This book has been written by Chris Mayda of Eastern Michigan University. This ten year project began when I was assigned to teach the Regional Geography of the United States and Canada. After teaching the course for a couple of years I found that I could not follow the existing books, because they hardly touched upon environmental or sustainable issues within a regional context. I could not imagine teaching this course without discussing in some depth the environmental and sustainable issues of the United States and Canada. Sounds like a challenge. I set to work writing and traveling to each venue.
I guess I am old-fashioned. I believe that to be a geographer you must be in the field. Over the past decade I have traveled to each region and most subregions and studied first hand what I have written about. I believe that only by being there and interacting with local residents does one begin to understand a region. Our problems are local problems. The solutions are best as local solutions. I always find it amazing how the local people know their areas, their problems, and how they are not addressed by the politicians who seldom know the on the ground knowledge. A few of the many local stories I have accumulated are included in the "Geo-Tales" found throughout the book.
I took thousands of photographs over the years, always with the intention of using the photos for the book. These are photos that are specific to what I am discussing, not stock photos. All photos are mine with the few exceptions noted in the book.
I am under contract with Rowman and Littlefield and the book has been reviewed by numerous peers who have made many fine suggestions that I have followed. If more are necessary I am always ready to learn more. The book is expected to be presented at the 2012 AAG in New York City, and available for the Fall semester 2012. I have left only the first chapter online as that expresses my approach, which is quite different than other US/Canada regional geographies.
This book is only completed because of the help of many students, friends, and faculty who have assisted me along the way and I am grateful for their hard work and input. Certainly my map experts, Doug, Don, Reed, Jennifer, Miriam and Hugh deserve special thanks as well as the constructive comments from peer reviewers. Special thanks also go to my good friend Laura for her hard work while on vacation! And then there is my family who always knew I could do this, my husband, Jay, and his consistent technical support, and my son Zachary who found out he inherited his mom's research genes. Thank you!