Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan

Rating:
Summary: A Superficial Treatment of the Subject
Review: I found this book to be a relatively superficial analysis of the subject of Lake Michigan shipwrecks. I have researched Lake Michigan shipwrecks for 20 years and I own several hundred books about Great Lakes shipwrecks and nearly 100 titles about Lake Michigan shipwrecks specifically. Comparatively speaking, this book is very superficial. The book treats a few hundred Lake Michigan wrecks and fails to even mention that at least 2000 other historically verified total loss Lake Michigan shipwrecks are known. I also noted several relatively serious factual errors in the specific wreck accounts. All the wrecks detailed in this book are already covered in existing books and it appeared that little original archival research went into the book's preparation, as evidenced by the book's bibliography. The book would have benefited from some contextual historical material about the social and economic conditions that caused so many wrecks on Lake Michigan. I believe any reader with a background in Lake Michigan maritime history will be disappointed by this book's lack of perpective, historical context and depth.

Rating:
Summary: Meticulously researched and deftly written
Review: Shipwrecks Of Lake Michigan by Great Lakes expert Benjamin J. Shelak provides the reader with an impressively detailed and comprehensive collection of information about shipwrecks in Lake Michigan from 1800 down to the present day. Meticulously researched and deftly written, organized and presented with an eye for accuracy, Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan is as engaging, informative, and highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Maritime History collections and reading lists.