Top Books Based In Philadelphia
Most know it's important to understand history and that reading is fundamental. As rich in history as Philadelphia is, there are actually surprisingly few books out there focused on the City of Brotherly Love. If you are interested in learning more about the city, here are the top books based on Philadelphia. They are from a variety of genres which include historical, art and fiction based on actual events.
"A Prayer for the City"
Buzz Bissinger
www.buzzbissinger.com
This book describes the inner workings of city administration in Philadelphia. It was written during four years of the Ed Rendell administration and published in 1998. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Buzz Bissinger details an inside account, plus stories from a few of the citizens with various troubles at the time. This enlightening book tells the tales from the perspectives of four different citizens and staff as they make their way through political battle fields, struggling with poverty and dealing with obstacles and influences like the federal government and press.
"Historic Landmarks of Philadelphia"
Roger Moss and Thomas Crane
www.upenn.edu
The Barra Foundation also has a series of similar titles to complement this book including historic houses and historic sacred places. This book focuses on the architecture of one of the oldest cities in the country and founding citizens. There are 65 historical landmarks in the city of Philadelphia. This book will help you learn about the architects, their vision, style and some of the history to these places. Highlighted locations include Fort Mifflin, the Free Library, Boathouse Row and Eastern State Penitentiary.
"More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell"
Jane Golden, Monica Kinney and Robin Rice
www.temple.edu
This book tells the behind-the-scenes history of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Project. More than 2,000 murals adorn the city now and were created in an attempt to cut back on graffiti and channel it in a more positive way. This happened with both seasoned artists and by bringing young people from Philly to paint. This book is full of beautiful pictures of these murals and will make a person who lives in Philly feel pretty proud of their city.
"The Philadelphia Inquirer's Walking Tours of Historical Philadelphia"
Edward Colimore
www.caminobooks.com
This historically enlightening read details about 12 different walking tours a person who loves history can take. The tours are through different neighborhoods and cover a wide variety of parks, buildings and historical locations. Learn more about Independence Hall, how Rittenhouse Square came to be developed and much more. The book also offers maps and locations of restaurants and shops, so it is not only a great guide book for those visiting but also for those who haven't ventured out and about as much as they would like.
"Philadelphia Then and Now"
Edward Mauger
www.thunderbaybooks.com
Take a look at this photography book of historical and more current pictures of the City of Brotherly Love. The book connects the past and the present by using the same locations for the photos; the "then" is in black and white and the "now" is in color. It's interesting to look at how much a city can grow and develop (or how sometimes it doesn't).
Related: Walking Tours of Chestnut Hill
"Third and Indiana"
Steve Lopez
www.penguin.com
Third and Indiana is a novel detailing some of the harsher realities of living in a poverty-stricken, drug-run area of the city. The story follows two main characters and is written with what is described by many as "beautiful language." The story is fiction but based on actual events from the former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and the Fairhill neighborhood where he had once lived. Lopez is most famous for his work "The Soloist."
Related: Top Books about Philadelphia 2012
Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.
