Reviews
		"In this delightful look at an American icon, journalist and documentary scriptwriter and producer Dolan traces the history of the porch, using this history to explore subjects such as architecture, history, slavery, colonialism, trade, anthropology, sociology, consumer behavior, and publishing. He begins with an account of remodeling his own front porch and then takes us on an irreverent yet informative tour of the development of the porch, from its origins in ancient Greece and Rome, Africa and India, with stops along the way in Brazil, the Caribbean, Renaissance Italy, Georgian England, and Colonial America. From there, he charts the rise, decline, fall and reemergence of the porch in America, from Greek revival architecture to plantation culture, from Victorian bungalows to suburban ranch homes, from front porch conversations to air conditioning and television, and from Modernism to the New Urbanism. Throughout, the author supplements his own research by calling upon an impressive array of authorities. Considering the book's accessibility, the amount and quality of its coverage, and the current lack of comparable titles, this is highly recommended for both academic and public libraries." -- M.C. Duhig, Library Journal
		"...With more than 100 color images of porches, as well as stills from classic Hollywood movies, Curier & Ives lithographs and historic prints, this book has all the earmarks of becoming a classic. As a Christmas gift or a welcome addition to a library, it scores a perfect 10" -- Mae Woods Bell, Rocky Mount Telegram
		"The photos are beautiful." -- Philip Langdon, New Urban News
		“Porches speak to us all of community and country, of family and friendship, and of experiences that are quintessentially American. In lively, spirited prose that blends the personal and the historical, my friend Mike Dolan has traced the path by which the porch found its place in the world – and a home in the soul of America.” Mark Burnett, executive producer of Survivor
		“Grab a rocker, put your feet up, and read The American Porch. With great humor and sometimes biting wit, Michael Dolan masterfully charts the history of that quasi-public, semi-private space. He takes the reader from ancient Rome to Africa, from the antebellum South to the post-modern suburb, from India to Mount Vernon and Monticello. Punctuating his tale with stories of his own beloved porch, Dolan chronicle the rise, fall, and rise again of this deeply American place.” Alice L. Powers, editor of Italy in Mind and Ireland in Mind, and co-editor of The Brooklyn Reader “Michael Dolan proves a genial (and at times acerbically funny) guide to our favorite architectural appendage. Only recently has the front porch been rescued from the endangered species list. Michael Dolan reveals why the porch holds a special place in our national psyche. Along the way, he constructs a three-act drama of ascendance, decline, and resurrection. It is also a personal tale, complete with jalousie and revenge.” Michael Leccese, co-editor of Charter of the New Urbanism “Michael Dolan calls his book `a yard sale of history and happenstance,’ but he is, as usual, too modest. The American Porch is a hymn, a love letter, a prose poem about how Americans have learned to live together. Anyone who reads it will discover a lot about us. And it is much better written than a yard sale.” Andrew Ferguson, author of Fool’s Names, Fool’s Faces