What do you think?
Rate this book
Icons of America
Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building and American Dreams
A new perspective on a beloved cultural icon, its place in our history, and its meaning in the American imagination
This elegantly written appreciation of the Empire State Building opens up the building’s richness and importance as an icon of America. The book leads us through the facts surrounding the skyscraper’s conception and construction, then enters into a provocative theoretical discussion of its function as an icon, its representation in pictures, literature, and film, and the implications of its iconic status as New York’s most important architectural monument to ambition and optimism. The Empire State Building literally cannot be seen in its totality, from any perspective. And paradoxically, this building of unmistakable solidity has been made invisible by familiarity and reproduction through imagery. Mark Kingwell encourages us to look beneath the strong physical presence of the building, to become aware of its evolving layers of meaning, and to see how the building lives within a unique imaginative space in the landscape of the American consciousness. He offers new ways of understanding the Empire State Building in all its complexity and surprising insights into its special role as an American icon.
This elegantly written appreciation of the Empire State Building opens up the building’s richness and importance as an icon of America. The book leads us through the facts surrounding the skyscraper’s conception and construction, then enters into a provocative theoretical discussion of its function as an icon, its representation in pictures, literature, and film, and the implications of its iconic status as New York’s most important architectural monument to ambition and optimism. The Empire State Building literally cannot be seen in its totality, from any perspective. And paradoxically, this building of unmistakable solidity has been made invisible by familiarity and reproduction through imagery. Mark Kingwell encourages us to look beneath the strong physical presence of the building, to become aware of its evolving layers of meaning, and to see how the building lives within a unique imaginative space in the landscape of the American consciousness. He offers new ways of understanding the Empire State Building in all its complexity and surprising insights into its special role as an American icon.
- GenresArchitecture
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2006
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Mark Kingwell
62 books57 followersMark Gerald Kingwell B.A, M.Litt, M.Phil, PhD, D.F.A. (born March 1, 1963) is a Canadian philosopher who is currently professor of philosophy and associate chair at the University of Toronto's Department of Philosophy. Kingwell is a fellow of Trinity College and a Senior Fellow of Massey College. He specialises in theories of politics and culture.
Kingwell has published twelve different books, most notably, A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism, which was awarded the Spitz Prize for political theory in 1997. In 2000 Kingwell received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, for contributions to theory and criticism. He has held visiting posts at various institutions including: Cambridge University, University of California at Berkeley, and City University of New York where he held the title of Weissman Distinguished Professor of Humanities.
He studied at the University of Toronto, editing The Varsity through 1983 to 1984 and the University of Toronto Review from 84-85. He received his BA degree from the University of St. Michael's College with High Distinction in 1985, his MLitt degree from Edinburgh University in 1987, and both his M.Phil and PhD degrees from Yale University in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was married to Gail Donaldson in 1988. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.
Kingwell is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, the literary quarterly Descant, the political monthly This Magazine and the Globe and Mail books section. He was also a drinks columnist for the men's magazine Toro. He was formerly a columnist for the National Post, and a contributing editor of Saturday Night. He frequently appears on television and radio, often on the CBC, and is well known for his appearance in the documentary film The Corporation. He has delivered, among others, the George Grant, Harold Innis, Marx Wartofsky and Larkin-Stuart memorial lectures.
Kingwell’s work has been translated into ten languages, and he lectures to academic and popular audiences around the world. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work on philosophy, art, and architecture has appeared in many leading academic journals and magazines, including The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Forum, Ethics, Political Theory, and the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Utne Reader, Adbusters, the Walrus, Harvard Design Magazine,Canadian Art, Azure, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.
Kingwell is one of two University of Toronto professors teaching a first year philosophy course entitled Introduction to Philosophy. Kingwell teaches his class in Victoria College's Isabel Bader Theatre, with a class size of around 700 students. He has also been part of the University of Trinity College's TrinityOne program, for which he taught a seminar class entitled Ethics and the Creative Imagination.
He describes himself as a social democrat and a "recovering Catholic". According to the Canadian Who's Who 2006, he also enjoys running, baseball, basketball, jazz, films and pop music. He has two brothers: a younger brother named Sean Kingwell and an older brother named Steven Kingwell.
Kingwell has published twelve different books, most notably, A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism, which was awarded the Spitz Prize for political theory in 1997. In 2000 Kingwell received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, for contributions to theory and criticism. He has held visiting posts at various institutions including: Cambridge University, University of California at Berkeley, and City University of New York where he held the title of Weissman Distinguished Professor of Humanities.
He studied at the University of Toronto, editing The Varsity through 1983 to 1984 and the University of Toronto Review from 84-85. He received his BA degree from the University of St. Michael's College with High Distinction in 1985, his MLitt degree from Edinburgh University in 1987, and both his M.Phil and PhD degrees from Yale University in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was married to Gail Donaldson in 1988. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.
Kingwell is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, the literary quarterly Descant, the political monthly This Magazine and the Globe and Mail books section. He was also a drinks columnist for the men's magazine Toro. He was formerly a columnist for the National Post, and a contributing editor of Saturday Night. He frequently appears on television and radio, often on the CBC, and is well known for his appearance in the documentary film The Corporation. He has delivered, among others, the George Grant, Harold Innis, Marx Wartofsky and Larkin-Stuart memorial lectures.
Kingwell’s work has been translated into ten languages, and he lectures to academic and popular audiences around the world. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work on philosophy, art, and architecture has appeared in many leading academic journals and magazines, including The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Forum, Ethics, Political Theory, and the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Utne Reader, Adbusters, the Walrus, Harvard Design Magazine,Canadian Art, Azure, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.
Kingwell is one of two University of Toronto professors teaching a first year philosophy course entitled Introduction to Philosophy. Kingwell teaches his class in Victoria College's Isabel Bader Theatre, with a class size of around 700 students. He has also been part of the University of Trinity College's TrinityOne program, for which he taught a seminar class entitled Ethics and the Creative Imagination.
He describes himself as a social democrat and a "recovering Catholic". According to the Canadian Who's Who 2006, he also enjoys running, baseball, basketball, jazz, films and pop music. He has two brothers: a younger brother named Sean Kingwell and an older brother named Steven Kingwell.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 25, 2018
You may think this book is a "history of the Empire State Building" and although it does gloss over some historical facts about the quintessential building that commands that New York skyline, this is more about its iconic status. Kingwell spends the first couple of chapters discussing the background of the building, and other New York skyscrapers, past and present, and how each became (or not) icons of the Empire city. Unlike the previous Twin Towers that were destroyed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building is constructed in such a fashion that a plane would disintegrate but the building would still stand. For New Yorkers and visitors alike, the building represents the unmovable spirit of the city. It also symbolizes different things to different people. A tourist may view the building differently than a local. Regardless, it is an icon of the city and for many, symbolizes and celebrates the spirit of freedom of the city and of the nation.
Beyond the first two chapters, the book tends to go off on dry tangents about skyscrapers and architecture. There are some other redeemable chapters that discuss the use of the Empire State Building in pictures and movies. This book would likely appeal more to architects and students of the subject. It is worth the read of the first couple of chapters and the last couple of chapters for anyone else.
Beyond the first two chapters, the book tends to go off on dry tangents about skyscrapers and architecture. There are some other redeemable chapters that discuss the use of the Empire State Building in pictures and movies. This book would likely appeal more to architects and students of the subject. It is worth the read of the first couple of chapters and the last couple of chapters for anyone else.
November 5, 2023
never trust a man who hates Sleepless in Seattle this much
January 13, 2015
Wow. Well, this book didn't seem to have much to do with the Empire State Building, sometimes going many pages without mentioning it. There was much talk of 9/11, the Great Depression, many pages summarizing "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle" (and how the first is obviously do much better than the second), stuff about the Olympics and on and on and on...I thought this book would be about the making of the ESB, like the Gateway Arch book I read from the same series. The parts that actually talked about that could have filled a long brochure at best. It reminded me of philosophy books I had to read in college, the ways or went on tangents and tried to rationalize them all. It was a strange reading experience.
Read
April 23, 2010Nearest Thing To Heaven : The Empire State Building and American Dreams, by Mark Kingwell, is an utterly absorbing study of the building’s iconic status in popular culture. Far from being merely an architecture book and a history of the great skyscraper, it’s a loving evocation of the Empire State Building’s multifaceted presence in our collective consciousness and the way that is manifested in things like film (not just ‘King Kong’), literature, and how it has come to be an essential part of what New York means to the nation and indeed to the rest of the world. This little book is a mine of quiet insights and fascinating facts. The World Trade Center’s twin towers were basically giant boxes that impressed by sheer size. The Empire State Building — not very much smaller — has magic. Here is why.
-Alan
-Alan
July 22, 2013
This is a book worthy of its famed subject.
In spite of misspelling (Jean-Paul) Gaultier's name on p. 36, this is an insightful & eloquently-written book. That said, it is not a book that can merely be rushed through - there are so many interesting facts, theories & perspectives that it requires concentration & focus. Good book.
In spite of misspelling (Jean-Paul) Gaultier's name on p. 36, this is an insightful & eloquently-written book. That said, it is not a book that can merely be rushed through - there are so many interesting facts, theories & perspectives that it requires concentration & focus. Good book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews