999: A History of Chicago in Ten Stories
999: A History of Chicago in Ten Storiesis a terrific and fascinating book. --Rick Kogan --Author, Journalist, TV Reporter and Radio HostFizdale's beautifully illustrated debut is a labor of love about his home, the architectural marvel 999 Lake Shore Drive in the historic Chicago neighborhood of Streeterville....Throughout, Fizdale's humorous tone adeptly guides readers:John [Kraft] processed, packaged and sold cheese. Then he did it again and again and again....Even wife June got into the act. She was a cheese industry librarian.As Fizdale states in his introduction, history never yields all of its secrets; yet here we have a reconstruction that, though small in scope, uncovers the secret texture of life in another age. Despite its specificity, this history is a small wonder, providing a fun but thorough look into one of Chicago's greatest homes. --Kirkus ReviewsDemonstrating great storytelling flair, and unafraid to poke fun at the past century and a half's wackiest Lake Shore Drive residents, debut author Richard B. Fizdale...takes the history of one distinctive apartment building and broadens it into the tale of an epic fight...that forever changed the face of Chicago. The author's enthusiasm--personally fueled by that fact that he lives at 999--ultimately resulted in a...book packed with historical images, painstakingly researched detail, and rollicking writing. --" --from ChicagoBookReview.com""Chicago native and former CEO Fizdale offers up both a lively history of the Windy City and a somewhat ponderous biography of a condominimum at 999 Lake Shore Drive. ...this well-researched book--replete with archival photography and illustrations--provides an arresting depiction of the formation of Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood and the colorful characters involved in the process. ...for residents of Chicago, Fizdale's unequivocal affection for his home and city will be contagious." --Publishers Weekly Select