A pictorial history of Manhattan
929646
This is an interesting book that documents the history of Manhattan through black and white pictures. Most pictures printed in this book are between 1935 and 1938. It is by no means an exhaustive work but it should be of interest for casual readers interested in the history of New York City. The financial district, New York harbor, East River, the Lower East Side and Fifth Avenue is prominently illustrated. Most notable parts of the city missing in this book are the Time Square and Central Park. However there are several photographs that are worth looking at, which includes; a 1938 aerial picture looking-down on Broadway from Wall Street to Battery Park; a 1938 aerial photograph of the Wall Street; the 1937 picture of Brooklyn Bridge with pier 21; a 1936 picture of Metropolitan Elevated Railway Company's Lines at Second and the Third Avenue; a 1937 picture of Hester Street chicken market; the 1936 picture of Washington Square looking North (this is my favorite photograph in this book); a 1935 photograph of 32 Street and Third Avenue showing a street newspaper vendor; there are more than one hundred magazines on display in this photograph and the covers of many of magazine shows movie stars of the day that include; Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, and Claudette Colbert.
933651
The photos are interesting and eclectic and the stories behind each one are fascinating. I have been following Brandon Stanton's Facebook page and it is one of the highlights of my day. My daughter works in NYC and has come across some of these people, both in the streets and on the trains. My copy was an advanced order and now I will order more to give to my New York friends and to my Snow Bird friends who miss the color and drama of the city.
2404942
The book is connected to a New York City that is quite different from the city of today and its photographs, both revealing and ironic, bring those times to life. From pictures of its humble beginnings as a Dutch outpost in the New World to those depicting the hustle and bustle of the big city it evolved into, Diana Krause Olivers book of pictures and prose not only immerses you into the evolving maelstrom of this wonderful city but invites you to feel and experience its journey of growth.

 This book is well-suited not only for New York natives, who promise themselves to see all of the city but rarely do, but for all visitors who can use it as a guide to see and appreciate the city in all its historical significance, beauty and wonders firsthand. The compelling illustrations capture the unique character of New Yorks landmarks and the lesser known areas which the author brings to light.

 My only problem with the book is whether to put it in my bookcase of classics (which look impressive but are rarely read) or leave it on the living room table for all (especially guests) to see and enjoy.
1158072
To appreciate Manhattan to its fullest author Pete Hamill states you have to walk the streets.  Since Hamill has "paid rent" in various locations on the island he is qualified to tell us what changes various parts of "downtown" have undergone over the past several decades.  Downtown to Hamill runs from Battery Park at the southern tip of the island to approximately 60th Street.  Hamill provides us with the history of the various parts of Manhattan and the changes that have taken place in areas such as Union Square, Herald Square, Washington Square, in "the Village", and Times Square, formerely Longacre Square.  A huge victory for the city has been reclaiming Times Square from the druggies, feral children, porno parlors, and other seedy characters that inhabited the area mainly from the 1960's through the 1980's.  Since my experiences in New York City have been limited to brief visits in 1958, 1973, 1978, and 2004) I don't have the necessary background to visualize all the places that Hamill tells us about.  I did, however, find the book fascinating to read and picked up some historical tidbits I wasn't aware of.  From my own limited observations the difference in the Times Square area in 2004 was a tremendous improvement from what it was like in the 1970's.  Whether you are a veteran New Yorker or just interested in learning about this fascinating island, you will find Pete Hamill's "Downtown" to be an interesting and informative read.
2170890
Fascinating history of an iconic apartment building in NYC.  Intertwined are the histories of some of the rich and famous occupants.
663159
I love 'then-and-now' photo books that show how cities have evolved over the years. T. John Hughes' APPARITIONS, ARCHITECTURE THAT HAS DISAPPEARED FROM OUR CITIES is a 'then-and-now' photo book with a difference. Rather than using side-by-side vintage and contemporary pix of various buildings/city blocks, he transposes a 'ghost' vintage shot over the contemporary pix to create a wonderfully appealing tribute to the ever-changing face of various American cities.

Hughes presents some 70-odd 'ghost views' of such landmarks as New Orleans' French Opera House, Chicago's Republic Building, Cincinnati's Music Hall, Philadelphia's Broad Street Theater, Madison's Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse,  Seattle's Carnegie Library,  St. Louis' World Fair, Pittsburgh's North Side Point Bridge, New York's Vanderbilt residence, Las Vegas' Landmark Hotel,  Salt Lake City's Salt Palace, Charlotte's City Hall, Atlanta's Frances Hotel, Cleveland's 9th Street Pier, Milwaukee's Industrial Exposition Building and so on. My favorite view is that of San Francisco's Sutro Bathhouse but there are lots of other great shots. Since the photographs are presented in no particular order, you can just jump in at a random page and enjoy.

In short, APPARITIONS is a fascinating, fun guide to evolving city architecture. Recommended.
4359063
In her unique and engaging style, Jane Mushabac shows her readers the day-to-day lives of early New Yorkers and their city.
A "must read' for anyone interested in the history of the greatest city in the world and the energetic spirit of its early citizens.
3825054
It is clear that years of devoted and painstaking research went into the writing of this book.  One is given a strong idea of how the neighborhood has evolved as well as the society and mores of its inhabitants over several centuries.  The book is well illustrated and there are many images that I have never seen elsewhere.
2352051
This is a rather slim collection of b/w photographs of mid-century Manhattan. A few interesting shots of outer-boro commuters sitting on rattan subway and el seats with the funny hats people wore in the 40's; the rest are unremarkable pictures of prosiac street scenes. Manhattan has always been the mother lode of subject matter for photography, whether the theme is architecture or the man on the street. There are countless coffee table books by better photographers at lower prices in most book stores.
4021674
This is the NYC guide I've been looking for. The locals interviewed represent a range of perspectives from history geeks to outdoor adventurers. While everyone should experience Manhattan's big tourist draws once, I especially appreciated the suggestions in the outer boroughs. I couldn't stop scribbling notes throughout my read and ended up with an entire itinerary for my next NYC trip!
4187770
I read this book during my first trip to New York. The city I admired  from my window was so well reproduced in the book of Matteo Pericoli, that I get the feeling I was able to see NYC through the windows of the real New Yorkers.
Each of the 63 drawings are truly pieces of art. The bookbinding is strong and very nice. This is much more than a coffee table book !
Strongly recommended to the New Yorkers, born and bred, and from abroad !
2175251
Maps and period documents help to tell the story of New York City from its beginning with Native Americans to the present day, making this a fine supplement to Burrows and Wallace's immense two-volume GOTHAM histories. But it readily stands on its own with clear modern maps making good use of color and graphics. Basically chronological as one might expect, this includes topical coverage such as the development of Fifth Ave., tenements, subways and transit, Rockefeller Center, Harlem, and rebuilding the World Trade Center.  A useful chronology sums up this fascinating book. Recommended
2251653
New York City is the most populous city in the United States and has a history that goes back about 400 years. Over that time, New York has changed a great deal to become probably the most ethnically diverse place in the world and a host of different architecture  on its streets.

The book itself is mainly a look at Manhattan's history focusing mainly on the history surrounding its buildings and other locations. The idea of the book was to write about places that can still be visited today. There are stories of New York's most famous places such as Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, along with many others.

Even though the book stays mostly in Manhattan, I found the information in it to be absolutely fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of New York City.
573800
A wonderful guidebook with clear walking tour maps and photographs that explore the best of New York's Art Deco buildings.  The author's style is refreshing and informative, well conveying his passion for the subject matter.  The book is loaded with fascinating facts about building's I pass every day! I will now look with fresh eyes at these buildings thanks to this wonderful book. It will be a cherished addition to my architectural library.
1534252
good page layout, etc--v. dull NYC photos--should have used NYPL historic collection or Museum of the City of New York
931943
I was born in NYC and loved to read about the city's underbelly history. Alas, font size was itty-bitty! This is such a large body of work, so I understand a small font size was necessary to keep the page count small. Other than that, I recommend it for anyone interested in NYC's history, basically that of Manhattan.
2563842
What a wonderful book, the vintage black and white photos are amazing.  I found this book so interesting, I had no idea about this wonderful story.  I recommend this book on so many levels.  If you enjoy great vintage photos, interesting history, and New York..all of which I do.  This books makes you appreciate the beauty of Art Deco skyscrapers and makes you sad that the more modern buildings don't even compare.  I commend the authors on reviving this wonderful history and for providing wonderful vintage photos of a more stylish past.