The Encyclopedia of New York City

by Kenneth T. Jackson (Editor), The New-York Historical Society

The only reference book of its kind offers a wealth of entertaining facts about New York from prehistory to the present, containing more than four thousand entries on a wide range of topics, along with hundreds of illustrations and maps. UP.

Genres: New York, Reference, History, Nonfiction, Travel, Geography, Urban Studies

1392 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 1995

Reviews

[Jon Boorstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[cheeseblab]

I 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.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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.

[Barbara Seckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[L.A. Chandlar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a ginormous reference book - but essential for great research on NYC. Love it:-).

[Dusan Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Josephine (biblioseph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Mary Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many faboulous "new york-isms".

[Buddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been reading this over the past couple of years...It'll take a few more to finish. I love it though. (Lame review)

[RUSA CODES · Rating 5 out of 5]

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...

[Frederic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent -- and massive -- general reference on the city.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. An absolute must-have for every library.

[Hanako]

Didn't finish... obviously.