Small-Town Dreams: Stories of Midwestern Boys Who Shaped America by John E. Miller (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Small-Town Dreams: Stories of Midwestern Boys Who Shaped America by John E. Miller Dan Griesmer Small-Town Dreams: Stories of Midwestern Boys Who Shaped America. By John E. Miller ( Lawrence: Univ. Press of Kansas, 2014. 528 pp. Cloth $29.99, isbn 978-0-7006-1949-8.) John E. Miller’s Small-Town Dreams: Stories of Midwestern Boys Who Shaped America endeavors to demonstrate the significance of place with a specific emphasis on the small-town experience. In order to accomplish his objective, the author examines twenty-two diverse personalities who began their lives in small towns in the Midwestern United States from the end of the nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century. The author argues that small towns have been vital in American life and have influenced many people over the course of the last century. Despite the importance the author places on the influence of small towns, he regrets that small towns have garnered less attention from journalists and scholars, including historians, because over the course of the last century fewer and fewer people lived in small towns. He believes that where an individual comes from is a critical factor when studying his or her adult life and that the small-town origins of the men examined in this book played a crucial role in shaping the adults they became. In addition, Miller asserts that even though these men became highly successful in careers, including politics, athletics, and entertainment, they often longed for what they perceived as the simplicity of their small-town beginnings. [End Page 101] The author conducted extensive research to compile this book and offers a fair and balanced examination of each of the individuals portrayed in this manuscript. He states that he specifically chose these personalities because they embodied the idea that people from small towns could use their backgrounds to assist themselves as they became successful adults. While complimenting these men for their many successes, he is also quick to point out what many would see as shortcomings in these midwesterners. While researching his book, Miller skillfully blended the use of primary and secondary sources in each personal essay, and many of his footnotes provide a rich description of the research he conducted on each of these individuals. The introduction clearly spells out the writer’s thesis and how he intends to show that each of his subjects sought to use the ideals of the distinct small town that he or she came from and apply them as the person matured. Additionally, Miller includes a short introduction to each section as he progresses chronologically from the end of the nineteenth century to the conclusion of the twentieth century. By doing this, the author can place each of the personalities within the context of the political, social, racial, and economic factors that shaped American life during these years in both a positive and negative way. The conclusion reiterates the author’s thesis and he once again regrets the fact that the idea of the small town and the idea of place have not been studied by scholars and in many instances they have been totally neglected. Miller calls upon other authors to examine the importance of place, especially the influence of an individual’s childhood beginnings, when talking about a person’s adult life. [End Page 102] Dan Griesmer University of Akron Copyright © 2016 The Kent State University Press