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Rating: 
Summary: Darn good with one flaw
Review: A great book with contents delivered in a clear, concise writing style. It reads so fluidly, one can forget he/she is learning history while riding along with a fascinating narrative. I very much enjoyed it and learned a great deal from the exhaustive research that obviously went into the project. My only criticism, however, keeps me from giving five stars: the co-authors seem obsessed with housing and perceived racism issues in Chicago - at times to the extent that Daley is almost forgotten in their drive to bring home a point. If this is where their academic background is based that is fine, but the reader deserves to know this going in instead of being advertised a full one volume biography type of study. This was an occasional distraction, but one that usually ended soon enough with a paragraph break - welcomed with a 'whew, glad we got back on track'- from this reader. All in all, a fine book very much worth your time, but be advised not quite what it might seem.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Researched and Thoughtful
Review: I am a Chicago resident, but I have no ties to the authors or any members of the Daley family. This book was extremely well researched. I learned a great deal about the city's history from 1920 to 1975. The authors do a good job in depicting the racial issues that confronted Chicago politicians during that period. They interviewed people on all sides of the debate, including Daley insiders and some people who protested against Daley. Their comments about the mayor's efforts to balance the power of various racial and ethnic voting blocks are right on the money. Some reviewers have criticized this book for being too cynical about Daley. My experiences here suggest the authors are correct. the authors also have a sense of humor about some of the machine's antics. The book has a sense of fun about it that is helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: A truly great book, worth reading
Review: I picked up this book after reading the very positive review in the Sunday New York Times. I knew little about Daley beyond the 1968 Convention. The authors succeed at telling the story not only of this one very intriguing man but also of how the modern city of Chicago emerged during his two decades in office. I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in biography or modern American history, or of course, Chicago. The book is heavily sourced, both to local news accounts -- something which has been inexplicably criticized by other reviewers in this column -- as well as over a hundred interviews conducted by the authors (e.g., William Daley, Daniel Rostenkowski). This is a praiseworthy and fascinating effort by the writers to tell the story as it happened, not as various political or religious viewpoints would like it to be told.
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