Barra Foundation

This is a comprehensive history of Philadelphia in an easy-to-read format. I found it useful and informative: it filled in a lot of history I feel I should know, as a Philadelphia native.

The history of Philadelphia is presented over 750 pages, sometimes in more detail than desired but thoroughly. An attempt is made to present its many facets including economic, social, cultural, and political. The book was compiled in 1982 so obviously does not address the past thirty years. As a new resident of Philadelphia, it provided a good picture of the city through the centuries.