Citizen Koch: An Autobiography

Patriots will be heartened to learn that the former mayor of New York City, who reaffirms here that he ``rarely forgives, and never forgets,'' hasn't lost his edge, even though he protests that ``as mayor, I didn't think I could spare the time to be as nice as I really am.'' About New York governor Mario Cuomo, he opines: ``Listening to him is a lot like listening to a Japanese haiku''; David Dinkins, Koch's successor, ``is neither lucky nor able . . . only during his administration could New York City suffer a drought in the winter''; columnist Jimmy Breslin is ``one of the most intellectually dishonest reporters in the country.'' Koch-bashers, for their part, will be dumbfounded to discover that His Honor was indeed of woman born, as he recalls with nostalgia and affection his Polish-Jewish immigrant parents, especially his mother--which perhaps explains why he didn't leave home until age 32. Writing with Paisner (coauthor, with Geraldo Rivera, of Exposing Myself ), the 67-year old Koch, who has been a private citizen since 1990 after a political career that began in 1963, talks pridefully about his life after the mayoralty as an attorney, radio and TV host, movie reviewer, lecturer, etc. So how's he doin'? ``My belly is flat . . . I feel terrific.'' Photos not seen by PW . (Sept.)