# What's a good book on the history of Chicago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842 "2009-09-20T16:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/1 "2009-09-20T16:47:25Z")
Having recently visited the Windy City, I’m looking a good general overview of the city’s history from roughly the time it was founded to at least the mid-20th Century. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/2 "2009-09-20T22:40:43Z")
It doesn’t fit the whole history of the city that you’re looking for, but I loved [Devil in the White City](http://www.amazon.com/Devil-White-City-Madness-Changed/dp/0375725601/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253486372&sr=8-1) for the way it weaved in many stories and also well described the feel of Chicago in the late 19th century. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/3 "2009-09-20T22:41:54Z")
Another vote for Devil in the White City. Awesome book. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/4 "2009-09-21T02:38:34Z")
\*City of the Century \*by Donald Miller. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/5 "2009-09-21T03:54:29Z")
“Boss,” by Mike Royko, explains how it became what it is. ETA: Richie may have even beat his dad, but Dick laid the groundwork. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/6 "2009-09-21T13:40:46Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Another vote for Devil in the White City. Awesome book. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/7 "2009-09-21T14:00:03Z")
\*Devil in the White City \*is an amusing look at a slice of Chicago history but it doesn’t remotely fit the OP’s needs. _City of the Century_ is one of the great books of urban history ever written. There is no competition between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-book-on-the-history-of-chicago/510842/8 "2009-09-21T14:21:37Z")
From a somewhat different perspective, a couple I enjoyed were: _The Chicago River_, Libby Hill _A Natural History of the Chicago Region_, Joel Greenberg _Chicago in maps: 1612 to 2002_, Holland, Robert The first is a little amateurishly produced, and was a tad tedious at times, but I found it fascinating. After all, the rivers, and the sub-continental divide, are pretty much the only reasons Chicago exists where it does. The second is L-O-N-G, with sections on every aspect of the region’s natural history I could imagine: geology/wildlife/plants/etc. A bit of work to get through, but definitely worthwhile for anyone interested in the area The third is a lot of fun for anyone who likes maps. Interesting representations of how man interpreted and portrayed the Chicago-area over the years.