I just finished reading a pretty good book about a messenger in Chicago; he works for service first courier. It's called "The Immortal Class, Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power" and it’s by Travis Hugh Culley. Its a pretty decent book gives you some insights into the world of bike messengers and their struggles against SUV's and cars in general. The book is well written. I think it would be a pretty good read for any cyclist, it has certainly woken me up to the attitudes of American motorists towards cyclists. He also gives some interesting accounts of his attempts and others to raise the awareness about cycling through the Chicago critical mass group. All in All it’s a pretty fascinating account of life through the eyes of a messenger.
Stew