You Wouldn't Like It Here: A Guide to the Real Upper Peninsula of Michigan

by Lon L. Emerick

Chambers of Commerce won't be giving this book away any time soon! A high-spirited, humorous look at a special land and the challenges of living in a remote region with more trees than people, long winters, and two-track roads. Visitors are warned about the climate, insects, wildlife, local residents and other potential "dangers." In a more serious epilogue, the author asks that visitors tread gently on the land and fold themselves into the Upper Peninsula way of life that its residents hold dear. Illustrated with regional map and 12 black/white drawings.

88 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2007

Reviews

[Rachel Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a visitor to Marquette, I loved this. So funny!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who moved away from the area, this book, given to me by my dad, was mildly humorous and served as a nice bit of nostalgia. Of course it's filled with exagerations and stereotypes, but they were close enough to reality to add to the humor.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I have ever read. Being a former Yooper... I am offended. I understand that some people feel this way about the U.P. but the author should have said more than one page to clear up anything said in the book. I wish my family wouldn't have wasted the money on it. Goodwill here you come.

[Joe Holman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I concur with Lon Emerick - if you aren't from here, you wouldn't like it here. Come here, spend money, go away.

[Steve Welgoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY quick read, got a few chuckles, with some oldie-but-goodie jokes tossed in with some local perspective on the unique lifestyle of a Yuppie.

[Colette Marie McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Lon Emerick had returned to the UP, where he retired from academia in his early fifties to experience the UP as a naturalist. This book follows his professional speech pathology publications and books describing the UP as paradise. Emerick claims this book resulted from a mystery writer's challenge to publish a collection of disjointed notes to help keep people from wanting to move to the UP. This resulting picture book relies upon large font and lots of white space to fill less than 80 pages to emphasize the downsides of living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP). It's an easy read filled with bumper sticker humor.

[Kelly]

silly, easy read. I'm not sure what I learned about the Upper P because so much of it was tongue-in-cheek

[Colleen De Bie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed out loud numerous times.. delightful short book about the UP.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining and satirical little book about the Upper Peninsula Michigan. At less than 80 pages you can read it in under an hour. I read it before a planned family trip to the UP.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

An attempt at humor (emphasis on attempt), explaining the Yooper way of life and discouraging trolls and other foreigners from infiltrating and changing da UP. If you truly are a tourist in search of a Starbucks in Seney, this might be interesting to you, otherwise pass it up.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously laughed out loud.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book for anyone who has spent any time in the U.P.

[Tristan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am only 8. Mom says I might understand it better when I am older.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband found this book in a store on Mackinac Island and we checked it out of the library when we got home. It's funny and has an ice fishing joke.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, fun read.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short read and like the title, you probably won't find this book funny if you aren't from the area it lampoons. The author tries to make this a funny book, with very mixed results.