How the States Got Their Shapes
by Mark Stein
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mark SteinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-04-07
ISBN: 0061431397
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780061431395
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Book Reviews of How the States Got Their Shapes
Book Review: a great book for geographers and historians
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a geography buff, and have traveled fairly widely. So when I saw this book for sale a couple of years ago, my first reaction was probably something like, "So someone besides me thought this topic was interesting, too?" From my childhood days when I reassembled a jigsaw puzzle of the 50 states over and over, to my later travels when the shapes and sizes of state borders were part of the experience of car trips, the book's topic has been a recurrent part of my life - though state borders seem to be taken such for granted that they're never even thought about. I grew up in the mid-Atlantic region as a kid, and I used to wonder why Delaware had that circular northern border, which no other state has!
I cannot really think of anything negative to say about this book. The discussions are presented state-by-state, and include a fascinating mix of history, geography, and human foibles (yes, we learn that those played a role in the origins of some state borders). There is a bit of redundancy in the content, which is probably unavoidable here, since the author is dealing with adjoining state borders and each state has its own presentation (e.g. Minnesota's southern border is also Iowa's northern border elsewhere in the book).
Overall, this is a fairly easy book to give 5 stars to. It is entertaining and interesting, and should delight history and geography buffs.
Summary of How the States Got Their Shapes
Mark Stein is a playwright and screenwriter. His plays have been performed off-Broadway and at theaters throughout the country. His films include Housesitter, with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has taught at American University and Catholic University.
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