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As any good Minnesotan will tell you, the Mississippi River begins its journey to the Gulf of Mexico at Lake Itasca. Writer Paul Schneider wanted to get to the river's beginning in a different sense. His newest book, "Old Man River: The Mississippi River in North American History," looks at the importance of this grand waterway dating back to the Paleolithic era.

Schneider has paddled and explored thousands of miles of the river in his effort to research its story. The book digs into how the river has shaped the lives of nearby residents, and how, in turn, they have shaped and reshaped it — physically.

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Book takes a long view of the Mississippi River's history.

When Old Man River was somewhat younger

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