Not bad, had to read for work it was very easy to get through.

Michael Schumacher is doing his part to ensure that the legend continues to live on from the Chippewa on down to the Big Lake.

Mighty Fitz is a fantastic, comprehensive read covering the history of the Edmund Fitzgerald from her inception to her last voyage, and the events that have transpired since. The legend of Big Fitz is known, in some way, shape, or form, by all of us who grew up or lived in the Great Lakes region for any significant period of time. The way that Schumacher brought the story to life in such a comprehensive and respectful way was awesome. He didn't editorialize when it came to some of the more controversial or debated aspects of the Fitzgerald, such as the cause of wreck theories. Instead, he objectively presented the official narrative, critiques of it, alternate theories, and the critiques of those.

The way that he closed out the book with anecdotes from some impacted by the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald was a brilliant way to end a fantastic book. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Great Lakes maritime history or the history of the Great Lakes region in general.

Wow! An EXCELLENT book!! It was interesting from start to finish!! The author did a very good job with the entire storyline. #mightyfitz. #michaelschumacher

Great recapture of this sad event. 29 men lost to Lake Superior.

I was ready to give this book about a 3.5/5, but ended up going with 2/5 for some glaring errors.

Firstly, ships have 'coamings', not 'combings'. Proper research would have shown that. How was it missed?

Secondly, the glossary at the end is woefully incomplete, missing many nautical terms that were used in the book, and which may have been helpful fir casual readers.

Thirdly, and the worst error, is the complete lack of any illustrations (save the frontispiece) of the ship, or the area of interest. Not a picture. Not a drawing. Not a chart. Nothing. That omission alone is enough to seriously reduce the attraction of this book.

An excellent documentary on the Edmund Fitzgerald and its demise. Strongly recommend for Great Lakes shipping lovers, ship-wreck aficionados, and non-fiction readers. If you remember hearing Gordon Lightfoot's ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" you'll want to become informed on the complete story of the voyage and demise of the great ship.

I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot! My only reason for taking away a star was that there was a big chunk of the book that focused on the ship wrecks leading up to the sinking of the Fitzgerald. In a longer book that would have been ok but this one is pretty short. I would have preferred if those pages went into deeper info on the Fitzgerald instead of focusing elsewhere.

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the great lake they call Gitchee Goomie..."

So begins the legendary Gordon Lightfoot song 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' which has memorialized the 29 crewmen of the Great Lakes freighter since shortly after its loss. In "Mighty Fitz," Michael Schumacher presents the story of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald's last voyage, the resulting inquiries, decades of competing theories, and the personal rivalries that have long riven the so-called "Titanic of the Great Lakes."

Breezily written, and carefully avoiding taking sides in the conflicts that surround the competing theories regarding the loss of the 'Fitzgerald,' "Mighty Fitz" provides as close as we are ever likely to get to a definitive reconstruction of the final day of the legendary vessel.

I was a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. While listening to some songs on my phone while taking my morning walk -Gordon Lightfoot's 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' came on and made me think. I decided to get this book and read about that incident. When it happened I was in my teens and really too young to fully understand what happened. This book taught me many many things about that evening, plus, past and future events that had to do with that great ship. Now the song has much more meaning to me...

This was incredible. It reminded me of Dead Wake - the author established who everyone was, so you became attached to the men aboard. The sinking and aftermath were handled with dignity and respect. Highly recommended.

the legend lives on…

Oh, my... what a book... what research... what a sad story... what a tribute to the crew... what controversy... this book has it all! Wonderful read!

My husband and I recently spent two weeks traveling along the Superior coastline of the Upper Peninsula, visiting Whitefish Point and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum along the way. I could hard wait to read this book and it did not disappoint.