Books about Chicago (Humboldt, Hull, White City: broker, job, house)

[neonwattagelimit]

Happy New Year everybody! Surprisingly, I'm not hungover

I was wondering if there is any particular book, or books, that really capture the history and spirit of Chicago, be it broadly or in a particular time period. My favorite book of all-time, probably, is Robert Caro's The Power Broker, which is a biography of Robert Moses, the man who built much of mid-century New York. But it's more than just a biography - it really gives a sense of what it takes to get things done in a big city and paints a vivid picture of NYC and the region from the 1910s to the 1960s. I'd strongly recommend it to anyone interested in urban politics and history.

I'm currently reading American Pharoh, a biography of Daley the First (does anyone call him that? Am I alone in thinking it's kind of screwed up that a father and a son have lorded over Chicago for 39 of the last 52 years?), and while it's very good it's focus is narrower than I'd hoped. Obviously I don't expect The Power Broker - Caro is just a fantastic storyteller - but I was wondering if there are any other books I should read to complement this and gain a richer understanding of my soon-to-be adopted hometown. Thanks!

[mdz]

After reading American Pharaoh, check out "Boss" by Mike Royko for a different perspective. Quick read, really well done.

More historical stuff: It's a bit violent, but the really popular "Devil in the White City" did a nice job of painting a picture of late 19th century Chicago life. Native Son by Richard Wright is a must read for perspective on the early Black/African-American experience in Chicago. A bit dry but really enlightening is Jane Addams "Twenty Years at Hull House".

If you're into baseball at all--Wrigleyville is a great read (even from this White Sox fan), and "Eight Men Out" is a good one on the 1919 Black Sox. If you can find "Halas by Halas", that was my favorite Chicago Bears history.

[supernerdgirl]

A couple that I really like are Chicago by Studs Terkel, and City on the Make by Nelson Algren. Both are really quick reads.

And if you like reading about the seedier side of the city, I enjoyed The Wicked City: Chicago from Kenna to Capone by Curt Johnson, and Lords of the Levee by Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan.

[Avengerfire]

This book is a collection of photos mostly,but it is great. I highly recommend Richard Nickel's Chicago: Photographs of a Lost City by Richard Cahan.

Also read the book about Richard Nickel-They All Fall Down: Richard Nickel's Struggle to Save America's Architecture by Richard Cahan.

A older very good book on Mob things (1969)-Captive City:Chicago on Chains by Ovid DeMaris.

It even lists many old hang outs and address of mobsters that are gone and are still around. You can go to some of them or drive by some if you dare.;-)

[Lookout Kid]

I'll second Boss and Devil in the White City. DITWC really does a great job of capturing the energy and bustle of late nineteenth century Chicago, though it's certainly no literary masterpiece. It seems to me that Chicago was sort of the Silicon Valley and/or Dubai, where new technology, culture, and business practices were rapidly adopted and morphed on edge of the western frontier. Chicago's economic engine brought such rapid population growth at a rate that had never been seen before anywhere in the world. There was a real energy in this city that has since been lost.

[Angler]

Black Gangsters of Chicago - Ron Shepsiuk

The Outfit- Gus Russo

Roemer: Man Against the Mob- Bill Roemer

[prairiestate]

No problem finding good reads about Chicago. From Amazon's website, I found the top three cities with books written on them are New York (around 1000 titles available), Boston (around 700), and Chicago (just under 700). L.A. doesn't even come close, with only around 400 titles available.

Anyway, there's a new one out, "Sin in the Second City", which details the activities and corruption relating to Chicago's red light district in the early 1900's. It paints a very vivid and compelling portrait. I would also highly reccomend the outstanding "Devil in the White City".

[neonwattagelimit]

Why thank you....looks like I've got myself quite a reading list.

I've heard some good things about Devil in the White City and had heard a bit about Boss, so I shall be checking out those two, for sure, and possibly others.

[Manigault]

For more realistic takes on Chicago:

'Studs Lonigan' or 'Judgment Day' -- James T. Farrell (native of 58th & Prairie)
'Lawd Today' -- Richard Wright (lived on 36th street and worked at the main post office)
'Humboldt's Gift' -- Saul Bellow, a Chicago transplant from Canada
'Working' -- Studs Terkel; longtime resident of Uptown
'The Coast of Chicago" -- Stuart Dybek, south side Polish guy; recent 'one book' selectee.

[sukwoo]

Not a book...but I'd recommend the PBS documentary "Chicago - City of the Century". I used it as a primer about the city when my wife and I decided to move here.