Although many books have been written about Great Lakes shipwrecks, Thompson's book offers a new perspective by analyzing the causes of wrecks on a large scale. One can see the various factors that made the Lakes particularly dangerous to navigators throughout their history. Thompson's research is equally impressive. Unlike many other books of the genre, Thompson has actually consulted, in most cases, primary archival sources, in developing his wreck accounts, rather than simply rehashing the work of other authors. Thompson's presentation avoids dry regurgitation of statistics and details through an accessible and entertaining writing style that makes the book a better read than similar books on the subject. Although the book is not comprehensive and contains a few forgiveable historical errors, it remains one of the best books on Great Lakes shipwrecks to come out in recent years.

If you are a maritime enthusiast, Great Lakes visitor, or a history buff then this book is a must own. The pictorials are excellent and each are followed by outstanding descriptions. This book outlines the Great Lakes shipwrecks and how unforgiving these lakes can be.

This was a wonderful book. It has short stories, even cartoons, about Oz and its characters. All of these are written by famous Oz authors, such as Baum (of course), Denslow (who illustrated the original "Wizard of Oz"), Thompson, and many others. For anyone who loves Oz, or any other good read, this book is for you. P.S. I have to say, some of the stories in here seemed like they were written by Baum himself, though in fact, only 2 out of the 16 were actually written by him. If you decide to buy this book (which I recommend) read "THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ" by Walt Spouse. It's a funny comic strip about the book, The Emerald City of Oz.

A very well researched and straight forward review of the ships of the lakes and their evolution. Mr. Thompson has done his homework and presented a recap that I will refer to many times in the future for reference. I would like to have seen more photos and more discussion of the earlier bulk freighter evolution but this material will wet your appetite for more. I hope to see more books of this type soon. Well worth the investment

The book conveys the daily activities and routines of life aboard several Great Lakes freighters. The author portrays an honest and factual look at his crewmates and what it all takes to keep one of these big ships on the go. By the time I finished the book, I was sorry to put it down and found myself longing to go on another voyage!

Mark Thompson shares an enjoyable and interesting picture of life aboard today's Great Lakes freighters. You get to know the crew members as you become a part of their work day routine. As the reader, you become anxious to see what each new day has in store. I'm anxious for the sequel.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read! I could not put it down! If you have any interest in Great Lakes Shipping or life on a Great Lakes Ore Boat read this book! Mark L Thompson does not "Sugar Coat" what life is like on an Ore Boat. He is very open and honest about life in the Great Lakes Shipping Industry. Read this book you won't be sorry!

As someone who has sailed on Great Lakes steamships, I found this book to pretty well capture the essense of the trade. One innacuracy in the book deals with women on board. The author states that women are more likely to sail on freighters these days because there is little if any hard physical labor. While many women would be more than capable of working shipboard, I can assure you there is PLENTY of physically demanding jobs to do on board. Also note that the industry is constantly evolving so many of the fleets have gotten smaller in the years since the book was penned. All in all, though, if you have ever been intrigued by Great Lakes shipping, this book is the most comprehensive review I have ever seen. A good book.

Mark Thompson is a excellent author that tells things how they are. He does not "sugar coat" life on the lakes or about the Great lakes Shipping industry. If you want a easy to read truthful acount of Great Lakes Shipping then this is the book for you.

When David Smith died in 1966 he left his own personal field of dreams at his home/studio in upstate New York. Over 80 gigantic sculptures populated the grounds, pitting man against nature and daring to compete in size and moxie with the mountains around them.

After an initial flirtation with New York City, Smith retreated to the solitude of the Adirondacks. These mountains formed a somber monumental backdrop to the brooding nature of the artist. The sculptures were the landscape of his imagination, his spiritual domain, and his homage to the majesty of being human. Additionally, Smith created drawings, paintings and collages that filled his home with the living presence of art.

This is a lavish book that clearly reflects the artist's magnificent obsessions.