What do you think?
Rate this book
The Encyclopedia of New York City
Covering an exhaustive range of information about the five boroughs, the first edition of The Encyclopedia of New York City was a success by every measure, earning worldwide acclaim and several awards for reference excellence, and selling out its first printing before it was officially published.
But much has changed since the volume first appeared in 1995: the World Trade Center no longer dominates the skyline, a billionaire businessman has become an unlikely three-term mayor, and urban regenerationChelsea Piers, the High Line, DUMBO, Williamsburg, the South Bronx, the Lower East Sidehas become commonplace. To reflect such innovation and change, this definitive, one-volume resource on the city has been completely revised and expanded.
The revised edition includes 800 new entries that help complete the story of New York: from Air Train to E-ZPass, from September 11 to public order. The new material includes broader coverage of subject areas previously underserved as well as new maps and illustrations. Virtually all existing entriesspanning architecture, politics, business, sports, the arts, and morehave been updated to reflect the impact of the past two decades.
The more than 5,000 alphabetical entries and 700 illustrations of the second edition of The Encyclopedia of New York City convey the richness and diversity of its subject in great breadth and detail, and will continue to serve as an indispensable tool for everyone who has even a passing interest in the American metropolis.
1561 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 1995
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 20, 2014
Was macht eine 1540 Seiten Enzyklopädie im "read"-Shelf? Sie hat sich den Platz inzwischen verdient. Natürlich habe ich sie nicht von A-Z durchgelesen, aber im Laufe der Jahre immer wieder zur Hand genommen, wenn ich ein Buch gelesen habe, was in New York angesiedelt ist, oder einen Film gesehen habe. Oder einfach so etwas wissen wollte.
Wie bei allen guten Enzyklopädien will man nur kurz etwas nachschlagen und kommt von einem Artikl zum nächsten, so, wie es der jüngeren Generation vermutlich beim Googlen oder Surfen im WWW geht.
Die Encyclopedia of New York City verträgt sich übrigens auch hervorragend mit meinem katastrophal schlechten Gedächtnis, etliche Artikel habe ich bestimmt schon mehrfach gelesen und immer wieder erfreut Neues gelernt (und wieder vergessen).
Gibt es an ihr etwas, was ich vermisse? Höchstens, dass bei solch einem Monter von Buch (natürlich nur, was den Umfang betrifft) kein Platz für eine Straßenkarte war. Der Vollständigkeit wegen wäre es eine nette Ergänzung gewesen, auch wenn eine Map vielleicht nicht im engeren Sinne in eine Enzyklopädie gehört. Aber ansonsten ist man nicht nur von der Fülle der Informationen erschlagen, sondern viel mehr von der Tatsache, wie unglaublich viel Kultur- und Zeitgeschichte in New York steckt.
Wie bei allen guten Enzyklopädien will man nur kurz etwas nachschlagen und kommt von einem Artikl zum nächsten, so, wie es der jüngeren Generation vermutlich beim Googlen oder Surfen im WWW geht.
Die Encyclopedia of New York City verträgt sich übrigens auch hervorragend mit meinem katastrophal schlechten Gedächtnis, etliche Artikel habe ich bestimmt schon mehrfach gelesen und immer wieder erfreut Neues gelernt (und wieder vergessen).
Gibt es an ihr etwas, was ich vermisse? Höchstens, dass bei solch einem Monter von Buch (natürlich nur, was den Umfang betrifft) kein Platz für eine Straßenkarte war. Der Vollständigkeit wegen wäre es eine nette Ergänzung gewesen, auch wenn eine Map vielleicht nicht im engeren Sinne in eine Enzyklopädie gehört. Aber ansonsten ist man nicht nur von der Fülle der Informationen erschlagen, sondern viel mehr von der Tatsache, wie unglaublich viel Kultur- und Zeitgeschichte in New York steckt.
February 26, 2014
If you live in New York, or wish you did, this book is essential. It decodes the city piece by piece. It gives you context. This connects unlikely bits, and brings up new ones. Terrific bathroom reading for the Gothamphile.
Currently reading
August 21, 2011I have insanely chosen this as breakfast-table reading, quite possibly for the rest of my life. Maybe I'll return to give alphabetical updates from time to time. Next up: advertising.
Update, 8/21/11: most interesting recent discovery, from the American Chicle Company entry: gum magnate Thomas Adams was introduced to chicle by Mexican politician and general Antonio López de Santa Anna, of "Remember the Alamo" infamy, who owned a plantation and thought the stuff would make good rubber.
Update, 8/21/11: most interesting recent discovery, from the American Chicle Company entry: gum magnate Thomas Adams was introduced to chicle by Mexican politician and general Antonio López de Santa Anna, of "Remember the Alamo" infamy, who owned a plantation and thought the stuff would make good rubber.
September 22, 2017
Because my husband and I are insane people who entertain each other with morcels of knowledge, this is our go-to reading when we're slightly bored, i.e. driving or waiting for something. I read articles out to him in alphabetical order (not all of them, but the majority) and we then discuss, dig deeper, gasp and laugh. For instance, in the past week we found out about the salad oil scandal, in which a single criminal sent American Express into major losses and brought down the NYSE; discussed the way Dutch and English settlers gentrified before it was cool; learned how many HIV-positive people there are in NYC and tracked down Edward Albee's real estate history. If you want to know everything about New York, or just for a handy reference guide to all things NYC, get this book. It's amazing.
July 30, 2017
"The Encyclopedia of New York City" is the only Encyclopedia you will ever require to have a complete knowledge of this excellent city.
Make sure however, that you obtain the 1995 edition and not the Second Edition one. The Second Edition contains much less information.
What has been trimmed in the Second Edition are the wonderful articles discussing the first bookstores and printing shops of New York City.
Make sure however, that you obtain the 1995 edition and not the Second Edition one. The Second Edition contains much less information.
What has been trimmed in the Second Edition are the wonderful articles discussing the first bookstores and printing shops of New York City.
June 25, 2020
Interesting take on the History of New York City - So much has changed since this book’s publication that it seems like another world. For anyone Nostalgia for old New York - pre 1990’s this is a great source of historical information on a number of different levels.
July 14, 2017
This is a ginormous reference book - but essential for great research on NYC. Love it:-).
May 21, 2019
V dnešnej dobe internetu a offline guideov už viac-menej môže slúžiť ako coffee table book, ale aj tak je zdrojom užitočných informácií súvisiacich s Big Apple.
October 1, 2011
This book is exactly what it says it is. It is a tremendous tome and contains entries on everything and everyone related to NYC to the date of publication that I've ever thought to look up. The writing is not quite as dry as may be expected, but the articles are nonetheless exceedingly authoritative and thorough. I would recommend this for anyone with a fairly sturdy coffee table who loves New York City as obsessively as I do. For a story of all things New York you might also try New York: An Illustrated History.
February 19, 2012
Currently going through this for a research project designed to review this book--and I have to say it is pretty decent. I always am one to wish for more, I like to get into the nit-picky details, but I suppose, as always I'll have to read some other books. This is an encyclopedia and further reading must be found elsewhere.
Otherwise: Awesome!
Otherwise: Awesome!
February 5, 2008
So many faboulous "new york-isms".
February 17, 2009
Been reading this over the past couple of years...It'll take a few more to finish. I love it though. (Lame review)
February 22, 2011
This was an Honorable Mention for the Dartmouth Medal for 1996. For the complete list, go to http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/aw...
November 29, 2016
Excellent -- and massive -- general reference on the city.
October 24, 2007
Amazing. An absolute must-have for every library.
Read
January 16, 2019Didn't finish... obviously.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews