Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986) was an American journalist for the Chicago Daily News and later the Chicago Sun-Times. His column, “Strictly Personal,” was syndicated in many newspapers throughout the United States and Canada.

He was born in London but grew up in Chicago, where he spent the rest of his life. He attended high school with Saul Bellow, who was his lifelong friend.

He became a member of the editorial staff of the Chicago Daily News in 1941 and began his column in 1944. He was also a drama critic, teacher, and lecturer, and he received numerous honorary doctorates during his career. In 1980-1982 he was the Visiting Scholar at Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina. For many years he was a member of the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary.

Bibliography

Collected Columns

• Strictly Personal (1953)
• Majority of One (1957)
• Last Things First (1961)
• On the Contrary (1964)
• Leaving the Surface (1968)
• For the Time Being (1972)
• The Best of Sydney J. Harris (1975)
• Pieces of Eight (1982)
• Clearing the Ground (1986)

Other Books

• The Authentic Person: Dealing with Dilemma (1972)
• Winners and Losers (1973)
• Would You Believe? (1979)