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Mike Royko

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Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago Kindle Edition

by Mike Royko (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 494 ratings

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"The best book ever written about an American city, by the best journalist of his time.”— Jimmy Breslin

New edition of the classic story of the late Richard J. Daley, politician and self-promoter extraordinaire, from his inauspicious youth on Chicago’s South Side through his rapid climb to the seat of power as mayor and boss of the Democratic Party machine. A bare-all account of Daley’s cardinal sins as well as his milestone achievements, this scathing work by Chicago journalist Mike Royko brings to life the most powerful political figure of his time: his laissez-faire policy toward corruption, his unique brand of public relations, and the widespread influence that earned him the epithet of “king maker.” The politician, the machine, the city—Royko reveals all with witty insight and unwavering honesty, in this incredible portrait of the last of the backroom Caesars.

New edition includes an Introduction in which the author reflects on Daley’s death and the future of Chicago.

Print length

238 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Plume
Publication date

October 1, 1988
Reading age

18 years and up
File size

1284 KB
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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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"The best book ever written about an American city, by the best journalist of his time. Perhaps it will stand as the best book ever written about the American condition at this time. It comes at you from the saloons and neighborhoods, the police stations and political backrooms. It is about lies and viciousness, about the worship of cement and the hatred toward blacks, about troubling cowardice that hides behind religion and patriotism while the poor get clubbed and killed. Royko’s book also does more written damage to a man than perhaps anything I have ever read. I know of no place where it will not be read and quoted and kept and read again."
Jimmy Breslin

“A pungent and precise portrait of how big-city politics work. And it is brisk and lively reading in the bargain. Muckraking at its best, a remorseless book that bites and tears.”
— Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times

“There’s nobody better than Mike Royko writing politics anywhere in the country today. About the book? It’s Daley; Royko’s got him to the life. And it’s Chicago. Even if you’ve never been there you know it’s Chicago. A fine job.”
—Russell Baker, The New York Times

"Stunning, astonishing, myth-shattering!"
Studs Terkel, New York Times Book Review

"Without question the most devastating dissection of a personal municipal fief I've ever read Brilliant!"
John Barkham, Saturday Review Syndicate

"A great book Chicago and the lesser towns that make up urban America may or may not die. But you won't understand why they hurst so much until you read Boss."
The Washington Post

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DYX9MJU
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Plume (October 1, 1988)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 1988
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1284 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #321,369 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #26 in State & Local Government
- #254 in Biographies of US Presidents
- #404 in Biographies of Political Leaders

Customer Reviews:
4.5 494 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

494 global ratings

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Deborah Goldenstein

Chicago under Mayor Daley!!! Quite a Tale!

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023

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Great writing on the history of Mayor Richard Daley and the city of Chicago, written impeccably by one of its greatest journalists, Mike Royko! WOW, Memorable times in the Windy City!

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Sean

Enjoyable Study of the Ultimate Urban Machine

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023

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This is a masterpiece that will educate and entertain any student of politics. Written by a legendary journalist in narrative, not descriptive, form with vivid, humorous, and utterly shocking details it puts political scientists to shame. The book describes the most powerful modern political machine and boos, showing both their successes and failures. It raises important questions- is corruption necessary to get things done? Do voters actually reward - and want - corruption? Which voters?

2 people found this helpful

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Ellen Kelley

Old book still relevant

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2012

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Are you as enchanted and haunted by the Starz Cable network's series Boss as we are? Wondering if the show goes too far? Could this be based in reality? Read Mike Royko's book Boss about the first Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago and make your own conclusions. Written in 1971 and then updated in 1976 after Daley's death, this account of "old style" Chicago politics is fascinating. Then watch the television show Boss. Intriguing

4 people found this helpful

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Nancy

Exactly as advertised

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023

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Book was in great condition. Had read it in the 1970's and wanted to read it again to confirm the corruption of the Chicago political machine. It was 100x what I remembered.

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Gen Swan

This Author Royko knows Chicago

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022

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I read this book in 1971 and so did my sister
She wanted to read again so I was happy Amazon had it. Great and concise book

Helpful

Daley's Chicago--worse than you thought

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023

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A very brief kind of political biography that Robert Caro would make deadly in The Power Broker and the never-ending series of dives into the career and life of Lyndon Johnson. Like Caro's enormous books, this volume has the odd combination of the author's admiration for its subject, as stated in the introduction/eulogy (which was added after the book was originally published, upon the death of Daley) juxtaposed to an unflattering portrait of a bigoted and reactionary--not to mention mind-bogglingly corrupt and dishonest--machine politician.

Aside from that, the book is a fascinating and illuminating portrait of the mess machine politics and--despite the author's desperate attempts to obscure the basic point--post-New Deal Democratic control has made of America's big cities. The concentration of power into all levels of government to "plan" development translates here into a sordid and corrupt tale whose casualties are the outs--racially, politically, and otherwise--, the poor, and even the ins when their "boss" decides to chuck them over the side. The most amazing part of the story is that the city of Chicago has managed to persist at all in spite of the sad excuse for "planning" and "management" provided by the likes of people described within these pages.

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Kindle Customer

Timeless and gut-wrenching

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2015

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An honest and unflinching look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the man who was neither the first Boss nor the last Boss but quite possibly the biggest Boss - but more importantly, what it cost one man, one city and millions of people to take that man to the top and keep him there. Crediting Daley for his ballsiness but never excusing or sparing Daley judgment for his ability to be both casually and deliberately cruel, a short and intense look at American Machine politics at what could be called its most sophisticated - for to call it "at its best" would be giving that form of government more respect than it deserves. Great read.

5 people found this helpful

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R. K. Miles

Royco.

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022

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Great.

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Top reviews from other countries

Albert

25 million stars-great book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2020

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Excellent superb book.Not too long.Strongly recommend it.
Even though this is an old book,written 1971,it is still very interesting.
It’s good going to make an old book about a character most outside of Chicago have forgotten about as interesting as this.
The author,Mike Royko,was clearly on to Mayor Daley from early on.

Sean Hamil

The book was in perfect condition.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2020

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The book was in perfect condition.

Jean

funny and at maddening at times

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2018

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Engaging, funny and at maddening at times. Entertaining insight into the Boss.

Daniel Fournier

Very good book. Received relatively fast. Very cheap price (except for the shipping and handling charges). Satisfied.

Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2013

Verified Purchase

Very interesting book about the "reign" of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley which lasted 21 years (1955-1976) and consolidated what is called the Chicago democratic "machine". The mayor was appreciated, of course, because he was elected seven times, but it was a reign characterized by cronism, favoritism and so on, and the Chicago mafia (the "outfit" ) was not bothered too much. Short book (200 pages), very factual and well witten book by a seasoned journalist. Recommanded reading.

Daniel Fournier
Montreal

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