Aren't there enough biographies of history's most infamous despot already?

Probably not. I'm not sure historians will ever fully understand what made Adolf Hitler tick, or what fueled his rise to power in the years following World War I. And now, when the world is seeing the surprising ascent of some world leaders with similar tools in their tool belts -- right-wing propaganda, misinformation, the marginalization of minorities and special interests, character assassinations, self-aggrandizing patriotism and a cult of personality -- it's more important than ever to understand how a population can fall into line behind an autocrat even when it goes against their best interests.

David Mathieson's A Guide to Hitler's Munich provides a detailed look at Hitler's life and the impact of his tyrannical rule on German citizens.

But the book looks at Hitler through a different lens -- that of Munich, the city where he first pursued his artistic ambitions (somewhat lacklusterly, by all accounts), where he first became politically involved, where he rose to power in the fledgling Nazi party and where, perhaps even more than Berlin, he marched his countrymen toward another global conflict.

The author examines not only the urban landscape where Hitler lived, politicked and honed his public persona, but also the culture of the city at the time -- an ancient and artistic community that suffered in the economic downturn following World War I and in the political upheaval that defined and redefined Germany in the tumultuous years. He looks at the important buildings of the city that played a role in Hitler's reign -- buildings that were built, occupied or razed as the Nazis dictated -- and when appropriate he tells readers how those spaces are occupied today.

The book also describes pivotal moments in Munich's history during the years leading up to World War II, such as the Beer Hall Putsch, the "Night of the Long Knives" and Kristallnacht. Mathieson looks unblinkingly at the treatment of the city's Jewish population -- their demonization by the Nazis, the reactions of the city's non-Jews and their varied fates -- as well as the creation of Germany's first concentration camp at nearby Dachau.

Mathieson also tells the stories of people such as Sophie and Hans Scholl, Georg Elser and others in Munich who resisted the Nazi rise -- and paid dearly for their efforts. And he describes the fates of Hitler's political allies and opponents alike.

It's fascinating, and endlessly horrifying, to watch Hitler's rise unfold in that great city. Using Munich as a framework, Mathieson does a tremendous job of telling the story of Hitler and the city that he remade in his image. A final chapter takes a look at the role of nearby Nuremberg.

If anything, I would have enjoyed more illustrations in the book -- it includes a few maps and just over two dozen photos -- but otherwise I think Mathieson has crafted an excellent historical resource for those interested in Hitler's life, World War II and German life.