Christopher R. Laingen – författare

One of America's most populous states, Illinois is famous for its enormous agricultural output and for the bustling city of Chicago, the country's third largest. Known as "the Land of Lincoln," this heartland state is central in geographic, cultural, and historical terms. Veteran geographers John C. Hudson and Christopher R. Laingen guide us through Illinois's human and geologic history, offering an accessible, unique, and enlightening overview. They examine each of Illinois's seven regions—Chicagoland, the Illinois Valley, the Grand Prairie, Downstate, Little Egypt, the Military Tract, and the Rock River Valley—in turn, with clear-eyed assessments supported by the latest facts and figures. This expertly illustrated book is a must-have for anyone from, living in, or visiting the great state of Illinois.

American Farms, American Food bridges the gap between agricultural production and food studies allowing readers to learn about both subjects up close and in detail. Beyond that, the book provides background on the domestication, breeding, and development of crop plants and livestock that have become the food we eat. Themes such as the family farm, local food production, organic agriculture, genetically modified crops, food imports, and commodity exports are developed in nine separate chapters. The chapters treat specific crops or livestock types from the point of view of both production and consumption, highlighting the changes that have taken place in both farming strategies and food preferences over the years.