City of Big Shoulders: Second Edition

A History of Chicago

By: Robert G. Spinney

Narrated by: Doug McDonald

City of Big Shoulders links key events in Chicago's development, from its marshy origins in the 1600's to today's robust metropolis. Robert G. Spinney presents Chicago in terms of the people whose lives made the city - from the tycoons and the politicians, to the hundreds of thousands of immigrants from all over the world.

In this revised and updated second edition that brings Chicago's story into the 21st century, Spinney sweeps his historian's gaze across the colorful and dramatic panorama of the city's explosive past. How did the pungent swamplands that the Native Americans called "the wild-garlic place" burgeon into one of the world's largest and most sophisticated cities? What is the real story behind the Great Chicago Fire? What aspects of American industry exploded with the bomb in Haymarket Square? Could the gritty blue-collar hometown of Al Capone become a visionary global city?

A city of immigrants and entrepreneurs, Chicago is quintessentially American. Spinney brings it to life and highlights the key people, moments, and special places - from Fort Dearborn to Cabrini-Green, Marquette to Mayor Daley, the Union Stock Yards to the Chicago Bulls - that make this incredible city one of the best places in the world.

The book is published by Cornell University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2020 Cornell University (P)2020 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Condensed yet energetic and substantial history of Chicago." (Publishers Weekly)

"A much-needed, brief yet comprehensive analytical history of Chicago." (Journal of Illinois History)

Good overview of early Chicago history, but gets a bit iffy with modern times

A good book of Chicago history, and the author isn't lying when he states that it is an overview of Chicago's history he wrote for an introductory Chicago history course. With that said, it tells a good, but quickly glossed-over history of the second city. You will find quick descriptions of the personalities that made Chicago unique, but without the in-depth descriptions that make them so charming, personable, and, sometimes, antagonistic. It lacks the depth of Gotham, the history of NYC, and it runs much quicker over events from World War 2 to modern day.
It is a good story, but it lacks the bite that would make it more memorable.

Recommended

Very well written book, informative and engaging. I really recommend it, not only for Chicago lovers.

why does he do a voice for the black people

If you're white you should not only do a different voice for the black people in a book