Several years ago I took a long weekend trip with some friends to Chicago, which I absolutely loved. One of the highlights was visiting the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field for a behind-the-scenes tour, followed by a Cubs game the next day. I don't follow baseball the way I do college football and basketball, but I do enjoy going to both minor and major league games, in large part due to the charm and allure of the ballparks.
Therefore, I was eager to read George F. Will's book, A Nice Little Place on the North Side. The book celebrates the 100th birthday of Wrigley Field while also providing historic background on the Cubs, in particular their role as baseball's perennial losers and the butt of many jokes. As a lover of both history and sports, I found the book to be quite interesting, especially since much of the Cubs' storied history was new to me.
Although billed as a book about Wrigley Field, I thought that it focused more on the Cubs team overall--not necessarily a negative. I would have preferred some more behind-the-scenes info on the park from some of the unsung heroes--like equipment managers or grounds crew, for instance--and to me, the book dragged a bit near the end. On the whole, however, I found the book to be a pretty interesting and quick read. Those who are more familiar with the Cubs and with baseball history may find the book even more appealing.
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.
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