Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago [Paperback]

Mike Royko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1988

Mike Royko's scathing expose of Chicago's iron-fisted mayor Richard Daley was a national bestseller in its original hardcover and Signet editions. Now published in trade paperback, Boss continues to stand as a classic in American investigative reporting.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in 1971 when the late Daley was mayor of Chicago, this classic "provides a detailed and, for some, eye-opening account of Daley's rise to absolute control of the Chicago Democratic political machine," said PW , finding the book "sardonic and sometimes hilarious reading."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Plume (October 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452261678
• ISBN-13: 978-0452261679
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Seattle Royko Fan, March 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago (Paperback)

You don't have to be from Chicago to appreciate this book andRoyko's genius as a writer and wry political observer.

His almostmatter-of-fact accounting of the machine corruption in Chicago under Daley is eye opening. Those who analogize it to the Mafia are on point, except its power the politicians are after, rather than just money. It's unbelievable to me that all of the venality was so out in the open and tolerated by the populace.

Particularly interesting was his account of the ethnic and racial evolution in this melting pot of a city. Italian, Polish, Irish, German, and Slavic neighborhoods whose only common theme was their hatred of the blacks. The paradox being that despite the white hatred, the segregation and appalling living conditons, those same white people could count on the black vote come election time, largely because of unscrupulous black ward bosses who cared more about power than helping their constituents.

One of the many things I like about Royko is that after reading his columns for years, I couldn't tell you whether his politics are liberal or conservative. He didn't deal in bromides, just reality. When something wasn't right, he called it on the perpetrators and wasn't hesitant to name names. I really miss the guy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Boss: a candid and honest account of Richard J. Daley and the city he built, February 23, 2006

By 

P. McGonagill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago (Paperback)

Royko's classic portrait of Daley and "his" Chicago is perhaps most distinguished by its narrator. While the facts remain the same between this book and others such as American Pharoah, the profound attachment and understanding of a man who spent his professional career writing about the same city that shaped Daley creates a much more colorful and intricate perspective on mid 20th century Chicago. Presented as a journalistic piece rather than a heavily footnoted history or political science text, Boss engages the reader on a more narrative than statistical level. Through personal stories of machine "grunts" and smoke filled rooms, Royko accomplishes more in just over 200 pages than the statistical tome American Pharoah does in over 600. It comes down to one necessary and incontrovertable fact: only a Chicagoan can truly understand and synthesize the experience and leadership of his or her city. East-coasters can write about the "City with Big Shoulders" until their knuckles seize up, but they will not be able to truly appreciate the subtleties of Chicago's culture and psyche. As a highly respected voice in Chicago journalism who was at loggerheads with Mayor Daley on numerous occasions, Royko presents an honest and faithful version of Chicago and its mayor.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars IIt's ALL TRUE!, April 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago (Paperback)

I was born and raised in Chicago, and was an adult at the time of most of the events portrayed in the book. Although some reviewers seemed to find the characterization of Daley far-fetched, it was absolutely on target!