Chicagoist: Convince Us

Mister C

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:03:58 -0600

Lords of The Levee by Wendt and Kogan is a wonderful biography of "Hinky Dink" Kenna and "Bathhouse" John Coughlin, the notoriously corrupt aldermen of late-19th/early-20th century Chicago. It contains a lot of background info on the city during that period and is a must read for anyone who thinks that Rich's Regime is "the most corrupt ever." Plus, it was just reprinted in a sporty new edition.

Mister C

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:57:10 -0600

Kevin

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 14:01:50 -0600

I must recomend "Fire on the Prarie" by Gary Rivlen. It is the story of Harold Washington and his impact on the city. Not so much a biography of the man, as a biography of the city. I guess you could read "Chicago: City on the Make" by Algren for that, although that book is sort of a parody of itself. And there is always "Sleepwalking Through History", about Ronald Reagan. It still gives me chills.

jon

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:33:14 -0600

"His Excellency" by Joseph Ellis was an excellent biography of George Washington. "American Pharaoh" was also good, but got a little heavy-handed on the whole "Daley was a Racist!!!" thing.

Chuck

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:27:19 -0600

I think I already recommended this one to you via e-mail, Hixx. But check out Peter Guralnick's "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (I gave you the wrong title in the e-mail).

rachelle

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:23:09 -0600

I don't know if these all count.. I guess they're more like memoirs.. When Corruption Was King : How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down by Robert Cooley and Hillel Levin i assume you've read Angela's Ashes & Tis. I have Teacher Man too, but it's not as good. I never finished. Honky by Dalton Conley

Hanna

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:50:46 -0600

I adore Norman Rockwell and found his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator fun, sweet and inspiring.

Pattie

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:48:26 -0600

"Wake Up, I'm Fat!" by Camryn Manheim

Matt

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:34:39 -0600

This one about Harry Houdini sounds pretty cool. I just saw it in the Trib today.

Alicia

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:28:19 -0600

Don't know if you've already read it, but "American Pharaoh" by Adam Cohen and Elizabeth Taylor (not that one) is a great account of Boss Daley's life and politics. It's not just about him, either, it explains the way the city was shaped. Superb. Other than that, "Rotten" by Johnny Rotten. But that's an autobiography. It rules, though.

Matt

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 11:06:46 -0600

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by HW Brands. It's one of my favorite books. I think it has as much to do with the subject as the writing, but the whole package is fascinating.

chad

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:56:27 -0600

They Marched Into Sunlight: War and Peace Vietnam and America October 1967