State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America

An interesting idea that results in a fun but somewhat uneven book. With 50 different contributors, I think that's to be expected as the shifts in style will result in a few that move you, a few that make you laugh, a few that really educate you, and a couple that leave you cold. I picked this one up for [a:Sarah Vowell 2122 Sarah Vowell http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206507108p2/2122.jpg]'s essay on Montana, [a:Anthony Bourdain 1124 Anthony Bourdain http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205261109p2/1124.jpg]'s essay on New Jersey, and [a:Jack Hitt 73813 Jack Hitt http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]'s look at South Carolina. Along the way I've also found interesting looks at Vermont, Colorado, the Dakotas, and Wyoming. And while I have enjoyed it, it's tough for me to give it any more than a three-star rating as it's not a book that I can read for long periods of time. It's great for reading in bits and pieces.