Reviewed by Kenneth D. Ackerman, as published by the Washington Independent Review of Books
History and public opinion rarely turn a kind face toward children of famous people. We usually just love to knock them down — a combination of jealousy, envy and vanity, the presumption that each of us could have done better given the same advantages.
We love stories about the sons who never lived up to the father’s reputation (think Robert Todd Lincoln), or became depressed, alcoholic or magnets for bad luck (think Kennedys), or became general embarrassments to their fathers (think Charlie Sheen). When children of famous parents succeed, we easily dismiss them because of their advantages (think George W. Bush, the Vanderbilt offspring or some of the Adamses). How irritating, then, to come across someone like Richard M. Daley, son of epic Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley. How dare he turn out to be a perfectly good guy who not only out-performed his father in his signature achievement (longevity as Chicago mayor) but also avoided his father’s controversial weaknesses.
To read this review in its entirety, please click here.
