20 Best Books On New York (2023 Update)

Perfect for planning and enjoying a stress-free family holiday, this easy-to-use guide book is packed with insider tips and information on the best family-friendly activities and attractions. admire the views from the empire state building, let off steam in central park or take a ferry to the statue of liberty. from recommendations of child-friendly restaurants to suggestions for rainy-day activities, this guide book takes the work out of planning a family trip to new york city. guggenheim museum, american museum of natural history, harlem, brooklyn bridge, brooklyn museum, coney island, new york hall of science, new york botanical garden, bronx zoo and more looking for a comprehensive guide to new york city? try our dk eyewitness travel guide new york city. on a shorter trip and just want to know the highlights? try our top 10 new york city travel guide. about dk eyewitness travel: dk's family guides are designed to help families make the most of their holiday, with easy-to-read maps, tips and information to enrich your journey. dk is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries.

From peglegged peter stuyvesant to cbgb’s, the story of the bowery reflects the history of the city that grew up around it. it was the street your mother warned you about—even if you lived in san francisco. long associated with skid row, saloons, freak shows, violence, and vice, the bowery often showed the worst new york city had to offer. yet there were times when it showed its best as well.the bowery is new york’s oldest street and manhattan’s broadest boulevard. like the city itself, it has continually reinvented itself over the centuries. named for the dutch farms, or bouweries, of the area, the path’s lurid character was established early when it became the site of new amsterdam’s first murder. a natural spring near the five points neighborhood led to breweries and taverns that became home to the gangs of new york—the “bowery b’hoys,” “plug uglies,” and “dead rabbits.” in the gaslight era, teenaged streetwalkers swallowed poison in mcgurk’s suicide hall. a brighter side to the street was reflected in places of amusement and culture over the years. a young p.t. barnum got his start there, and harry houdini learned showmanship playing the music halls and dime museums. poets, singers, hobos, gangsters, soldiers, travelers, preachers, storytellers, con-men, and reformers all gathered there. its colorful cast of characters includes peter stuyvesant, steve brodie, carry nation, stephen foster, stephen crane, and even abraham lincoln.now in paperback, the bowery: the strange history of new york’s oldest street traces the full story of this once notorious thoroughfare from its pre-colonial origins to the present day.

Even a frequent visitor to new york city can be overwhelmed by all of the memorable, delicious, and quirky treasures to discover in the greatest city on the planet. this insider guide helps everyone–from the first-timer to the seasoned local–cut through the clutter with 100 astounding adventures, off-beat treats, and historically significant must-see sites in all parts of the city. you'll be inspired to get out and explore the city by paddling a kayak in the hudson river or dancing outdoors under the stars in lincoln center. attend amateur night at the apollo, where stars including aretha franklin and stevie wonder launched their careers. find your ancestors at ellis island and see the iconic statue of liberty in a whole new light. need recommendations for where to dine? author, journalist, and lifelong new yorker evelyn kanter's love for her hometown shines through in every word of this indispensable collection. her itineraries, tips, and insights will make 100 things to do in nyc the one guidebook everybody needs.

See the best of new york with 15 carefully curated itineraries, written by an expert travel writer, that showcase the city's finest sights. fun features include in-depth looks at major icons, "best of" lists of quintessential things to see and do, and insider information full of local knowledge. a "travel essentials" section has planning tips and hand-picked hotels. travelers will find top-notch, streamlined, and useful information that goes beyond the internet basics to ensure a rewarding, authentic, and memorable urban experience.

The photographs in – streetwere taken by carrie boretz in new york city from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. it is common knowledge that the city was on rocky ground for many of those years but these are not pictures filled with drama or strife. instead boretz was always more interested in the subtle and familiar moments of everyday life in the various neighborhoods where she lived, before much of the graffiti was scrubbed away and the city sanitized and reborn to what it has since become. – for so many living in and visiting new york today, it is forgotten or altogether not known how different so many parts of the city were during that time. many of these pictures show the reality of the streets then, where every day workers, the homeless, the affluent, and tourists all shared the common space, providing examples of how one of the greatest cities in the world was one often filled with contradictions. but there is also a timeless element to these images as children still play in the parks, streets, and schoolyards, commuters still face the elements daily as they wait, there are still regular demonstrations and parades, and the whole spectrum of the joys and pitfalls of humanity are still visible most anywhere a person looks. – for boretz nothing was scripted, it all played out right before her. as patti smith said, "you need no rationale, no schooling. it's love at first sight. you see something and you have to capture it. instinctive, bang, you feel one with it." indeed, boretz doesn't have a philosophy about shooting other than trusting her instinct: she saw, she shot, she moved on, always looking for moments that made her heart beat faster. it was the continual rush of knowing that at any time she could come upon something real and beautiful. that is why and how she shot and why and how her – streetis so special.

New york cooking is nothing less than fantastic in this remarkable cookbook, over 400 recipes have been selected to bring you the essence of new york cooking all wrapped up in the tastiest of dishes. imagine . . . handpicked recipes from prominent chefs, tv hosts, junior league members, and bed and breakfast innkeepers . . . all in one book sixty-seven popular cookbooks from all over the empire state have contributed their favorite recipes to this outstanding collection. there's everything from cool and refreshing cappuccino parfaits to bold and sassy bronx duck, and practically a whole chapter on cheesecakes ah, the delicious diversity in addition to the superb recipes, this culinary travelogue includes photographs, illustrations and interesting quips about the history, folklore, and food of new york state. the catalog of contributing cookbooks section gives valuable information about new york's favorite cookbooks. enjoy tasting your way through the catskills, over niagara falls, throughout the finger lakes region, down in the hudson valley, into new york city and its boroughs, and all the way through the hamptons — it's all fantastic

A defining american story of millions of immigrants, hundreds of languages, and one great city new york has been america s city of immigrants for nearly four centuries. growing from peter minuit s tiny settlement of 1626 to one with more than three million immigrants today, the city has always been a magnet for transplants from all over the globe. it is only fitting that the united states, a nation of immigrants, is home to the only world city built primarily by immigration. more immigrants have entered the united states through new york than through all other entry points combined, making new york s immigrant saga a quintessentially american story.city of dreams is the long-overdue, inspiring, and defining account of new york s both famous and forgotten immigrants: the young man from the caribbean who relocated to new york and became a founding father; an italian immigrant who toiled for years at railroad track maintenance before achieving his dream of becoming a nationally renowned poet; russian-born emma goldman, who condoned the murder of american industrialists as a means of aiding downtrodden workers; dominican immigrant oscar de la renta, who dressed first ladies from jackie kennedy to michelle obama. over ten years in the making, tyler anbinder s story is one of innovators and artists, revolutionaries and rioters, staggering deprivation and soaring triumphs. today s immigrants are really no different from those who have come to america in centuries past and their story has never before been told with such breadth of scope, lavish research, and resounding spirit. "

A charmingly illustrated journey through new york city, neighborhood by neighborhood. all the buildings in new york is a love letter to new york city, told through james gulliver hancock’s unique and charming drawings of the city’s diverse architectural styles and cityscape. his buildings are colorful and chock full of fun and offbeat details, and this book is full of new discoveries as well as old chestnuts for anyone who loves the big apple. organized by neighborhoods, the book features iconic new york buildings, such as the empire state building, rockefeller center, and flatiron building, as well as the everyday buildings that make up new york city—the boutique shops in soho, timeless brownstones in brooklyn, and rows of busy markets in chinatown. new yorkers and tourists alike will savor this one-of-a-kind volume that uniquely celebrates the energy and spirit of the city that never sleeps.

The bowery boys' official companion to their wildly popular, award-winning podcast it was 2007. sitting at a kitchen table and speaking into an old karaoke microphone, greg young and tom meyers recorded their first podcast. they weren't history professors or voice actors. they were just two guys living in the bowery and possessing an unquenchable thirst for the fascinating stories from new york city's past. nearly 200 episodes later, the bowery boys podcast is a phenomenon, thrilling audiences each month with one amazing story after the next. now, in their first-ever book, the duo gives you an exclusive personal tour through new york's old cobblestone streets and gas-lit back alleyways. in their uniquely approachable style, the authors bring to life everything from makeshift forts of the early dutch years to the opulent mansions of the gilded age. they weave tales that will reshape your view of famous sites like times square, grand central terminal, and the high line. then they go even further to reveal notorious dens of vice, scandalous jazz age crime scenes, and park statues with strange pasts.

Lonely planet's new york & the mid-atlanticis our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the region has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. watch the world go by in new york's central park, hop between grand sights and museums in washington dc's national mall, and explore postcard-perfect pennsylvania dutch country – all with your trusted travel companion. ; all with your trusted travel companion. inside lonely planet's new york & the mid-atlantictravel guide: what's new in this edition? visiting new york city for a week or less? lonely planet'spocket new york city guide is a handy-sized guide focused on the city's can't-miss experiences. about lonely planet: lonely planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. you'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'lonely planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – new york times 'lonely planet. it's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. it's on mobile phones. it's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – fairfax media (australia)

From the urban affairs correspondent of the new york times–the story of a city through twenty-seven structures that define it. as new york is poised to celebrate its four hundredth anniversary, new york times correspondent sam roberts tells the story of the city through bricks, glass, wood, and mortar, revealing why and how it evolved into the nation's biggest and most influential. from the seven hundred thousand or so buildings in new york, roberts selects twenty-seven that, in the past four centuries, have been the most emblematic of the city's economic, social, and political evolution. he describes not only the buildings and how they came to be, but also their enduring impact on the city and its people and how the consequences of the construction often reverberated around the world. a few structures, such as the empire state building, are architectural icons, but roberts goes beyond the familiar with intriguing stories of the personalities and exploits behind the unrivaled skyscraper's construction. some stretch the definition of buildings, to include the city's oldest bridge and the landmark coney island boardwalk. others offer surprises: where the united nations general assembly first met; a hidden hub of global internet traffic; a nondescript factory that produced billions of dollars of currency in the poorest neighborhood in the country; and the buildings that triggered the depression and launched the new deal.with his deep knowledge of the city and penchant for fascinating facts, roberts brings to light the brilliant architecture, remarkable history, and bright future of the greatest city in the world.

"barron cuts through the noise and provides a devastating account of a city's decline under the delusional leadership of socialists and con men." — greg kelly, host of newsmax greg kelly reports the last days of new york: a reporter's true tale tells the story of how a corrupted political system hollowed out new york city, leaving it especially vulnerable, all in the name of equity and "fairness." when, in the future, people ask how new york city fell to pieces, they can be told–quoting hemingway–"gradually, then suddenly." new yorkers awoke from a slumber of ease and prosperity to discover that their glorious city was not only unprepared for crisis, but that the underpinnings of its fortune had been gutted by the reckless mismanagement of bill de blasio and the progressive political machine that elevated him to power. faced with a global pandemic of world-historical proportions, the mayor dithered, offering contradictory, unscientific, and meaningless advice. the city became the world's epicenter of infection and death. the protests, riots, and looting that followed the death of george floyd, and the resurgence of the black lives matter movement–cheered on and celebrated by the media and political class–accelerated the crash of confidence that new york city needed in order to rebound quickly from the economic disaster. through reckless financial husbandry; by sowing racial discord and resentment; by enshrining a corrosive pay-to-play political culture that turned city hall into a ticket office; and by using his office as a platform to advance himself as a national political figure, bill de blasio set the stage for the ruin of new york city. he has left the city vulnerable to the social, economic, and cultural shocks that have leveled its confidence and brought into question its capacity to absorb the creative energies of the world, and reflect them back in the form of opportunity and wealth, as it has done for hundreds of years. the last days of new york is the story of how a lifelong political operative with no private-sector experience assumed control of a one-party city where almost nobody bothers to vote, and then proceeded to loot the treasury on behalf of the labor unions, race hustlers, and connected insiders who had promoted him to power. bill de blasio's term in office in new york city is a demonstration of what those impulses actually produce: debt, decay, and bloat. the last days of new york: a reporter's true tale is a history of new york city from its recovery from the recession of 2008-2009 through the triple disaster of the pandemic, civil unrest, and collapse in revenue of 2020. mayor bill de blasio, now widely appreciated as the worst mayor in the history of the city, is presented as the instrument of decline: a key symptom of the rot that expedited the city's downfall.

From roxane gay to cheryl strayed, 28 groundbreaking writers share their visceral, heart-bending stories about the everlasting magic-and unavoidable misery-of living in new york city in 1967, joan didion wrote an essay called goodbye to all that, a work of such candid and penetrating prose that it soon became the gold standard for personal essays. like no other story before it, didion's tale of loving and leaving new york captured the mesmerizing allure manhattan has always had for writers, poets, and wandering spirits.in this captivating collection, 28 writers take up didion's literary legacy by sharing their own new york stories. their essays often begin as love stories do, with the passion of something newly discovered-the crush of subway crowds, the streets filled with manic energy, and the certainty that this is the only place on earth where one can become exactly who she is meant to be.they also share the grief that comes when the metropolis loses its magic and the pressures of new york's frenetic life wear thin on even the most fervent dwellers. as friends move away, rents soar, and love-still- remains just out of reach, each writer's goodbye to new york is singular and universal, like new york itself.with cheryl strayed, dani shapiro, emma straub, ann hood, and more.

– an insider's guide to new york city's hidden gems and lesser-known spots – written by a true local, filled with independent advice, based on thorough research and the author's personal opinions – an inspirational and practical guide to the city's most interesting places, buildings, restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, neighborhoods, gardens and cafes, presented in 100 original lists of 5 secrets – photography by erinn springer – a recently edition in luster's successful and attractive series of city guides this one-of-a-kind guide takes you to new york's best-kept secrets, like vintage shops packed with unique collector's items, opulent spots for high tea, the best places to grab a drink before or after theater, the best stretches for running, and the coolest sneaker stores. this guide reveals hundreds of addresses, as well as good-to-know facts and interesting information, like the best ways to mingle with new yorkers, the sports that you absolutely have to see, and 5 things that new yorkers just know. the 500 hidden secrets of new york is the perfect book for those who want to discover the city, but avoid all the usual tourist haunts, as well as for residents who are keen to track down the city's best-kept secrets.

Lonely planet's new york & the mid atlantic is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. watch the world go by in new york's central park, hop between grand sights and museums in washington dc's national mall, and explore postcard-perfect pennsylvania dutch country – all with your trusted travel companion. get to the heart of new york & the mid atlantic and begin your journey now!

Among the skyscrapers: new york's most fabulous dwellings beginning with archive images of the big apple over the past century and blooming with gorgeous photos of the city’s most beautiful and unique interiors, this book explores the real new york inside and out. from high-rise luxury condos with stunning views to industrial lofts, art collectors’ pads, and eccentric, funky apartments, the interiors featured here—in colorful full-page photos—are as amazing and diverse as new yorkers themselves.

Among the skyscrapers: new york's most fabulous dwellings beginning with archive images of the big apple over the past century and blooming with gorgeous photos of the city’s most beautiful and unique interiors, this book explores the real new york inside and out. from high-rise luxury condos with stunning views to industrial lofts, art collectors’ pads, and eccentric, funky apartments, the interiors featured here—in colorful full-page photos—are as amazing and diverse as new yorkers themselves.

"today's new yorkers are famous for both their fierce loyalty to their hometown and their intense desire to tell you how they can make it better. things were no different in 1894, when historian and social commentator janvier first published this meticulously detailed, floridly anecdotal and occasionally cranky love letter to his adopted home, reprinted here with a helpful new introduction by brooklyn college history professor edwin g. after painstakingly outlining the city's early growth and development, janvier, a self-trained historian, rants that an 1807 city commission charged with laying out the city's streets threw away "the magnificent opportunity … to create a beautiful city." by creating manhattan's now famous grid of streets and avenues, they thwarted continued development of the complex, interlocking networks of ponds, woods and small neighborhoods that had made up the city until then. it's a classic clash between romantic idealism and "progress," present in the writings of jane jacobs and other modern urbanologists. janvier is best when describing the quirky, intricate history of greenwich village and the development of chelsea around the episcopal theological seminary, citing both as examples of his small-is-beautiful philosophy. a man of his time, janvier's nativism and racism are omnipresent: he is as likely to state that "even the bad smells have foreign names" as he is to rhapsodize about sylvan glades. still, this long-out-of-print classic adds welcome historical perspective to contemporary urban studies. (sea.) woods and small neighborhoods that had made up the city until then. it's a classic clash between romantic idealism and "progress," present in the writings of jane jacobs and other modern urbanologists. janvier is best when describing the quirky, intricate history of greenwich village and the development of chelsea around the episcopal theological seminary, citing both as examples of his small-is-beautiful philosophy."–publishers weekly

"today's new yorkers are famous for both their fierce loyalty to their hometown and their intense desire to tell you how they can make it better. things were no different in 1894, when historian and social commentator janvier first published this meticulously detailed, floridly anecdotal and occasionally cranky love letter to his adopted home, reprinted here with a helpful new introduction by brooklyn college history professor edwin g. after painstakingly outlining the city's early growth and development, janvier, a self-trained historian, rants that an 1807 city commission charged with laying out the city's streets threw away "the magnificent opportunity … to create a beautiful city." by creating manhattan's now famous grid of streets and avenues, they thwarted continued development of the complex, interlocking networks of ponds, woods and small neighborhoods that had made up the city until then. it's a classic clash between romantic idealism and "progress," present in the writings of jane jacobs and other modern urbanologists. janvier is best when describing the quirky, intricate history of greenwich village and the development of chelsea around the episcopal theological seminary, citing both as examples of his small-is-beautiful philosophy. a man of his time, janvier's nativism and racism are omnipresent: he is as likely to state that "even the bad smells have foreign names" as he is to rhapsodize about sylvan glades. still, this long-out-of-print classic adds welcome historical perspective to contemporary urban studies. (sea.) woods and small neighborhoods that had made up the city until then. it's a classic clash between romantic idealism and "progress," present in the writings of jane jacobs and other modern urbanologists. janvier is best when describing the quirky, intricate history of greenwich village and the development of chelsea around the episcopal theological seminary, citing both as examples of his small-is-beautiful philosophy."–publishers weekly

Originally published in 1926, up & down new york is an imaginative, charming, quirky, and delightful period piece-but it is also timeless. this facsimile edition of the nostalgic classic reproduces sarg's delightful illustrations of the dynamic and vibrant streets and famous places in new york. the surprise is in finding how much remains the same in many new york neighborhoods after 80 years, including grand central station, times square, the american museum of natural history, city hall, the stock exchange, the great white way (broadway), the shuttle in the subway-not to mention the busyness and vibrancy that characterizes the city. the places that do not exist anymore, including the aquarium at the battery and washington market, give us a glimpse of new york in its first heyday. this new edition of tony sarg's up & down new york will appeal to kids of all ages, to designers, illustrators, and book collectors, as well as anyone interested in new york or 1920s-era drawings.