Rome: The biography of a city

What's the first thing one picks up when intending to go sightseeing? Most likely a guide book? The popular guide books (like Lonely Planet) cater to more than sights ie food, experiences etc. Christopher Hibbert's "Rome: The biography of a city" is an unconventional guidebook that intertwines history of the city. It covers most of the monuments from the time of the city's genesis until the demise of the Fascist party in the second World War. An extensive guidebook from the point-of-view of sightseeing and a brisk summary from a historical perspective.