This large, very readable, well-documented volume is a thorough, comprehensive history of railroads in Michigan to the year 2000. Historian Meints begins with a brief review of the first real influx of settlers into the legion in the early 1800s, and continues with the plans and proposals to improve access to the area, whether by canal, road, or the newly developed mode of transportation-the railroad. The book then proceeds chronologically; each of the seven chapters focuses on a period a few decades long, during which there were particular social, political, economic, and technological factors that influenced the growth, decline, and eventual resurgence of the tail industry. One can read the text in its entirety or consult specific sections for reference purposes. A useful resource for a wide audience, including historians, economists, transportation scholars, and serious rail enthusiasts. Summing Up: Highly recommended. *** All general, academic, and professional transportation history library collections.--R. R. Erickson, Lycoming College