August 11, 2009… 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… here.

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