The Airlife's Airliner series of books cover individual commercial aircraft types in an interesting, in-depth manner.
Each volume of this British series covers a unique commercial aircraft type from its design, production, entry into service, its usage by airlines, and in some cases eventual demise.
Each volume features plenty of color and black and white photographs of the subject aircraft along with a complete construction list (accurate to date of publication for aircraft types still being built).
Volume 15 covers the Douglas DC-9 and all of its variants ... up to, but not including the MD-80, MD-90 and Boeing 717. This volume provides an interesting look at the genesis of narrowbody, short/medium range commercial jetliners ... as well as an interesting photo comparrison of the DC-9-30 and its modern-day descendant ... in size, shape and purpose, the Boeing 717.