Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range

by Aaron Brown

The culture of Minnesota's Iron Range is transforming before the eyes of its inhabitants. Nowhere is this change captured better than in Aaron Brown's book Overburden. As a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune and a father of three boys, Aaron is one of a rare breed of "modern" Iron Rangers who are stepping away from the blue collar work of their parents and striving to find a place in a growing economy of creativity and development. Brown delves into the history and mystery surrounding the Iron Range to explore the region's mystique and create a stunning and often hilarious biography of a people and a place he has called home nearly his entire life.

239 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sara Jordahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! I grew up around here, still live here and enjoy every moment of it, so there was a lot I could connect to in this book. Infact the book made me want to go exploring more around the Iron Range and now I can't wait for summer. There was a lot of rambling in this book which I could have gone without. Otherwise it was well researched at put together.

[Laura Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first. I am not an iron ranger. I do not even live in the great state of Minnesota. So what am I doing reading this book, one might ask.
The iron range is in my blood. My father and his father and his father all toiled away in the mines near Chisholm, Minnesota. The only reason that I am not there is that my father is one of the younger generation (if you can call him that anymore) that left when the jobs turned scarce. So really, I do have a connection to this place just maybe not a solid enough one to understand all of the iron range humor or care enough about what is going on in the place I spent a dozen summers growing up. Maybe it's just a range thing but at least the humor in these articles kept me reading and enjoying it.

[Linda Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

We did a tour of the range with my daughter a few year ago. Stood and looked in wwonder at the open pit mines, went under to the Souban mine. Traveled to Two Harbors to see the train trestles that reach into the bay for unloading taconite into ships. Seeing it doesn't necessarily tell you about the people. This book shares some insights into the culture of the Range. Still I believe the Range will never move on from mining or wanting mines even if mining tears up the little wilderness we have left in the north. I read this book to understand why so many of them voted for Trump this election and I think I found my answer.

[Diane Dettmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. It gave me insights into the history, culture and daily life on the Minnesota Iron Range. Having spent many summers there as a child, I could identify with many of Brown's experiences. Also helped me gain a greater appreciation for my grandparents challenges when they settled in the Ely area in the early 1900s. My book, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants, gives a view of the daily life in northern Minnesota, as my grandparents raised seven children during the Great Depression.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of journalistic essays about growing up in the iron range of Minnesota. Sort of a hodgepodge of tones and messages, because it seems to have been compiled from the author's previously published newspaper columns, but it did give a good summary of the economic and environmental challenges that the people there face. Pretty lefty politically, too, which got tedious after a while.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great insights on the Iron Range history, present and future from a Gen Y parent, teacher and writer. Anyone who grew up in northern MN or wants to understand those of us who did. Great history, humor and heart.

http://www.minnesotabrown.com/

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay - anyone who grew up anywhere near the Iron Range (and Deer River is NOT the Iron Range) needs to read this book - I gave it to my Dad for Christmas so am waiting for him to pass it on.

[Jack McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever go to the Iron Range, read this and his blog.