I was a medical student/resident physician in Chicago from 1964-1975. During those years Old Town in general and Second City in particular were where entertainment was happening. I remember 2nd City for bentwood chairs, John Belushi, Van Camps Beans, and vodka tonics. It was intellectual and interactive, and even though in those days I didn't read the NYT, I thought I was as hip as the U of C crowd. I love this book's format compiling pieces related by the luminaries. (Here I'm also thinking of the similar book about Hunter S Thompson). These guys have shaped the nature of humor on TV, on stage, and in the movies for the last 50 years.

This is a decent overview of this legendary comedy theatre. However, it suffers in comparison with Donna McCrohan's fantastic (and now out-of-print) tome, "The Second City," published in 1987. This book's strongest point is the fact that it provides a snapshot of the theatre from 1987-2009. When McCrohan's book was published, such recent luminaries as Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Chris Farley, Bob Odenkirk, and Tim Meadows had not set foot on the Second City's fabled stages. However, this book's major weakness is it's lack of coverage of the theatre's early years. Granted, many of it's early cast members have now passed on but several remain and we barely hear from them (where is Mina Kolb, Barbara Harris, Jack Burns, etc.?). Also, it tends to focus on the MOST famous contemporary luminaries. I would've liked to hear more from those who went on to very respected careers as character actors but maybe are not household names. So, it's better than nothing and it does dish some dirt (apparently, Mike Myers and Jim Belushi were among those who were not always popular with their fellow castmates). But, ultimately, I feel there were a multitude of missed opportunities that could've resulted in a very good, ROUNDED portrait of the granddaddy of all comedy troupes.

If you have a pulse, you probably like to laugh. If you laugh, you are probably fans of all of the great performers who have come from the ranks of Chicago's Second City. When you read this book, you'll get a chance to learn who these people really are and get to know a big part of what made them great. It's history. It's a part of what makes you smile -- when you watch Colbert, or SNL, or all of the great films and shows these people made -- these Second City alums are cornerstones in our lives. When I read this book, I felt like I had been given private audience to the inner lives of these great men and women and events that shaped them. Brilliantly composed and a comfortable read, I think that this book completely hits the mark.