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tomrrandall's review against another edition
4.0
Dramatic account of a turning point in the city's history. Impressive weaving together of multiple threads that are seemingly unrelated but together built the tension leading to the primary events.
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
4.0
Not at all dissimilar to Bryson's One Summer, City of Scoundrels tells a more focused story that is in some ways more interesting. Perhaps it's the fact that I was unfamiliar with many of the characters and incidents.
modernviking's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and well written history of a short period of time. Particularly interesting to me because of all the details of how Chicago's Mayor dealt with the string of crises that hit the city in 1919 (or as it was perhaps didn't....)
labtracks's review against another edition
3.0
Not surprised that I had a hard time getting into this one. I don't like books about politics and since the "scoundrels" are politicians (same almost 100 years later and I'm sure 100 years before....) the whole first part of this book was about elections, blowhards, campaigns etc.
Once it really got into the crash, riots, strike and missing girl it got more interesting.
This book was very well researched and documented. Sadly I could see the same series of events happening next week as well I could reading about it happening almost 100 years ago... same fights, same strike, same riots, same missing child, same corrupt politicians. That's a sad realization....
Once it really got into the crash, riots, strike and missing girl it got more interesting.
This book was very well researched and documented. Sadly I could see the same series of events happening next week as well I could reading about it happening almost 100 years ago... same fights, same strike, same riots, same missing child, same corrupt politicians. That's a sad realization....
elizabethsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Part Two of this book was excellent. The way the stories of the many tragic events unfolded and interwove was riveting (and infuriating). Even as someone who was born, raised, and lived my whole life in the suburbs of Chicago, I did not know much of this history or had a very shallow, narrow understanding of the events. However, as much as I understood the importance of politics in how these events were managed, I found the backstories of the politicians terribly tedious and ended up skimming several sections.
kamminjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
The history in this book is fascinating & the book itself is well-written, but the author writes with obvious racist bias which stains the story & causes painful distraction to the reader.