Chicago fan? Don't miss 'Royko'

Corrosive, vitriolic, insightful. All were words used to describe Mike Royko, the late Chicago Tribune columnist who was described as the best journalist of his time by many of his peers. In "Royko: a Life in Print," the life behind the legend is examined by F. Richard Ciccone, another Chicago newsman. "Royko" is the first comprehensive biography of the man who became a Chicago legend through his words.\nBorn as the son of a bartender into one of Chicago's many ethnic neighborhoods, Royko experienced a rough-and-tumble childhood that left an indelible mark on his world outlook. Emerging from Chicago's streets, he became a reporter while a member of the Army; however, the bulk of "Royko" focuses on his transition from reporter to columnist while working for the Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun Times and The Chicago Tribune. \nStarting as a city hall beat reporter, Royko made his mark on Chicago journalism by his dogged, insightful stories following the pools of corruption that have marked the city hall of Chicago since it was built. Writing about city politics when Chicago was the Democratic machine under the tutelage of the first Mayor Daley, Royko managed to make friends and rake up muck at the same time.\nHowever, he soon made the transition to the column. \nNot content with a once-weekly affair, Royko wrote five columns a week for The Chicago Tribune until he neared his retirement, when he cut back to four a week. It is for these columns that Royko became famous. He was insightful and wielded a poison pen, producing work that was syndicated in over 600 newspapers nationwide. He became the epitome of Chicago journalism and was a living legend by the time of his death in 1997.\nStill, behind the byline there was a tempestuous man who dealt with his own demons while torturing those around him. Murder to work for, he would harangue his runners while falling off his bar stool at the legendary Billy Goat Tavern. The man clearly took out his anger and frustration on those who surrounded him. His insatiable pursuit of perfection, paired with alcoholism, tortured him and those around him; Royko was a workhorse who would not leave until his column was perfect, down to the last period.\n"Royko" is an excellently written biography of a journalistic legend; however, be warned that it is written from a clearly favorable point of view. The author was a close personal friend of Royko for much of his life, and thus, the book is a positively skewed look at his life and work, even though it shows the ugly side of his personality as well as the good. \nDue to this slant, this book is probably not the best objective look at the life of Royko for a critic of his work. Though widely recognized as a man of his time, Royko has as many detractors as rabid fans. Though it is slanted in Royko's favor, it is not a glowing eulogy, but still probably is too rosy for a critic of the man. Much like Royko's writing, you will probably either love the book or hate it, depending on your view of the man behind the legend.