20世纪20至30年代出现了一批以研究北京社会生活、民风习俗为题材的英文研究著作。作者搜集了北京各社会阶层、街头风景和生活习俗的材料，撰写了《北京生活侧影》。该书文字细腻、生动活泼，并收录了一百多张记录北京当时市井民俗的珍贵图片。

正如周永治在序中所说，燕瑞博先生“对我们了解中国作出了富有价值的贡献。他通过摄影精确记录了中国人各方面的生活。他的著作对于新的来访者其价无比，对于老居民则是很好的备忘录。在未来的岁月，他的著作极有可能被用作论及被遗忘的生活层面的教科书。”

Introduction--By Hardy Jowett

Note on Romanization

Chapter I A City of Pleasure

Chapter II The Hutng and Its Inhabitants

Chapter III Street Vendors

Chapter IV Flower Streets and Willow Lanes

Chapter V Pawnshops, Middlemen and Money Lenders

Middlemen

Money Lenders

Chapter VI Feasts and Restaurants

Chapter VII Actors and the Theatre

Chapter VIII Various Professions

Chapter IX Gates, Street Names and Various Places of Interest

Street Names

Certain Places of Interest

Chapter X Politicians, Some Office Holders and

Certain Educationalists

Chapter XI Red Ceremonials, Marriages, Births and Birthdays

Births

Birthdays

Chapter XII Tales of the Spirit World

Water Ghosts

Wall Building Ghosts

Hanging Ghosts

Barber Ghosts

Idol Ghosts

Ghosts Connected with Sickness and Death

Devil Possession

T'ou Sheng Kuei

Kuei Ch'ai, or "Harbingers of Death"

Spirit Foxes and Other Strange Phenomena

Precautions against Evil Influences

Ghost Festivals