Culled from the best of Minnesota History magazine, these essays on 200 years of Minnesota history encompass a wide range of its past, from frontier life to the age of technological innovation, from Dakota and Ojibwe history to the story of a Chinese family in St. Paul, from lumber workers' and truckers' strikes to the women's suffrage movement.

In 'Minnesota, the North Star State', William Watts Folwell provides a comprehensive history of Minnesota, exploring its native inhabitants, early explorers, settlement period, and the state's rapid development in the 19th century. Written in a scholarly yet accessible style, the book offers a detailed account of the state's unique geographical features, political climates, and cultural influences. Folwell's narrative is enriched with archival research and personal anecdotes, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and general readers interested in the history of Minnesota. This book is a testament to Folwell's dedication to preserving the heritage of the 'North Star State' and his passion for historical storytelling. William Watts Folwell, a renowned historian and educator, served as the first president of the University of Minnesota and was a leading authority on the history of the Upper Midwest. His in-depth knowledge of the region's past and his commitment to academic excellence shine through in this meticulously researched volume. Folwell's intimate connection to Minnesota and his scholarly expertise make 'Minnesota, the North Star State' a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the state's rich history. I highly recommend 'Minnesota, the North Star State' to history enthusiasts, students, and residents of Minnesota. Folwell's engaging writing style and thorough research make this book a captivating journey through the state's past, shedding light on its unique heritage and significance in American history.

Studies 'seriality' in nineteenth-century literary and popular print culture, focusing on literacy and the material history of reading in the period from 1815 to 1848.

Sarah Milledge Nelson’s bold thesis is that the development of states in East Asia—China, Japan, Korea—was an outgrowth of the leadership in smaller communities guided by shamans. Using a mixture of historical documents, mythology, archaeological data, and ethnographic studies of contemporary shamans, she builds a case for shamans being the driving force behind the blossoming of complex societies. More interesting, shamans in East Asia are generally women, who used their access to the spirit world to take leadership roles. This work challenges traditional interpretations growth of Asian states, which is overlaid with later Confucian notions of gender roles. Written at a level accessible for undergraduates, this concise work will be fascinating reading for those interested in East Asian archaeology, politics, and society; in gender roles, and in shamanism.