BOOK DISCUSSION: Great Lakes/Great Books

Now in its 10th season, Great Lakes/Great Books meets the first Thursday of the month September – May to discuss books that have the Great Lakes as setting or subject matter or that are related to water and/or the Great Lakes region. All are welcome, whether you have read the book or not! The selection for this month is, The Story of the Great Lakes by Edward Channing and Marion Florence Lansing.

About the book:

The Story of the Great Lakes goes beyond just being a simple historical account of the Great Lakes region of North America, from the time of the earliest human inhabitants to the present day. Instead, Channing and Lansing describe the geological formation of the Great Lakes, the arrival of the first indigenous people, and the subsequent impact of European colonization.

The authors go on to explore the economic, social, and cultural importance of the Great Lakes region, particularly the role of the lakes as a transportation network for goods and people. They describe the growth of the shipping industry, the development of canals and other transportation infrastructure, and the impact of the lakes on the settlement of the region.