If you are looking for a book to inspire your next midwestern trip, keep looking. Bob Puhala's writing is hardly the sort to bring out the intrepid (or insipid) traveler in anyone. Reading the reviews of inns I was familiar with was disappointing. He does not manage to bring these places to life or capture their essence. He does provide a good basic description of each inn and fairly good directions to each, along with the information you would need to make a reservation. Because most of his picks are rather on the beaten path, if you're going to visit Uncle Lem and Aunt Nan in Backwater Creek, you probably won't find a likely place to stay using this resource.

I was suprised that many Inns were neither Inns or in the counrty. Jumer's Castle Lodge is hardly an Inn (having 210 rooms and being part of a chain) and the Blanche House, minutes from downtown Detroit, Michigan (and a short walk away from some unsavory neighborhoods), would only be in the country if one traveled back in time about 150 years.

This book might be more useful for business travelers looking for something different, but for the traveler looking for inspiration and a nice country vacation (as I was) - it dosen't fit the bill.

The research behind this biography is solid. The desire to study a black social gospel preacher is desirable, since they have been overlooked in other histories of that movement. Ransom certainly is worthy of study, since he was the most prominent black social gospel advocate. The 2-star rating is due largely in part to the lack of editing - numerous spelling and grammatical errors exist in this book, something that drove me nuts. It shows little respect for one's readers when such mistakes are allowed to exist, and they cause a person to lose interest in the material. Also, the book is far too brief to give a good view of Ransom's life and views. For an understanding of his opinions on various matters, tracking down a copy of his 1926 "The Spirit of Freedom and Justice" is suggested. This is a wonderful compilation of various speeches and poems by Rev. Ransom, offering a view into his beliefs on numerous issues. I also see on Amazon.com where another book about Ransom's writings is coming out soon - hopefully that will help people learn more about this major figure in the history of black religion in America (and in the social gospel in general).

This individual must have paid a literate to write the book for him. I've read bathroom walls with better writing than this.

Worst book I have ever seen. No wonder it's out of print. Must have grown up in Ann Arbor to have such a pitiful excuse of what one calls a book. Never have I seen such a waste of paper in all my life.

This a funny book of why everyone should hate Ohio State. It is true that some of the things are un true, but you can only really appreciate this book if you are into Big Ten football. I am a fan of the University of Michigan football. To really like this book you must be into Big Ten Football and already hate Ohio State.

This book of sheet music contains none of the songs that made The Ohio Players a force in funk. Love Rollercoaster, Fire, Skin Tight, and Sweet Sticky Thing are all NOT here, at all ! The songs in this book are from albums cut on tiny labels before they ever recorded on Mercury Records. What a waste of [money]. I gave it one star because that's the lowest I could rate this book. All these years after the success of The Ohio Players, a book comes out and leaves out all of there biggest ( and FUNKiest ) tunes. Increase the peace everyone.