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“Fantastic . . . Sheds new light on the case . . . No stone is left unturned . . . Provides a remarkable snapshot of life in Cedar Rapids in the late 1940s” (The Gazette).   Byron C. Hattman sealed his fate when he checked into the Roosevelt Hotel on December 13, 1948. A maid found his body in a blood-spattered room two days later. An investigation linked him to the young wife of St. Louis pediatrician Robert C. Rutledge, who confessed to the brutal attack after trying to poison himself. The scandal made national headlines and seemed like an easy case for the Linn County court. That is, until new evidence changed the story completely. Reporter and author Diane Fannon-Langton uncovers the truth and compiles the complete details of the Hattman slaying for the first time.   Includes photos! Read more

New York Times BestsellerA hilarious full-color guide to Midwestern culture, from comedian and journalist Charlie Berens, creator of the viral comedic series "The Manitowoc Minute"Have you ever had a goodbye lasting more than four hours? Do you lack the emotional capacity to say “I love you” so you just tell your loved ones to “watch out for deer”? Have you apologized to a stranger because she stepped on your foot? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there’s a good chance you’re a Midwesterner—or a Midwesterner at heart. Even if you answered no, you probably know someone who held the door for you from two football fields away. He likely waved at you and said, “Hey there,” like you organized the church bar crawl together. That was a Midwesterner in the wild. We understand that your interaction was strange—but it’s likely to get stranger. Don’t wait until they stick their head in your second-floor window to invite you over for a perch fry because they climbed on your roof to clean your gutters. There’s no need to pull the pepper spray; this species is helpful by nature. And the relationship could be very symbiotic—but only if you let it happen. And that’s where this book comes into play.Inspired by my comedy tours across the Midwest and life growing up in Wisconsin, this book is an exploration into my favorite region on Earth. Some may think the Midwest is just a bunch of bland flyover states filled with less diversity than a Monsanto monoculture. But scratch that surface with your buck knife and you’ll find rich cultures and traditions proving we’re more than just fifty shades of milk. So whether you’re a born-and-bred Midwesterner looking to sharpen your skill at apologies or a costal elite visiting the in-laws for the holidays, this book will help you navigate the Midwest, with everything from the best flannel looks to dating and mating rituals (yes, casserole is involved) to climbing the corporate corn silo to how to handle a four-way stop—and every backyard brat fry in between. And for those of you who don’t like reading, don’t worry—we’ve got pictures! Toss in illustrations, sidebars, quizzes, and jokes worthy of a supper club stall and The Midwest Survival Guide is just the walleye-deep look into this distinctive, beautiful, and bizarre American culture you’ve been looking for. Read more

“A testament to the taste of place in all the best ways possible . . . hits all the perfect notes for anyone interested in regional cuisines” (Tracey Ryder, cofounder of Edible Communities, Inc.).  New Prairie Kitchen profiles twenty-five of the most exciting and groundbreaking chefs, farmers, and producers of artisanal goods from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Their personal stories are interspersed with more than fifty chef-contributed recipes that range from refreshingly simple to exquisitely gourmet. Organized by season, New Prairie Kitchen will transport readers to a revitalized Midwestern heartland where traditional favorites interweave with inspiring new flavors and techniques.   Author Summer Miller introduces readers to the phenomenal talent emerging from America’s breadbasket: farms that grow asparagus thick as your thumb and tender as a strawberry; dairies that produce fresh, natural milks and cheeses; and nationally recognized restaurants that make these mouthwatering ingredients into edible art. Pioneering chefs across the prairie have taken an old-meets-new approach to their cuisine, sourcing traditional staples from local sustainable farms, and incorporating them into recipes in new and thrilling ways.     Beautiful full-color photography and terrific storytelling will lead readers through a wonderful diversity of cooking styles and recipes sure to appeal to any palate. New Prairie Kitchen will reveal a fresh take on farm-to-table cooking and inspire Americans from coast to coast to try everything the prairie has to offer.   “A passionate . . . plea for the Plains states’ inclusion in the American culinary lexicon, with great recipes to boot.” —Epicurious   “The recipes and producers here are indeed treasures, and the book is the treasure map.” —Omaha Magazine Read more

A modern-day explorer's guide to the Old WestFrom the famed Oregon Trail to the boardwalks of Dodge City to the great trading posts on the Missouri River to the battlefields of the nineteenth-century Indian Wars, there are places all over the American West where visitors can relive the great Western migration that helped shape our history and culture. This guide to the states Along the Mississippi, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota--one of the five-volume Finding the Wild West series--highlights the best preserved historic sites as well as ghost towns, reconstructions, museums, historical markers, statues, works of public art that tell the story of the Old West. Use this book in planning your next trip and for a storytelling overview of America’s Wild West history. Read more

Do you have that irresistible urge to travel?How do your experiences in foreign lands change you?Has it left an indelible mark and a thirst for more?Traveling, experiencing other cultures, meeting new people, making friends and above all making memories are some of the greatest experiences a soul can enjoy. There is just no way around it. Travel opens our eyes, makes us think about the world and not just our own personal corner of it, gives us thrills that we could never achieve otherwise and is a great leveler too. Above all, however, is travel’s ability to change our perception of others.In this book, How Travel Has Made Me Less of a Jerk, author Jeramie Eginoire explores how his own life and that all-important perception has been changed by travel, with chapters that cover:Learning to live for todayWhy citizens of the US have it so goodHow travel changes you as a personHow we have more in common with others than we see at first glanceDispelling ignorance and fearThere is more good in the world than evilThe importance of looking after the planetMaking memories to last a lifetimeAnd more….From one side of the world to the other, Jeramie Eginoire has seen more than most and continues to learn from each and every experience he enjoys. In the course of his travels he has learned how to become a better husband, a better father, a better friend, a better firefighter, and a better human being. And he’s not done yet.Get a copy of his amazing book and see how he was transformed by his simple love of seeking out the good on the planet and learning how to live in harmony with it. Read more

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With travel tips and culture in our guidebooks written by a local, it is never too late to visit Iowa. Greater Than a Tourist- Iowa, USA by Author Sharon Rubel offers the inside scoop on The Hawkeye State. Most travel books tell you how to travel like a tourist. Although there is nothing wrong with that, as part of the ‘Greater Than a Tourist’ series, this book will give you candid travel tips from someone who has lived at your next travel destination. This guide book will not tell you exact addresses or store hours but instead gives you knowledge that you may not find in other smaller print travel books. Experience cultural, culinary delights, and attractions with the guidance of a Local. Slow down and get to know the people with this invaluable guide. By the time you finish this book, you will be eager and prepared to discover new activities at your next travel destination.Inside this travel guide book you will find:★Visitor information from a Local★ Tour ideas and inspiration★Save time with valuable guidebook informationGreater Than a Tourist- A Travel Guidebook with 50 Travel Tips from a Local. Slow down, stay in one place, and get to know the people and culture. By the time you finish this book, you will be eager and prepared to travel to your next destination. Read more

Discover another side of the Hawkeye State with this illustrated volume of fascinating facts, historical oddities, curious tales, and more.Amazing Iowa offers a rare glimpse into the unusual events and peculiar people hiding within the pages of Iowa’s history. Inside you’ll learn about everything from Jesse James’s first train robbery to the longest beard known to man, not to mention the secret behind the world’s best Iowa pork chop marinade. With stories, trivia, photographs, recipes, song lyrics and more, this volume is a treasure trove of Iowa curios. Within these pages, you’ll find:Eddie Rickenbacker, who raced cars with a bat’s heart tied to his middle finger.Lyrics of the “Iowa Corn Song”.Heroes of the past (TV’s first Superman was born in Iowa).Heroes of the future (Captain James T. Kirk will be born in Iowa).Ellen Church of Cresco, the first airline stewardess in the country. Read more

Most Iowa Hawkeyes fans have attended a basketball game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, seen highlights of "The Catch" that beat LSU in 2005, and were thrilled by the school's run to the 2014–15 Big Ten Football Championship Game. But only real fans know how many players have had their numbers retired, the best place to grab a bite before the game, or the only Iowa basketball player to lead the nation in scoring. 100 Things Iowa Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of Iowa athletics. Whether you're a die-hard fan from the days of Nile Kinnick or a new supporter of Fran McCaffery, this book contains everything Hawkeyes fans should know, see, and do in their lifetime. Read more

This zany travel guide presents a more peculiar state than the Iowa Tourism Office might like out-of-towners to imagine. Leaving out the traditional scenic trips to the Mississippi River bluffs and the Amana Colonies, this guide will take the adventurous traveler to the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, the home of the "Lonely Goat Herder" marionettes from The Sound of Music, and the world's largest Cheeto. To enhance the experience of this unusual side of Iowa, the guide includes facts about numerous events in Iowa's history, such as Ozzy Osbourne's infamous bat-biting incident and Jesse James's first moving-train robbery. Iowa is depicted as the birthplace of the Roto-Rooter, the Delicious apple, the electronic computer, the reinforced concrete bridge, and the Eskimo pie. The accompanying photographs and maps will direct travelers to other fun vacation spots and attractions, including the butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair, the annual National Skillet Throw, the Hobo Convention and Museum, the Ice Cream Capital of the World, and the National Balloon Museum. Read more

Perfect for Iowa State fans who think they already know everything Most Iowa State fans have taken in a game at Jack Trice Stadium or the Hilton Coliseum and have seen highlights of Troy Davis and Fred Hoiberg. But only real fans know the original team name, the location and story behind the victory bell, or were there when the basketball team made an Elite Eight run in 2000. 100 Things Iowa State Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource guide for true fans of Iowa State athletics. Whether they are die-hard boosters from the days of Earle Bruce on the gridiron or new supporters of Fred Hoiberg and ISU hoops, fans will value these essential pieces of Cyclones football and basketball knowledge and trivia—and all of the must-do activities in their lifetime. Read more

With nearly fifty featured trails, Iowa's verdant countryside is an excellent place for a hike, and this guide covers the state's varied terrain with a focus on the state parks and recreation areas. Read more

Unlock the Heartland: Your Ultimate Davenport Adventure Awaits. Discover the Hidden Gems of Davenport, IowaUnveil Davenport's Charms: Dive into the captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that defines this riverside gem.Riverside Revelations: Stroll along the scenic Mississippi River, where every sunset paints a masterpiece in the sky.Historic Treasures: Step back in time with visits to vintage mansions, museums, and vibrant neighbourhoods steeped in history.Artful Escapades: Immerse yourself in a world of creativity with local art galleries, public sculptures, and the city's dynamic arts scene.Culinary Delights: Savour a culinary voyage through Davenport's diverse dining scene, from farm-to-table delights to global flavours.Melodies & More: Tune into the city's music scene, where live performances and festivals keep the rhythm alive year-round.Outdoor Adventures: Nature enthusiasts rejoice! Davenport offers hiking, biking, and water adventures aplenty.Retail Therapy: Shop 'til you drop at unique boutiques, vintage stores, and modern shopping centres.Family Fun: Create lasting memories with family-friendly activities and attractions for all ages.Nightlife Vibes: Davenport's nightlife comes alive with bars, clubs, and entertainment venues for endless after-dark fun.Your passport to Davenport, Iowa, awaits—grab this guide and embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Midwest. Read more

Your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Hawkeye State has to offer! Read more

Come discover Siouxland, where Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota converge in a rich, vibrant, and sometimes surprising fusion of fun, food, history, and adventure! In 100 Things to Do in Sioux City and Siouxland Before You Die, take a guided tour of all that this wonderful corner of the world has to offer. Cruise the navigational headwaters of America’s longer river, the mighty Missouri. Hike the glacier-made Loess Hills, geologically unique in the world. Party like a 1920s gangster from the days when Sioux City was known as “Little Chicago.” Experience the corn mazes and the county fairs, the shopping and the shows, the architecture and the art by modern master Grant Wood. And since Siouxland is home to the richest, most productive farmland in the world, be sure to save room for farm-fresh meat and produce, served at authentic local eateries of all kinds! Take advantage of local author Lindsay Hindman’s expertise as she takes readers on a tour of her Sioux City community. Whether you’re a life-long resident or a first-time visitor, 100 Things to Do in Sioux City and Siouxland is your insider guide to a great time in Siouxland! Read more

A first edition, Insiders' Guide to Omaha & Lincoln is the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information to Lincoln and the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro areas. Written by a local (and true insider), this guide offers a personal and practical perspective of the Omaha, NE, Lincoln, NE, Council Bluffs, IA, and its surrounding environs. Read more

Be transported into the private and cherished world of this celebrated American icon with tour of Grant Wood's home state..Grant Wood, Iowa native, iconic Regionalist American artist, certainly left his mark on his home state. Wood’s American Gothic is one of America’s most recognizable paintings, his boyhood home is a registered landmark, and collections of his work grace museums far and near. Now you can tour his state with five itineraries that provide a detailed exploration of the historical context for his work. Grant Wood’s Iowa explores his role in the art world with self-guided museum tours, detailed discussions of specific works, information on the finest lodging and dining in the state, and, finally, “green” travel options, including rural bed and breakfasts, restaurants offering local organic menus, nightlife with local artists, and nature hikes to experience the landscape that inspired Wood. You’ll be transported into the private and cherished world of this celebrated American icon. Read more