Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago

Rating:
Summary: Good story,but too fantastic to be real
Review: I was forced to read this book for Honors Govt. It was actually on of the better books that my teachers have given me to read. While Royko can obviously tell a story, this one is to fictionalized to be of any serious use as a source of information

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Reading this book made me think how little things have changed in Chicago over the years.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining
Review: Royko gives a one-sided portrait of Mayor Daley. Royko doesn't allow the reader to form his own opinion of the Mayor based on the fact of the administration; the author found it necessary to tell the reader that the actions were brutal, hypocrytical, etc which gave the sense that Royko wanted to make absolutely sure that we, as the audience hated Mayor Daley, without question.

This is an entertaining book, without question, but I would have found it more enjoyable had it been more objective.

Rating:
Summary: A great civic lesson
Review: Royko's "Boss," lamentably the only book-length work of his brilliant career, is also one of the absolute best books ever written about urban politics. Royko knew Chicago. The city was in his blood. As such, he knew Mayor Daley the elder better than anyone who was not a family member or a member of his administration. Royko shows how the since-deceased Democratic machine ran Chicago, both for the good and the bad. Read it, and you will understand the likes of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, who ended up in jail because he continued to practice machine politics long after the machine had died. Hats off to Mike Royko. This book is his masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: A great civic lesson
Review: Royko's "Boss," lamentably the only book-length work of his brilliant career, is also one of the absolute best books ever written about urban politics. Royko knew Chicago. The city was in his blood. As such, he knew Mayor Daley the elder better than anyone who was not a family member or a member of his administration. Royko shows how the since-deceased Democratic machine ran Chicago, both for the good and the bad. Read it, and you will understand the likes of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, who ended up in jail because he continued to practice machine politics long after the machine had died. Hats off to Mike Royko. This book is his masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: A great civic lesson
Review: Royko's "Boss," lamentably the only book-length work of his brilliant career, is also one of the absolute best books ever written about urban politics. Royko knew Chicago. The city was in his blood. As such, he knew Mayor Daley the elder better than anyone who was not a family member or a member of his administration. Royko shows how the since-deceased Democratic machine ran Chicago, both for the good and the bad. Read it, and you will understand the likes of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, who ended up in jail because he continued to practice machine politics long after the machine had died. Hats off to Mike Royko. This book is his masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Astounding but true
Review: Royko's unauthorized biography of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley was written when Daley was still in office and near the peak of his power. The revelations about Daley's political machinery, which were embarrassing and amazing, have been corroborated. But Royko describes them in his straight-talking direct style that shows how the Daley machine was part of everyday life in Chicago. Royko's anti-machine biases are evident, but do not dilute the impact

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for the serious Chicagoan
Review: The poor student below who was "forced to read" Mike Royko's masterpiece should probably avoid Nelson Algren's "City on the Make" as well. The two books together make the reader understand what makes Chicago the greatest city in North America.

Rating:
Summary: Good History of Mayor Daley!
Review: This is a good history book of Mayor Daley and the vaunted
Chicago political machine. You are given a history of Mayor Daley
in Chicago politics. You are also shown the deadly efficiency of the Chicago political machine.All of Mayor Daley's runs for the Mayor's office are reported in this book.One of the most interesting stories is Mayor Daley and the Chicago machine's
role in electing John F. Kennedy President of the United States.
You are also shown the role thar the Chicago machine played in the election politics of the state of Illinois.This is a book that you will enjoy reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad, But Dated
Review: While controversial when initially published (Maggie Daley boycotted Jewel Foods for selling it!), it's not as detailed as some on the other books on the Daley Machine and rather lacking in documentation. It's interesting that Royko attempted to smear Daley Jr. as a racist for the high crime of hesitating to drop someone off at the 35th St. station! I guess that's the most he could dig up on him. In any event, it didn't stop Royko from supporting Daley's slack-jawed scion when he ran for mayor. I would suggest reading Len O'Connor's _Clout_ if you can find a copy.