Chicago, City of Neighborhoods: Histories and Tours

This is literally an indespensible book for anybody interested in Chicago history, because for once a book more or less ignores politicians, big business, and downtown and concentrates on neighborhoods, churches, and "the little people" without being pedantic, condescending, or Marxist. Each chapter covers one of the 15 neighborboods, and includes a narrative and a brief tour description. The book is almost 20 years old so is a little out of date, but is really worth getting a copy of if you can.