A View from the River: The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise

This book is perfect for those who want a short and simple overview of the magnificent buildings along the Chicago River. Be aware though, that it's organization makes it not terribly useful as a guide on a river cruise or in my case, an easy way to label the photos I've taken along the way. I was hoping for more of a sequential guide that would present the architecture as seen from the tour boat. Instead, the author has organized it by architectural style - The Chicago School, Art Deco, Modern, Postmodern, etc. As a result, the book "jumps" from place to place along the river. There is a map (with tiny print) in the back for reference however. The pictures are wonderful, though many are aerial views that might make it hard to identify the building from what you've seen or photographed from water level. And if I may offer one more peckish comment - if only the author had given more attention to those fantastic bridges along the way. I personally find them enchanting, and would love to see them documented. That said, it's a great book and I'm glad I bought it. It provides just what I wanted in terms of describing the buildings and fitting each into the grander, bigger picture. I now have a much better understanding of the history, trends, and philosophy of Chicago architecture and architects as a result, and I know I will use it again for reference before my next river cruise.