Customer Reviews

The Bridges of New York (New York City)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a reissue by Dover of a classic history and exhibit book. Covers all the major bridges in the New York City area. For both the casually interested and the specialist, the author has mined volumes of engineering periodicals and original records to cover not only the well known crossings such as the Brooklyn, TriBorough and George Washington bridges but also the lesser known aqueduct bridges over the Harlem River between the Bronx and Manhattan, and the railroad bridges; structures not usually featured in postcards and tour books because they do not present spectacular and soaring vistas against the sky. Yet still worthy of admiration for their engineering features.
Worthy addition to the collection of a pontist.

This book is incredible. It is more than reasonably priced and tells a great story of both the scientific and political history behind the construction of New York's bridges. The photographs are beautiful and the text is very readable. Highly recommended.

An incredible work by Sharon Reier. The book explains the complexities of having bridges built in NYC (or any city), both from the engineering and political perspective. Sharon brings the novice through the whole process from start to finish without losing the reader, while at the same time instilling a sense of appreciation for these engineering marvels.The book is well illustrated and an easy read. Don't pass this one up at this price.

Don't let the title fool you, this is not an engineering book. Rather, it is a pleasant history of the construction and importance of many of New York City's most important bridges. As everyone already knows, New York City is world-famous for its many impressive skyscrapers, but without its equally impressive bridges the city as we know it today could not exist. The narrative is detailed enough to give the reader a solid base of information about each span, but you don't need an engineering degree to understand this material. And all the added photos and illustrations help even more. If you are interested in what makes New York such a vibrant city you have to learn about its bridges as well as its buildings. This book is a wonderful way to do that.

I just loved this book. I have been in my "New York mode" for quite some time, just living in the great city vicariously! Wish I could move back there, but can't afford it! A beautiful book, I highly recommend it. Beautiful pictures of the bridges and their history. A lovely look at New York's treasures.

The photos and subject coverage are first rate, the writing style is workmanlike and effective, so if you are interested in bridge architecture and New York City history, this book is a must-have. I would have liked a bit less coverage of how the brisges constructions were finanaced, and more on the actual building process. Nevertheles, I really enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed this book but it does get a bit heavy into the local politics at times. It was written in 1977 but the age doesn't affect it too much.

"The Bridges of New York" is a great book for anyone who has marveled at structures like the Brooklyn Bridge. Author Sharon Reier does a splendid job of describing some of New York City's most interesting bridges, past and present, in this short, fascinating book. In both words and pictures (photos and drawings), she tells the story of these bridges. Until I read the book, I had no idea that there are more than 75 bridges over NYC's waterways.

Note that the book was originally published in 1977, so newer bridges like the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge that was built in 1987 are not mentioned. But it's the older, historic bridges that are the focus of this book, bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Hell Gate Arch Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and some of the lesser known bridges.

The pictures alone make the book worth having, but the author's text descriptions reveal some marvelous tidbits of New York City history. As a retired civil engineer, I found the book to be fascinating, but I think that anyone who has been captivated by the sight of a big bridge would love this book.

Another book that I recommend for bridge enthusiasts is "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge" by David McCullough.