""Will it play in Peoria?" That question-only half-joking-hovers over everything from politics to television, an acknowledgment that the Midwest is to many the most emblematic region of the United States today. Stereotypes both good and bad abound about Midwesterners, but, in this incisive yet poignant narrative, John Jakie reveals a rich and telling portrait of the contemporary Midwest and its people. In engaging prose that is supplemented by a captivating gallery of photographs and postcards, Jakie chronicles his life in the Midwest, from childhood to his current professional life. Interweaving the personal with a look at the region's geographic and cultural history, My Kind of Midwest reveals that the region is more than just a group of "flyover states:' Jakie tells an engaging story that recounts his youthful explorations of the flourishing cities of Detroit and Chicago; the rapid growth and importance of gateway cities such as Omaha, Kansas City, and Cincinnati along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers; and the integral role of tourism to Midwestern states' economies. He also explores how the study of human geography enhances our ability to understand any place or region." "An intimate and compelling narrative of one man's connection to the American landscape, My Kind of Midwest will be essential reading for all those with ties to the heartland."--Jacket.