Better in the Poconos: The Story of Pennsylvania's Vacation Land (Keystone Books)

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Summary: An original slice of regional American history
Review: Better In The Poconos: The Story Of Pennsylvania's Vacationland by Lawrence Squeri (Professor of History, East Stroudsburg University) is an original slice of regional American history, offering the reader an inside look behind the glamour of the tourist industry. Focusing specifically on the tourism trade in the Poconos area of Pennsylvania, from the opening of the first hotel in 1829, to the many industries who ruthlessly compete for tourist dollars today, Better In The Poconos is an amazing story of clashing economics, evolving trades, and more, highlighted with black-and-white photographs from a variety of eras in history. Better In The Poconos is very highly recommended for academic and community library American Popular Culture and American History supplemental reading lists and reference collections.

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Summary: Connects Pocono history to larger trends
Review: Lawrence Squeri has written a book that is educational and enjoyable on many levels. As a former resident of the Pocono area, I found the local history fascinating, especially considering the paucity of other worthy books on this subject. It also works on a larger scale since Squeri ties in the history of recreation in this area with the changes in the country at large at the same time. In this way, Better In the Poconos serves as a case study for the nation as a whole instead of just a small-niche local interest book.