automotive Handbook</i>, now in its tenth English-language edition, is the standard one-volume reference. Older, but still useful, are Garrett et al., <i>The Motor Vehicle</i>, and U.S. Army TM 9-8000, <i>Principles of Automotive Vehicles</i>. There are also many books on specific subjects, such as Limpert, <i>Brake Design and Safety</i>, or Hoag & Dondlinger, <i>Vehicular Engine Design</i>.<p>If you’re more interested in servicing, I’d strongly recommend the automakers’ paper or electronic workshop manuals and training materials: for newer, more sophisticated models, these may be the only source of the information needed for safe, effective repairs and maintenance.<p>There are also textbooks published for use in community colleges, and works such as the Honda <i>Common Service Manual</i>, which was written for motorcycle and power equipment technicians but has a good deal of information applicable to full-size vehicles.