This is not a summer reading list but a list of reading for anyone who wants to know more about Cleveland, its people - the good and bad - and its history.
Some may want to add to this list. Please feel free with your comments.
BOOKS DEALING IN SOME WAY WITH CLEVELAND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
My Story, autobiography of Tom Johnson, 1901 progressive mayor of Cleveland.
Confessions of a Reformer by Frederick C. Howe, part of the Johnson era.
The Silent Syndicate by Hank Messick – on Cleveland organized crime.
Promises of Power by Carl Stokes about his political life.
Shoot-out in Cleveland by Louis Masotti (on 1968 Glenville riot/rebellion).
Mobbed Up by James Neff (on Jackie Presser and Teamsters).
City Beat also by James Neff (Columns on Cleveland from his Plain Dealer days).
They Call it a Game by Bernie Parrish (former Browns football player but Cleveland Browns & Art Modell stuff in it).
Black Victory by Kenneth Weinberg (On Stokes first election victory).
Blacktown, U. S. A. by Frank Keegan (CSU) (Chapters on African-Americans, including a number of Clevelanders).
Rebuilding Cleveland by Diana Tittle (on Cleveland Foundation & “evolving urban strategy.”)
Cleveland – The Best Kept Secret by George Condon.
The Making of a Man - an autobiography of Lewis Robinson (history of black civil rights/nationalism in 1960s)
Cleveland – Confused City on a Seesaw – a look at the city over a period with emphasis on 1960-70s by Phillip Porter (former exec editor of PD).
Illuminating Company by various people and likely only available in library – put out by conglomeration of people in 1968 or so and critical of various establishment institutions.
Checkmate in Cleveland by Estelle Zannes (CSU) - Covers Stokes era more or less from anti-Stokes perspective.
The Courage to Survive, an autobiography of the early life of Dennis Kucinich.
Newhouse by Thomas Maier – a book about the family that owns the Plain Dealer
Links:
[1] http://smtp.realneo.us/blog/roldo/if-you-dont-watch-anything-else-this-weekend-watch-this
[2] http://smtp.realneo.us/content/roldo-bartimole-0
[3] http://smtp.realneo.us/content/it-depression-yet