Customer Reviews

The Gate: The True Story of the Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

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The book is one of the few books that I've ever read twice. And I find that I've continued to tell other people about this book from time to time. I would characterize the book as a thriller or, at least a drama, for and about engineers. The book is highly location-conscious. After reading the book, you'll be able to relate how the Golden Gate Bridge is related to engineering companies in New York City, to fund-raising efforts in the northern counties in California, to engineering professors in the mid-west, to a theater designer of the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island, to professors at U.C.Berkeley, and to a certain humble bascule bridge that continues its unsung day-to-day chores in an obscure part of San Francisco. To repeat, I really liked the author's interconnections, that he related in the book. The book deserves to be back in print, and it deserves to be in every gift shop in the City. The book is highly fact-based (it is not laced with fanciful commentary), and yet the book is difficult to put down. Perhaps the most striking and sad part of Van Der Zee's book, is that the engineer responsible for most of the innovations of the bridge was left off of the plaque (for political reasons), which is mounted on the Golden Gate Bridge.

I have a bad habit of picking up books that look interesting and then giving up after the first hundred or so pages. This book is one of the few out there that gain and hold your interest, with such compelling detail that it boggles the mind how the author could have compiled and written this book in just 18 months. This is a wonderful, well-researched book with many surprising twists and turns. In fact, I bank with Bank of America, and now when I go up to the ATM and see the picture of the Golden Gate on the screen, I know why that image is there. A must read, and you will never look at the Golden Gate the same way again.

This is an excellent narrative of the building of the Golden Gate bridge. Unfortunately, the number (few) and quality (poor) of the illustrations do not match the excellent and detailed written descriptions of the technical aspects of the bridge. Since it is a paperback, the type of paper used limits the quality of illustrations and overall, it was somewhat of a disappointment.

Having been over the Golden Gate Bridge only a few times, including running the San Francisco Marathon, and having read this book, I now want to go back and really look at this beautiful bridge with the appreciation it deserves. What a story, what an accomplishment. What a moment in our history. What a collection of talented and determined people, some flawed, but all caught up in this amazing monument. No computers, no automation, just genius and determination.

This is a great account of all the characters, the maneuverings, the incredible challenges. The descriptions of the construction, the various materials used, their fabrication, the unbelievable difficulties of construction, all come together and provide what a thousand pictures cannot. The narrative stands on its own and creates the imagery in your mind.

To visualize the Gate, the bay opening to the Pacific, before the bridge, I can only think that this is one time that a structure actually improved a natural and beautiful landscape. This book gives you every reason to have confidence in the possibilities of our shared abilities, and in those who push to excel and exceed.

San Francisco politics. Bridge politics. Egos clashing and crashing. The original "Survivor" saga, this book has all sorts of people intrique. Strauss is definitely the book's Richard. If the two of them ever sought out the same goal....yikes!! Strauss cut deals with everyone from whom he could benefit, and he axed out those "friends" as soon as he was finished 'using' them. The designer, Ellis...out, and it was three years before he could find another job in the depression 30s. O'Shaunassy, as SF's city engineer, was right in there swinging from the start. Michael was voted out by Strauss, and cast aside. (He did finish the Hetch Hetchy project for the city.) Strauss created a string of bodies as his ego forged ahead to be known as "Mr. Bridge, designer, builder, ......" of the Golden Gate span. Well, he was none of these things. Unfortunately, the text is quite weak on providing the engineering details of the span.The few pictures the book has are interesting, but not sufficient to acquire a good idea of the supurb engineering that went into the structure. You'll have to go to another book for that!

Book was sent quickly, after I emailed the seller asking about delivery information. The book was in great condition and my Grandma has really enjoyed reading it! Thanks!