Never a City So Real (Abridged): A Walk in Chicago Audiobook

" A good quick read. Like several long feature articles about different people and places in Chicagoland. "

" Super interesting history of Chicago. I learned a lot and it's highly readable, and short! Really a great book. "

" Nice collection of vignettes of diverse Chicagoans. Great author. Comes around Northwestern from time to time. "

" A great little book that truly captures the feel of Chicago. "

" Profiles and stories about Chicagoan and the city they call home This book really helped me bond to the city while I was living there. Part of the "A Walk in ____" series, I would recommend the series to friends based on the strength of this one. "

" kotlowitz illuminated many things about chicago history and politics, which i really appreciated, since it is all kinds of confusing for newcomers. and his profiles were funny and touching. however, the book felt uneven to me. or maybe unfocused? such a big subject. and even though his philosophy is that a city is the people in it, how do you choose among the many remarkable people in a city the size of chicago? i think this was the problem here. i found myself wondering why kotlowitz chose the people he did and what relationship they had to each other, other than being chicagoans. a narrower focus or a longer book of more in-depth profiles probably would of solved this. some of the profiles were just getting interesting when they ended, which made me mad. to paraphrase kenneth the page, i don't want to swear, but i am irritated right now. "

" Alex Kotlowitz talks about eating in Chicago. Seems fitting to me. Actually a really nice book to read. "

" The different stories in this book in no way hang together, and gave me only small glimpses into life in Chicago, but I enjoyed it enough to finish it. "

" There are authors who love the quality and depth of living near or in Chicago as much as I do. This is a story about people. "

" A great collage of what Chicagoans are. I plan to re-read, as the writing is great, and the stories are so specific, but so Chicago. "

" One of the best books about Chicago ever. Written about the people who live here, for the people who live here. "

" The chicago you will unfortunately never discover on your own. "

" I thought it was good. "

" It is rare that I don't finish a book but I just couldn't slog through it. A dated and cliche view of Chicago's neighborhoods. "

" Definitely one of my favorite books! A good way to learn about the real lives of Chicagoans from different sides of the block. "

" Pretty cool description of the various parts / people of Chicago. I kinda lost interest. Non-fiction isn't my deal. "

" Really liked this! I want to go to Manny's on the South Side now and spend more time in Albany Park (did not know anything about AP before I started reading this book. Very interesting history!). "

" A great series of vignettes about various folk who made/make Chicago the city it was and is. "

" If you've ever lived in Chicago you will love this book. Kotlowitz shows you the real Chicago (even walks down a block that Nicole and I lived for two years when he's talking about the day workers). "

" makes you proud to live in chicago. "

" It was disappointing that this was an abridged audio version, I only saw it on the box once I'd checked it out from the library. Kotlowitz was not a bad reader and I would have happily listened to the whole book. "

" I read this after completing a summer of working "in the field" with kids in the My Chicago program. It was a good snapshot into some key people in certain neighborhoods but I wanted more of a taste of the neighborhood itself. "

" Every time I read this book my heart aches for that beautiful city I have left behind. Required reading for every Chicagoan. "

" Alex Kotlowitz loves Chicago. You will too after reading this book. "

" This was another great book by Alex Kotlowitz. It is much more uplifting than There Are No Children Here, while still real and gritty. I loved all of the individual stories, especially when I could relate to a certain neighborhood or group. Awesome book! "

" Read it a few years ago and really enoyed it. "

" Nice collection of vignettes of diverse Chicagoans. Great author. Comes around Northwestern from time to time. "

" This is a Crown Journeys book, one in a series of little gems in which great writers share their favorite places. "

" Well-chosen set of neighborhoods (including the suburb of Cicero) as a representation of life in Chicago. I'd say it would be a book better suited for folks at least somewhat familiar with the city (as I am), than those who've never been there looking for background. "

" It was disappointing that this was an abridged audio version, I only saw it on the box once I'd checked it out from the library. Kotlowitz was not a bad reader and I would have happily listened to the whole book. "

" Chicago has a contemporary voice and he is from New York, go figure. Wait...he now lives in Chicago "

" This book was a great snapshot of the city! I am a huge fan of Kotlowitz, so I was really excited to read this book. He did a great job of showing the city through the eyes of those who live here! "

" A great collage of what Chicagoans are. I plan to re-read, as the writing is great, and the stories are so specific, but so Chicago. "

" The different stories in this book in no way hang together, and gave me only small glimpses into life in Chicago, but I enjoyed it enough to finish it. "

" Love Chicago, love Alex Kotlowitz ... can't wait to move! "

" I read this after completing a summer of working "in the field" with kids in the My Chicago program. It was a good snapshot into some key people in certain neighborhoods but I wanted more of a taste of the neighborhood itself. "

" Interesting look at a few specific neighborhoods in Chicago - none of which I've spent any time in, but still pretty cool. "

" I loved this book. A quick read. "

" If you've ever lived in Chicago you will love this book. Kotlowitz shows you the real Chicago (even walks down a block that Nicole and I lived for two years when he's talking about the day workers). "