As the title suggests, Amazing Tennessee provides readers with a broad and exciting perspective of the State of Tennessee by highlighting lesser-known aspects and the dates and statistics that one would expect. Tennessee is known as “The Volunteer State”, and is rich in history, culture, natural beauty, wildlife, and music. Marianne Jennings presents this with just the right balance, providing commentary and background information on the facts. Music features prominently in the history of Tennessee, with diverse styles that include country music, the blues, soul, and rock and roll. Names like Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton are universal, while cities such as Nashville and Memphis are still a magnet for performing artists. Other household names are Jack Daniels whiskey (note the Irish spelling), Mountain Dew and Coca-Cola soft drinks, Gibson guitars, Federal Express, and Holiday Inn hotels that have their roots in the state. An important section reviews the darker side of American history, including the forced removal of Indigenous people, the slave trade, the Civil War, and the segregation era. Tennessee is also the setting for movies and television series and is home to authors, actors, and actresses.

Marianne Jennings is an established author and reminds us that the State of Tennessee has much to offer visitors. Amazing Tennessee invites readers to share the many and varied attractions, ranging from state parks and hiking trails to museums, restaurants, and theaters, and meet the local folk renowned for their hospitality. Lesser known historical facts covered include the Manhattan Project, which was central to the development of the atomic bomb during WWII. The local mannerisms and sayings are featured, as well as a rundown on festivals, food choices, and the many myths and legends that abound. Obscure laws and quirky quotes are included. The book is written as a guide, divided into sections that can be read individually, making it a convenient source of information for later reference. The writing style is appealing, and makes for entertaining reading, incorporating the history, geography, climate, symbols, tourist attractions, cuisine, and culture of the state. The book incorporates tips for prospective travelers and links to websites are included. It is rounded off with a quiz, with the answers provided. This is a most enjoyable book that is easy to read and goes far beyond the presentation of facts. It does justice to a fascinating part of the USA and is highly recommended.

Amazing Tennessee! by Marianne Jennings is a compilation of factual information about the Volunteer State. It contains more than 700 facts, along with numerous photos and trivia questions and their answers. Each section of the book is short but filled with fun facts. Some sections are Tennessee Wildlife and Animal Facts, Fun Food and Drink Facts, and Famous Tennesseans. Because of the book’s structure, it’s not necessary to read it from cover to cover; readers can skip around. The author says her book is not only for Tennessee residents but for anyone with an interest in the state. Although it's an overwhelmingly positive look at the state, Jennings also addresses the tragedy of slavery in Tennessee. The book includes a QR code linking to a free bonus quiz with more than 100 more questions and answers and it ends with a trivia quiz.

Amazing Tennessee! by Marianne Jennings could be called "everything you always wanted to know about Tennessee, but never asked." The book covers everything from tourist destinations to sports to inventions and much more. Although Jennings says it's not necessary to read it from cover to cover or in order, I recommend you do so because you don't want to miss any fascinating pages. If you’ve never been to Tennessee, this book will whet your appetite to go. It's fun, entertaining, and easy to read, but most of all will teach you a lot of fun information about the Volunteer State. I hope some schools in Tennessee find out about this book and assign it as required reading. It would be an excellent resource for Tennessee children. I highly recommend this fine book.