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The Encyclopedia of New York
The must-have guide to pop culture, history, and world-changing ideas that started in New York City, from the magazine at the center of it all.
Since its founding in 1624, New York City has been a place that creates things. What began as a trading post for beaver pelts soon transformed into a hub of technological, social, and cultural innovation—but beyond fostering literal inventions like the elevator (inside Cooper Union in 1853), Q-tips (by Polish immigrant Leo Gerstenzang in 1923), General Tso’s chicken (reimagined for American tastes in the 1970s by one of its Hunanese creators), the singles bar (1965 on the Upper East Side), and Scrabble (1931 in Jackson Heights), the city has given birth to or perfected idioms, forms, and ways of thinking that have changed the world, from Abstract Expressionism to Broadway, baseball to hip-hop, news blogs to neoconservatism to the concept of “downtown.”
Those creations and more are all collected in The Encyclopedia of New York, an A-to-Z compendium of unexpected origin stories, hidden histories, and useful guides to the greatest city in the world, compiled by the editors of New York Magazine (a city invention itself, since 1968) and featuring contributions from Rebecca Traister, Jerry Saltz, Frank Rich, Jonathan Chait, Rhonda Garelick, Kathryn VanArendonk, Christopher Bonanos, and more. Here you will find something fascinating and uniquely New York on every a history of the city’s skyline, accompanied by a tour guide’s list of the best things about every observation deck; the development of positive thinking and punk music; appreciations of seltzer and alternate-side-of-the-street parking; the oddest object to be found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!; musical theater next to muckracking and mugging; and the unbelievable revelation that English muffins were created on...West Twentieth Street. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or an armchair traveler, this is the guidebook you’ll need, straight from the people who know New York best.
Since its founding in 1624, New York City has been a place that creates things. What began as a trading post for beaver pelts soon transformed into a hub of technological, social, and cultural innovation—but beyond fostering literal inventions like the elevator (inside Cooper Union in 1853), Q-tips (by Polish immigrant Leo Gerstenzang in 1923), General Tso’s chicken (reimagined for American tastes in the 1970s by one of its Hunanese creators), the singles bar (1965 on the Upper East Side), and Scrabble (1931 in Jackson Heights), the city has given birth to or perfected idioms, forms, and ways of thinking that have changed the world, from Abstract Expressionism to Broadway, baseball to hip-hop, news blogs to neoconservatism to the concept of “downtown.”
Those creations and more are all collected in The Encyclopedia of New York, an A-to-Z compendium of unexpected origin stories, hidden histories, and useful guides to the greatest city in the world, compiled by the editors of New York Magazine (a city invention itself, since 1968) and featuring contributions from Rebecca Traister, Jerry Saltz, Frank Rich, Jonathan Chait, Rhonda Garelick, Kathryn VanArendonk, Christopher Bonanos, and more. Here you will find something fascinating and uniquely New York on every a history of the city’s skyline, accompanied by a tour guide’s list of the best things about every observation deck; the development of positive thinking and punk music; appreciations of seltzer and alternate-side-of-the-street parking; the oddest object to be found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!; musical theater next to muckracking and mugging; and the unbelievable revelation that English muffins were created on...West Twentieth Street. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or an armchair traveler, this is the guidebook you’ll need, straight from the people who know New York best.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2020
33 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 10, 2020
A beautifully published and very well-thought-out lexicon of things and events related to New York.
This is not a book that you only buy because it will look nice on your living room table. This is one of those you enjoy reading a lot. It is full of fascinating biographies and extraordinary stories of ordinary things. Amazing stories about things that you know well and the ones you never heard about. And it’s not only for New York fans. It is also a great book for all those who like interesting facts and anecdotes. This book is full of information that you won't find in any travel guide.
The individual entries are short and encourage you to read them in random order. If you are one of those people who, like me, enjoy reading a few such short titbits every day for a longer time, you will be satisfied. The entries are short and varied so there is no fear that you will get bored with one topic. And we have a little bit of everything here - sports, art, cuisine, history, social affairs, everyday things. Everyone will find something for themself. And all this is accompanied by beautiful photos matching the entries. As for me, I was especially interested in the history of well-known dishes like Baked Alaska.
But most of all, all the stories are told so well. With a hint of irony and a wink to the reader. If you think these are boring encyclopaedic entries with a bunch of dull facts and statistics, then you will be really surprised. I found even topics that normally don't interest me (such as sports events) fascinating. It is more of a collection of interesting, colourful stories. And then there are these fun notes in the margins where we'll learn everything from where the best seats are in the Yankee Stadium to the Horn & Hardart's Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
This is a really great book, which I will definitely come back to, if only to see these beautiful photos again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is not a book that you only buy because it will look nice on your living room table. This is one of those you enjoy reading a lot. It is full of fascinating biographies and extraordinary stories of ordinary things. Amazing stories about things that you know well and the ones you never heard about. And it’s not only for New York fans. It is also a great book for all those who like interesting facts and anecdotes. This book is full of information that you won't find in any travel guide.
The individual entries are short and encourage you to read them in random order. If you are one of those people who, like me, enjoy reading a few such short titbits every day for a longer time, you will be satisfied. The entries are short and varied so there is no fear that you will get bored with one topic. And we have a little bit of everything here - sports, art, cuisine, history, social affairs, everyday things. Everyone will find something for themself. And all this is accompanied by beautiful photos matching the entries. As for me, I was especially interested in the history of well-known dishes like Baked Alaska.
But most of all, all the stories are told so well. With a hint of irony and a wink to the reader. If you think these are boring encyclopaedic entries with a bunch of dull facts and statistics, then you will be really surprised. I found even topics that normally don't interest me (such as sports events) fascinating. It is more of a collection of interesting, colourful stories. And then there are these fun notes in the margins where we'll learn everything from where the best seats are in the Yankee Stadium to the Horn & Hardart's Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
This is a really great book, which I will definitely come back to, if only to see these beautiful photos again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2020
Fun, fun, fun! A compilation arranged alphabetically, as all encyclopedias should be, of cool and often obscure stuff about New York. A skim, which is all I had time for right now, should be done with a fresh pack of Post-It notes at hand, for later reading in detail.
Nicely produced, it is roughly 350 pages characteristically designed to echo the pages of New York Magazine, and given the ravages of the current pandemic on the New York we all know and love (if you didn't, would you be reading this?), I urge you to get yourself a copy and steep yourself in the lore and allure of the city.
Nicely produced, it is roughly 350 pages characteristically designed to echo the pages of New York Magazine, and given the ravages of the current pandemic on the New York we all know and love (if you didn't, would you be reading this?), I urge you to get yourself a copy and steep yourself in the lore and allure of the city.
September 8, 2020
Whether you live in New York, have visited or, would just like to know more about this city, this eclectic title may pique your interest. In it, the editors of the iconic New York Magazine share all sorts of information on this metropolis.
The introduction points out the ways in which Manhattan has constantly adapted and changed. For example, as the editors point out, South Street once contained warehouses while Soho had factories. Now, these neighborhoods are filled with trendy shops and restaurants. Industries changed also; once there were no longer so many factories other industries thrived here including publishing and finance. And so it goes, in this constantly evolving city. Get to know it through this title which takes innovation as its theme.
The book is arranged with alphabetical entries. so, for example, A has everything from Abstract Expressionism (which began here), to the Algonquin Round Table to the Automat and more. There are so many entries in this book. Readers can go in order or dip in and out. They will find something interesting wherever they land. Just a couple of others from the beginning of the alphabet are Big Bird and the Crossword puzzle.
This book would make a good gift for anyone who loves the city or wants to know more about it. With its many illustrations and entries, it is an entertaining read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
The introduction points out the ways in which Manhattan has constantly adapted and changed. For example, as the editors point out, South Street once contained warehouses while Soho had factories. Now, these neighborhoods are filled with trendy shops and restaurants. Industries changed also; once there were no longer so many factories other industries thrived here including publishing and finance. And so it goes, in this constantly evolving city. Get to know it through this title which takes innovation as its theme.
The book is arranged with alphabetical entries. so, for example, A has everything from Abstract Expressionism (which began here), to the Algonquin Round Table to the Automat and more. There are so many entries in this book. Readers can go in order or dip in and out. They will find something interesting wherever they land. Just a couple of others from the beginning of the alphabet are Big Bird and the Crossword puzzle.
This book would make a good gift for anyone who loves the city or wants to know more about it. With its many illustrations and entries, it is an entertaining read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2020
I don't know how to put into words the delight that this book has brought me.
New York is a city like no other, and this book pays brilliant and beautiful homage to the city through discussing the innovations that have come out of its five boroughs. "The Encyclopedia of New York" would make a wonderful holiday gift to your favorite New York appreciator, whether someone like myself who has adopted the city as their own or someone who loves the city from afar.
While the bulk of the book is formatted as an encyclopedia (as the title indicates), there are plenty of sidebar features, such as a list of "The City's Best Comic Book Stores" chosen by comic-book artist Fred Van Lente, "The Essential Hip-Hop Playlist," chosen by New York Magazine's music critic, and even a recipe for a classic NYC mac & cheese. Also noteworthy is the book's introduction, which discusses New York's (and New Yorkers') tenacity and resilience, particularly poignant amidst the coronavirus crisis and headlines speculating on whether the city is "over."
What a treat it will be to add "The Encyclopedia of New York" to a bookshelf or coffee table.
Thank you so much to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this wonderful book.
New York is a city like no other, and this book pays brilliant and beautiful homage to the city through discussing the innovations that have come out of its five boroughs. "The Encyclopedia of New York" would make a wonderful holiday gift to your favorite New York appreciator, whether someone like myself who has adopted the city as their own or someone who loves the city from afar.
While the bulk of the book is formatted as an encyclopedia (as the title indicates), there are plenty of sidebar features, such as a list of "The City's Best Comic Book Stores" chosen by comic-book artist Fred Van Lente, "The Essential Hip-Hop Playlist," chosen by New York Magazine's music critic, and even a recipe for a classic NYC mac & cheese. Also noteworthy is the book's introduction, which discusses New York's (and New Yorkers') tenacity and resilience, particularly poignant amidst the coronavirus crisis and headlines speculating on whether the city is "over."
What a treat it will be to add "The Encyclopedia of New York" to a bookshelf or coffee table.
Thank you so much to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this wonderful book.
September 3, 2020
Beautiful and full of fascinating knowledge. Perfect for newcomers, tourists, and everyone in love with New York City. You will find entries on a mind-blowing range of topics: from the 9/11 Era to Punk to Sitcoms and finally the food: Bagels, Donuts, Pastrami Sandwich and many, many more treats. Texts are enriched with wonderful photos and illustrations. For readers looking for more practical tips, there are many footnotes with lists of places to visit or movies to watch.
Thanks to the publisher, Avid Reader Press, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.
Thanks to the publisher, Avid Reader Press, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.
March 25, 2021
The Encyclopedia of New York by the Editors of NY Magazine is a fascinating look into the world of New York from its everyday person to the exotic. It is packed with all sorts of information that is both fascinating as well as “what were they doing, and why?” I really enjoyed looking through and reading many parts of this book and would recommend it to others.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
November 2, 2020
Pretty fun and informative, though I found myself wanting a little more variety in format--more little interviews, more images, more artifacts. And while it does cover a wide cross-section and of course needs to draw the line somewhere, I think there were some things missing that would have been good additions.
August 26, 2021
Lots of great illustrations and photos, as well as an interesting collection of articles. No one book can probably ever really sum up NYC, but this comes as close as you might hope.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 29, 2020
I loved this book because it made me travel to New York and discover facts and stories.
It's well researched, informative and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's well researched, informative and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 22, 2021
Very interesting facts on things from when birth control became available to women to Times Square. Many landmarks were remarked on and I am glad to live in this time period since it would be very scary without some of the modern conveniences that we have.
December 7, 2020
Vermont as "upstate" New York. Who knew?
October 15, 2022
Yes, I read it cover to cover over a year and a half. Enjoyed the experience and learned a little about quite a lot. I have no regrets.
February 7, 2022
Read January 2022
NYPL book
NYPL book
August 28, 2022
Fantastic book from NYMag, worth reading every entry.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews