Any one who know’s me personally knows about my passion, love, and sometimes borderline obsession with the state of Kansas. Over the course of the last couple of years I’ve read many history books and literature from authors in the state of Kansas and here are a couple of my favorites!

L – R

What Kansas Means to Me: Twentieth Century Writers on the State of Kansas – This is probably the favorite of all my books on Kansas, a collection of fiction, memoir’s, and poetry about the state of Kansas. My favorite selection from the book is “Straight Roads” by Peg Wherry, which tells about her finding comfort in the straight roads of southwestern Kansas. Her essay truly hits home, as a lifetime western Kansan, I recognize most if not all of the towns, highways, and landmarks in her essay. I too find comfort in those straight roads of  western Kansas where you can see for miles and it gives me the goosebumps just thinking the place I love so much.

John Brown to Bob Dole: Movers and Shakers in the state of Kansas: I read this book in my Kansas History class at Kansas State University my junior year of college and loved it, my professor a the time was Dr. James Sherow the mayor of Manhattan and budding state politician. It provides great descriptions and history on some of the most well known Kansans as well as individuals you might not have heard of in your 6th grade kansas civics class but contributed highly to the success of our state.

Kansas: The History of the Sunflower State: For a thorough and expansive history lesson on the state of Kansas, this should be you’re go to book!

Next Year Country: Dust to Dust in Western Kansas, 1890 – 1940 - The western third of the state, where I grew up and have a burning passion for, is rarely mentioned or forgotten all together in Kansas state’s history, but Craig Miner a fellow western Kansas does a great job chronicling the history of the western third I love so much.

Whats the Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won The Heart Of America - I remember sitting in the sale barn during a cattle auction with my grandfather and hearing him discuss politics with his cowboy buddies. I distinctly remember him saying “The reason I’m democrat is that conservatives will send us to war and they don’t help me out any.”  Years later I would have my own political discussions with grandfather, a grouchy old cowboy, about why he voted for President Obama. The entire time I was reading this I was thinking about my Grandpa. A good book for any midwesterner trying to find a point of political reasoning.

I hope that I’m not the only one who has a love for their home state, leave me a comment and tell me where you’re from and why you love it!