Customer Reviews

Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas (Chairman's Circle Books)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The beautiful "Infinite City" belongs on any list of essential San Francisco books. Rebecca Solnit and her collaborators have taken a core sample of the endless layers of San Francisco history and laid it out in twenty-two brilliantly imagined maps and eighteen essays exploring the city's history, geography, demography, biology, and myth. "Infinite City" is vast enough to encompass the Coliseum, Coronet and Alexandria theaters; the Pipevine swallowtail, Satyr anglewing, and Orange sulfur butterflies; the Yelamu, Aramai, and Urebure peoples; the "McKittrick Hotel", "Argosy Book Shop", and Ernie's; Josephine McCrackin, Carrie Stevens Walter, and Barbara Eastman; Bechtel, RoboteX, and Jeppesen; Jimbo's Bop City, Ann's 440, and the Six Gallery; Acme Export Packing, the Pacific Far East Line, and Triple A Machine Shop; and the Richmond Branch of the San Francisco Public Library. The book itself is as lovingly designed as anything McSweeney's has published, proof that until we stop needing tactile pleasures, the screen will never replace the page.

Incredible book, an interesting view of San Francisco from a historical and sociological perspective. Please note though that this book is currently being offered by a seller for over $198. This book is being sold at the SFMOMA for $24.95. The seller's mark up is dishonest and offensive.

It's like reader-Mapquesting your way through San Francisco while leafing through the pages of "Infinite City." Rebecca Solnit has cleverly divided The City into wonderful stories based on people, events and history which happened in each of the many and varied districts. Whether you're an armchair traveler or lucky enough to actually be in San Francisco traipsing about you will thoroughly enjoy all the wonderfully detailed maps as well as eloquently written words which entice the reader to keep moving on to the next page and district. Hard to believe it's possible because San Francisco is so well documented but this book adds many new facts and bits of

interest guaranteed to hold your attention. It's an entertaining, delightful and informative read as well as terrific reference. "Infinite City" is a new gem on my bookshelf which is located 750 miles from San Francisco. Despite the distance, as Solnit wrote, "More than anything, this is a map home."

I have had Infinite City on my wishlist for sometime and it has been recommended by a few friends. But, it was not until I got my hands on a copy that I was impressed with the book. The production of the book is stunning and incredibly well crafted, which could be a great reason for some to purchase the book. But, the maps/atlas and accompanying content is just as fantastic. The book is a wonderful joy to read, browse, and learn about San Francisco (as well as an excellent example of great book design).

It has been awhile since a book captivated me to the point that I felt compelled to read it in one sitting. With beautifully executed maps and insightful essays, Rebecca Solnit and her collaborators have created a thought provoking study of the Bay Area in general and San Francisco in particular.

Well worth the cover price if only for Solnit's introduction, a 'meditation' on maps, San Francisco, change, memory, and . . . books!

Rebecca Solnit is just about my favorite author, and here she makes good use of a great idea: create an atlas of San Francisco that maps the social history of the place. The maps, with accompanying essays, show us notable women in the area's environmental causes, the confluence of Eadweard Muybridge and Alfred Hitchcock, and many more. Well designed, entertaining and thoughtful. Well worth it.

Since giving this book to my husband for Christmas, he has rarely put it down. His mother loves it, too!

As a native of San Francisco (NOT "Frisco" or "San Fran"...it's San Francisco OR "the city"!) this book is a revelation. I have trouble putting it down. SO many details about what happened where and when, so much richness of information and cultural background. Not just a who did what and when, but whys and cultural insight. GREAT BOOK for anyone who loves "the city"!

If you're looking for a unique book on what do to in San Francisco or some of the odd history, this book is great. I have not read through it entirely yet, but the 1st half is great and the illustrations are amazing. Very happy with this purchase. Cool design, too!