Hidden History of Detroit

This book is nicely written and provided me with some information I did not know, most of it obscure. There isn't much to it, but it does lead one to realize that the problem with Detroit started with the start of Detroit. Now, I don't want to blame the French, me being of those French from early New France, and Detroit, but it seems to be a common denominator here. One aspect that is really noticeable, is the lack of respect given to those who came before, and the drive for progress. I only wished that there would have been more informative information on other aspects of the great city; more depth. For instance, the history of Belle Isle and the growth of the city to the 5th most populated and wealthiest city in the country. Maybe how the auto industry changed the face of the planet, but there is no such info. It's just several names and their bio's. I am reading "Detroit: An American Autopsy" by Charlie LeDuff right now. I highly recommend it, if you are interested in the dirt on the D!

Bragg's "Hidden History of Detroit" is a breezy, fun look at Detroit's distant past. In some ways, the book wasn't what I expected - it's slimmer than I assumed (a hazard of the Kindle store), and it's approach is more to engage the reader with a series of engaging topics and personalities than to present a grand historical narrative - but it was a pleasant surprise.Bragg smartly limits the book to the eccentric characters and more baffling events of 19th century Detroit, to the men for whom Detroit's more famous streets are named. Some chapters ruminate on themes - bars, streets, cemetaries - some on personalities, often jumping backward and forward decades at a time. Bragg has a knack for highlighting memorable moments that you'll almost certainly retell over a drink - from Detroit's ill-fated experiment with wood roads to Jefferson Ave's naming (after Lewis Cass's friend TJ) to the story of Vernor's namesake, there's not a dull page. While not by any means the most comprehensive history you'll find on Detroit, it is an entertaining and well-assembled introduction to Detroit's origins.

I enjoyed the book and although short it holds some interesting history of Detroit. Makes me want to see some of the things mentioned in it.

Although not what I was looking for, she pulls off what she was trying to. Detroit is full of statues in parks that people walk by and have no idea who this dude was. The story behind some of these people is quite interesting indeed, real characters. It is also cool to learn how Detroit got started at all, before the auto industry ( fur trading etc ). It is my impression that Detroit is doomed, but the author has a very upbeat attitude about the pluckiness of Detroiters, and hopefully she is right, and it will recover from being the God-forsaken violent wasteland that it is now.

Summarizing the beginning and trials and travails of a a city like Detroit has to be a huge challenge. I enjoyed the early history and the players who made the city a destination. I wish there had been more information about the early 20th century and the "Great Migration" from Europe, as well as the Great Flu Epidemic, when I lost so many of my ancestors. But this was overall an interesting and relevant book, especially for one who grew up in the 50's in this area.

As the author writes, Detroit has seen and continues to see flaws but there is something to learn from the past. The "bits and pieces" approach give little stories about the people and places. I have lived on the outskirts of Detroit for over 50 years and frequently go into the city. This book gave me the answers to why places are named what they are and what the back story is on some well known spots. And who knew that the MotorCity was once a major factor in the tobacco industry? I know now!

I've live in the Detroit area most of my life and find this book to be an interesting history of this great city. I even learned some things I wasn't familiar with and was reminded of other things I enjoyed while growing up here. A good read.

This book was wonderfully written. It was full of stories and names some familiar and some not. In both instances, Amy worked her magic to bring the characters back to life and to make the stories meaningful and memorable. I could not put this book down.