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.

7 of 8 found the following review helpful:


Best story of Michigan from VERY beginning to present time  Jun 02, 2010 By Margaret Kedzierski "M.Kedzierski"
I had bought this book because I needed it for a class for college, and as I started reading it I started to understand the drama of how Michigan came about-It was a rough road for our ancestors. The authors pull you back in time in a way that it is not just a history book, but it kind of tells the STORY too.


Very VERY comprehensive, almost too much  Apr 09, 2012 By megank
This is a very good book to read for Michigan history, starting with the very beginning to the new millennium. However, this book is too comprehensive for a college MI history class, which is what I had to read. I would have preferred pictures, yes I like pictures, of the history. Also, the lack of commas drove me nuts because the authors did not use them when they should have. I think the book could be reedited in a better way.

All in all, if I had to say, the book is gives a great idea of MI, but it's so. freaking. comprehensive. The authors give percentages on pretty much every topic.