McNeil has a vast knowledge of Ozark lore and music and is highly respected by folklorists around the country. He also has a great affection for folk traditions. My impression of August House is that their audience is not the scholarly community but rather the popular culture so one should not expect a great deal of depth in their publications. That is not to say they are worthless. They can be entertaining and informative. One may not agree with all of McNeil's opinions but he is an informed writer who has factual and literary support for his conclusions. I would recommend anything he has written including the August House publications.