For the Love of Mike: More of the Best of Mike Royko

by Mike Royko, Roger Ebert (Foreword by), Judy Royko (Introduction)

In 1999, the University of Chicago Press published a collection of Mike Royko's columns, entitled One More The Best of Mike Royko . The response was immediate and overwhelming—readers almost instantly began asking when the second volume of Royko columns would appear. With more than a hundred vintage Royko columns and a foreword by Roger Ebert, For the Love of Mike was the answer.


Royko, a nationally syndicated Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote for three major Chicago newspapers in the course of his 34 years as a daily columnist. Chosen from more than 7,000 columns, For the Love of Mike brings back more than a hundred vintage Royko pieces-most of which have not appeared since their initial publication-for readers across the country to enjoy. This second collection includes Royko's riffs on the consequences of accepting a White House dinner invitation (not surprisingly, he turned it down); his explanation of the notorious Ex-Cub Factor in World Series play; and his befuddlement at a private screening of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls , to which he was invited by his pal Ebert, the screenplay's author. The new collection also illuminates Royko's favorite themes, topics he returned to again and his skewering of cultural trends, his love of Chicago, and his rage against injustice. By turns acerbic, hilarious, and deeply moving, Royko remains a writer of wit and passion who represents the best of urban journalism.

"To read these columns again is to have Mike back again, nudging, chuckling, wincing, deflating pomposity, sticking up for the little guy, defending good ideas against small-minded people," writes Roger Ebert in his foreword to the book. For the Love of Mike does indeed bring Mike back again, and until a Chicago newspaper takes up Ebert's suggestion that it begin reprinting each of Royko's columns, one a day, this collection will more than satisfy Royko's loyal readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Pulitzer prize columnist, Mike Royko was nationally known for his caustic sarcasm. Over his 30 year career he wrote for three leading Chicago newspapers, "The Daily News", "The Sun-Times", and "The Chicago Tribune", and was nationally syndicated.

The Polish-Ukranian son of a cab driver, Royko grew up on Chicago's southside and never left the city. At age 64, he died in Chicago of complications arising from a brain aneurysm in the spring of 1997. Royko was survived by his wife, Judy, a 9-year-old son, Sam, and 4-year-old daughter, Kate, as well as two grown children from his first marriage. His first wife, Carol, died in 1979.

Reviews

[Simon Robs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best, Chicago ever had.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Royko remains funny as hell, and I laughed a lot while reading this collection. But the problem with a collection like this is that it juxtaposes articles that the author must have hoped would never be juxtaposed. Consistency was never one of Royko’s qualities.

For example, in 1968, when a guy named Sirhan Sirhan killed Bobby Kennedy, Royko blamed it on violent movies. In 1981, when Nancy Reagan blamed Hinckley’s assassination attempt on Reagan on violent movies, Royko blamed it on Reagan.

But get past that, and he’s still a brilliant writer for his time, joking about high rises, race relations, and especially Chicago politics.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal opportunity common sense.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite English professor first introduced me to the genius of Mike Royko and I have never looked back since... Royko's wasn't afraid to take on the politicians and the powerful in Chicago when he was a columnist. It's too bad there are few (if any) writers today that write as freely as he did.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the humor, but I didn't remember the depth and breadth of the social commentary. This is a compilation of some of his columns, the worst of which recalls his foolhardy and thankfully short-lived effort to become a White Sox fan(insert spitting noise here). An easy read, but very engaging, maybe because like a newspaper, you could out it down and come back to it later.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of columns from Mike Royko, a daily columnist for the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune - I LOVED the voice of Mike Royko, the voice of every man. Mike Royko and Herb Caen (columnist from San Francisco) both passed away in 1997 - such a loss.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as One More Time.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't as good as One More Time.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More great columns from Royko, though it doesn't seem to hold together as well as "One More Time". If you have to read only one, go with that one.

[Mark R. McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great columnists of our generation. Rokyo has such a wit and way of driving home a point that he can skewer a subject and make THEM think it's a compliment.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantanstic! Wish he were still alive and writing. All most all of his essays could have been written yesterday. He was so intellengent and funny. Loved both the books of his essays.

[Michael Moats · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my all time favorite columnists. didn't realize how much I missed him until I read this book. no one writes like royko,

[Jbussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I type there are riots and protests and it seems like the world has gone to hell. When I read this guy writing about riots and protests the world has gone to hell, AND THEN his date reads 1969! I am comforted to know that this is just life as normal. This amusing collection of his "best of" newspaper articles is fun and amusing. I enjoyed it. I always love BR readers. Why only 3 starts? Well its just nothing special that's all.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish Mike was still around today so I could read his takes on current events. Highlights in the articles were his wittiness, his discontent for hypocrisy, and his love of Chicago/the working man. Can’t pick which I prefer between this book and ‘One More Time’, all I know is I’ll have to pick up another collection of his.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Mike’s words are as authentic, insightful and enlightening as they were in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as the are applicable to today. We could use more of his common sense today.