It is apparent that the author, Michael Varhola, did extensive research. There are many wonderful details in this book--slang and idioms, food, education, religion, clothing and military equipment, etc. The one criticism I have is that the author gives information going into the 1870s. Since the war ended in 1865, and my area of concentration is the Civil War years, I didn't find the information following the war very useful. Overall, I found the book a valuable source on how the people of the north and south lived during those difficult times.