In the current miasmic atmosphere in public affairs created by the corrupting trinity of big money, indiscriminate television and instant opinion polls, it is salutary to recall those who have lent honor and distinction to public service by honest and relentless pursuit of the common good as they saw it. John and Catherine Morrison have provided such retrospect with their literary pantheon of remarkable Montanans titled "Mavericks," now published by the University of Idaho Press.

The lives, times, vicissitudes, triumphs and tragedies of nine leading actors in the drama of this state's first century are skillfully and accurately delineated in a single volume that is a handbook on our public affairs. Which is not to say that it even pretends to be objective. The authors are unabashed admirers of the Josephs Dixon and Toole, Ella Knowles and Jeannette Rankin, Tom Walsh and B.K. Wheeler, and Jim Murray, Mike Mansfield and Lee Metcalf, as far seeing, fearless progressives. This carefully researched and well organized book is at its best an insightful examination of Montana's populist-progressive tradition as illuminated by these players.

The list does not include Pat Williams, who sustained the tradition in the House of Representatives for 18 years without flinching. In his concise forward though, Williams adumbrates the Morrison's central theme, "...the golden thread of courage." These men and women were as diverse in their backgrounds, personalities, predilictions, and modus operendi as they could possibly be, yet they had one thing in common: when the chips were down and the issue really mattered, their convictions came first and they did the best they could with the rest of it.

The concluding paragraphs are the most intriguing in the book. The authors are relatively young and have not been prominent in public affairs. Yet their six page conclusion is as piercing and enlightened a statement on the state of the state and its future as we've seen. It is informed with an extraordinary sense of the importance, on the one hand, of leadership on the part of elected officials, but, on the other hand, the equal and ever more urgent importance of participation on the part of all of us. Well and deeply considered and elegently written, these few paragraphs are a much needed orientation as to where we are now and a beacon to the future.

There's nothing like taking a hike with 10 lbs. of books in your pack. This map-like folding reference gives you all you need to know in the field - about 150 species that you're likely to see, with tips on the most visible marks for identification. A perfect complement to any larger book, it weighs mere ounces.

Colleen Burcar has done a wonderful job of bringing the uniqueness and richness of Michigan to life in this book. She takes us on a statewide tour of places and people many of us would never know existed. What's more, she adds a lot of humor to her descriptions. Some of her quips are groaners, but they're more than made up for by the numerous humorous asides.

This book is an invaluable tool for the person who would like to explore Michigan in a more intimate way.

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Based on the old Michigan "postmaster history", this book is very handy for trivia buffs as well. The index is very reliable, I've only noticed a few minor omissions. I give this five stars because it's a nice and nicely sized reference work. It's about the size of one of those car sized phone books that TDI et al make for the cellular phone user and easy to handle. Fascinating and detailed, it is indispensible in its niche. A good companion would be one of the county by county state atlases which shows the locations of the vanished towns, although some of these are so vanished they won't appear on the map.

This book contains 21 "postcards" of various Michigan areas. Each card is a 4 x 6 glossy photo on a hard stock, almost suitable for framing. I wouldn't actually use them as a postcard, but at around 40 cents apiece, its cheaper than most card stores.

There are a variety of scenes, including winter, fall, lots of sunsets and a few lighthouses.

Photos include: Leelanau County Snow scene; Gorge Falls Ottawa National Forest; Tahquamenon Falls State Park; Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; Miners Castle; Pictured Rocks Cliffs; Abandoned Lighthouse Crisp Point; Wilderness State Park; Lighthouse McClain State Park; Bond Falls Ottawa National Forest; Presque Isle River Gorge; Bete Grise Lighthouse; Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park; Sleeping Bear Dunes; Grand Haven Lighthouse and Hiawatha National Forest.

Overall, a fine collection of landscape photos!

As a life-long resident of Michigan, I felt that I needed to know more about my home state. Dunbar and May's work did just that.

Michigan : A History of the Wolverine State lies somewhere between a textbook and a more casual non-fiction text, with copious endnotes for the historian, yet a clear, flowing style for the casual reader. It would serve as an excellent text for a college course on the subject.

I found reading this work to be immensely valuable and entertaining, and a great conversation starter. In it you will find explanations of the origins of nearly every facet of Michigan society. Beginning with the ancient history of the Native American tribes, and finishing with the education and tax reforms of the early 1990's, very little is left behind. You will learn such quirky facts as the meaning of the name "Ypsilanti", why Kellogg and Post Cereals are both headquartered in Battle Creek, and the true story of the Michigan-Ohio border war. Comprehensive, lucid, and entertaining. Recommended.

As an avid Michigan traveler, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful images created by Ed Wargin. He truly seemed to capture the essence of Michigan. I was delighted to read the well-written and introspective prose by the author, which seemed nearly spell-binding at times.

I live in Oh and bought the book in OH. I have not figured out how to tell which state the book is for. I can tell you that everything matches with what I know. It is excellent! It includes lots of good practical information. I grow Blueberry, Red and Black Raspberries plus the garden vegtable and fruit plants.

This is possibly one of the best kept secrets on cooking out of your garden. The recipes are delicious and most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen. The seasonal format simplfies finding a recipe (and there is an alphabetical listing included also). The author has included throughout the book priceless pieces of history and wonderful bits of humor. "Mrs. Maendl's Dill Pickles" is a recipe that is "as much fun to read" as the pickles "good to eat"! When people ask me about them, I HAVE to tell them I made them exactly as the recipe states. Read it and you'll understand! Marian Towne has come up with the perfect solutions for all those fresh fruits and veggies we painstakingly grow. I even managed to use up a considerable amount of zucchini without my children noticing! Even if you are not a gardener, you'll want to run to the next Farmer's Market after seeing this book.

This book shows off various gardens in the midwest. The text accompanying the beautiful photos has practical advice from each gardener as well the author. The writing is an easy-to-read style and the views and experiences shared by each gardener is like visiting each garden in person. I think it's the truest and most honest book I've ever read dealing with starting and maintaining a flower garden. An extremely valuable book to have around if you live in the midwest area.