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librariantracey's review against another edition
4.0
exceedingly long and exceptionally detailed. I admit, I did not read every word, but skimmed most.
donzhivago's review against another edition
5.0
A truly stupendous achievement, which I am amazed to see not only didn't take multiple lifetimes, but somehow spawned an equally massive sequel.
I've never read a book with even half as much information as was contained within, and I read a lot of nonfiction. I don't know whether it is a must read, but if one were to read just a single American history book, this very well might be the one.
I've never read a book with even half as much information as was contained within, and I read a lot of nonfiction. I don't know whether it is a must read, but if one were to read just a single American history book, this very well might be the one.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
cmbohn's review against another edition
4.0
Finally finished this one! I almost gave up, not that I wasn't enjoying it, but just from feeling like it was never going to end. This one is definitely one to get on the kindle if you're going to buy it - it weighs a ton! Definitely worth reading. My only complaint is that I wish there were a contemporary map in here to consult with.
dangerousnerd's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book from the library a week before my wife and I were to leave on a trip to NYC. Two weeks, I figured, was plenty of time to read it. When the librarian pulled it from the hold shelf, though, I knew I was in trouble. The book was huge. Then I flipped through the pages and found that the font was tiny as well. Not only was I not going to finish before our trip, I couldn't even bring this giant brick of a book with us.
Two months later, I've finished it. I have to say, it was an incredibly interesting book. Well written and thoroughly researched, this exhaustive study of New York focuses on the people of the city, both rich and poor, through the ups and downs of the city's fortunes and growth. It spends a lot of time on the various labor movements, which I loved.
Also, thank God for ebooks. Getting this electronically allowed me to take it with me to New York but also avoid the inevitable arm strain that I would've suffered from trying to hold it.
Two months later, I've finished it. I have to say, it was an incredibly interesting book. Well written and thoroughly researched, this exhaustive study of New York focuses on the people of the city, both rich and poor, through the ups and downs of the city's fortunes and growth. It spends a lot of time on the various labor movements, which I loved.
Also, thank God for ebooks. Getting this electronically allowed me to take it with me to New York but also avoid the inevitable arm strain that I would've suffered from trying to hold it.
yulelogue's review against another edition
5.0
I doubt you’ll find a more comprehensive history of the city. If I have a gripe, the Native Americans sorta disappear (figuratively) from the narrative.
yi_shun_lai's review against another edition
3.0
i've only picked through this. the fact that it was given to me by an ex-boyfriend structural engineer just before we broke up means nothing. no, really, it's a good read and has a ton of tidbits in it about everyone's favorite city.
loonyboi's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so let's get this out of the way up front: this book is very, very large and intimidating. It took me over twelve years to muster the courage to read it. I picked it up in 2003, wanting to read a really good history of New York City, and for all that time it sat on my shelf, taunting me.
So I finally read it. And it is indeed great.
Here's the thing about Gotham - while there are almost certainly more comprehensive histories of the founding of New Amsterdam, the Revolutionary War, the New York Civil War draft riots, the creation of the Brooklyn bridge, the rise of Boss Tweed and Tammany hall, the Railroad barons and financiers like J.P. Morgan, and the 1898 unification of the boroughs that ultimately created what we call New York City, it is safe to say that there is no single book that covers all of these events (and much, much more) with as much detail as this one. It's really quite remarkable, and well deserving of the Pulitzer Prize it won.
Having said all that, I knocked a star off because good lord is this book dense. I never take a break from a book, but I had to stop halfway through to read something else. It was just too much for me. This book is so impossibly comprehensive it just boggles the mind. Every labor dispute, every street, every major building, the founding of every church, they're all in here. Plus every newspaper, all the big name citizens...if it happened in NYC from its earliest days all the way up to 1898, it's in here.
The fact that this is called Volume 1 is a bit ominous, but I'm up for the challenge of a second volume that covers the 20th century. I'm even looking forward to it. Although given that this book took over two decades to write, I'm not expecting it anytime soon.
Bottom line is this: if you're up to the challenge, read Gotham. It's terrific. Just get comfortable, because you're not going anywhere for a while.
So I finally read it. And it is indeed great.
Here's the thing about Gotham - while there are almost certainly more comprehensive histories of the founding of New Amsterdam, the Revolutionary War, the New York Civil War draft riots, the creation of the Brooklyn bridge, the rise of Boss Tweed and Tammany hall, the Railroad barons and financiers like J.P. Morgan, and the 1898 unification of the boroughs that ultimately created what we call New York City, it is safe to say that there is no single book that covers all of these events (and much, much more) with as much detail as this one. It's really quite remarkable, and well deserving of the Pulitzer Prize it won.
Having said all that, I knocked a star off because good lord is this book dense. I never take a break from a book, but I had to stop halfway through to read something else. It was just too much for me. This book is so impossibly comprehensive it just boggles the mind. Every labor dispute, every street, every major building, the founding of every church, they're all in here. Plus every newspaper, all the big name citizens...if it happened in NYC from its earliest days all the way up to 1898, it's in here.
The fact that this is called Volume 1 is a bit ominous, but I'm up for the challenge of a second volume that covers the 20th century. I'm even looking forward to it. Although given that this book took over two decades to write, I'm not expecting it anytime soon.
Bottom line is this: if you're up to the challenge, read Gotham. It's terrific. Just get comfortable, because you're not going anywhere for a while.
josephtremblay's review against another edition
5.0
When I began reading this book (on Vanetine's Day), I thought it would take about a month to read (it's 1,236 pages long - not including the references & index). I didn't think it would take more than twice that long.
It was worth the effort, though.
If you want to read a thorough history of New York City, from before the Europeans arrived through the nineteenth century (this volume stops at 1898 - the year when Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island merged to form the current New York City), read this book.
A few themes come up repeatedly throughout the book - particularly economic recessions, labour relations and what to do with the poor - this is certainly not a narrow history. Beyond the political, econimic, and cultural evolution of the city, the book also tells the stories of ordinary (and extraordinary) residents. In the words of the authors, this is a book about "sex and sewer systems, finance and architecture, immigration and politics, poetry and crime."
I'm glad I read it. I look forward to reading the next volume (covering the years 1898 - 1919) but I'm going to enjoy some (shorter) fiction first.
It was worth the effort, though.
If you want to read a thorough history of New York City, from before the Europeans arrived through the nineteenth century (this volume stops at 1898 - the year when Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island merged to form the current New York City), read this book.
A few themes come up repeatedly throughout the book - particularly economic recessions, labour relations and what to do with the poor - this is certainly not a narrow history. Beyond the political, econimic, and cultural evolution of the city, the book also tells the stories of ordinary (and extraordinary) residents. In the words of the authors, this is a book about "sex and sewer systems, finance and architecture, immigration and politics, poetry and crime."
I'm glad I read it. I look forward to reading the next volume (covering the years 1898 - 1919) but I'm going to enjoy some (shorter) fiction first.
abeanbg's review against another edition
5.0
Enormous, yet enormously readable
Enormous, yet enormously readable as well. Books over 1000 pages typically take me a year to read, because I have to break it up into segments. With the aid of the audio book, I took down Gotham in three months. That's a definitive compliment to Burrows and Wallace. Their history of New York is a history of American urban history written across the travails of our Empire City. I'm a Chicagoan, but cannot help but admire their work and the metropolis that Washington Irving dubbed Gotham.
Enormous, yet enormously readable as well. Books over 1000 pages typically take me a year to read, because I have to break it up into segments. With the aid of the audio book, I took down Gotham in three months. That's a definitive compliment to Burrows and Wallace. Their history of New York is a history of American urban history written across the travails of our Empire City. I'm a Chicagoan, but cannot help but admire their work and the metropolis that Washington Irving dubbed Gotham.