Mike Royko (1932–1997)

Royko's columns are an interesting insight into the city of Chicago in the second half of the 20th century from the vantage point of one of its most witty observers who wrote about life there, day in and day out. Many of those chosen for this volume deal with issues still quite salient today, especially those dealing with racism, political corruption, the demise of American cultural and intellectual seriousness (and the signs reflected in our politics), and the scourge still known as 'political correctness.' Of course, aside from that blip in 2016, perhaps the most unchangeable feature of Royko's work that is instantly relatable today are his meditations on the struggles of those North-side losers, the Cubs. It is hard not to walk away from this 3+ decade journey shaking your head as to how little things have changed in some scary ways in such a long time--no matter how cleverly and humorously Royko lampooned them when they were new phenomenon (or were they?)… (mere)

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.… (mere)