Customer Reviews

Manhattan Skyscrapers

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I ordered this book after September 11th as a sort of timecapsule of the New York skyline and a historical record of the World Trade Center towers. The formatting of the book is nice, in chronological order by building, with equal background devoted to each building. There are wonderful pictures of every building, along with some building plans and surrounding area maps.

My biggest complaint is that this book devotes equal time to a lot of non-descript skyscrapers from the 1960's and 1970's that don't really add to the uniqueness of the NY skyline. Some of the architecture of that period is just drab and uninteresting. I would've liked to have seen more concentration on the earlier period of New York's building boom. I think more interior shots would round out this book. The book could also include at least another 50-75 buildings, which is why I don't feel that it's definitive.

That said, this is a nice book, well-formatted, which covers most of the landmark buildings in Manhattan, including the former World Trade Center towers and surrounding buildings.

I have read a lot of books about Manhattan Skyscrapers, but this is by far the BEST of all of them. The author makes a review of 75 of the most famous Manhattan's skyscrapers, with amazing pictures you've never seen before. Going in chronological order, it goes from the first skyscrapers, like the Flatiron Building, pasing through Empire State Building, Chrysler and Woolworth, and ending with the new Conde Naste Building at Broadway. If you love skyscraper architecture, this is THE Book ! .

This book pin pointed some of Manhattan's most noticable and famous skyscrapers. From early century to 2000 this book covers it all. It starts of with the best early buildings mainly near cityhall. Then continues to the towers of wall street, these are the big bold towers weve come to know in the financial district, from the equitable building that is the reason for new york zoning to 1 bankers trust and it's magnificant zuggarat roof. It's full of pictures and info you can't find anywhere else. The book gets more exciting as time progresses, mentioning towers from the Empire State building to the short beakman plaza it's all there. Modern towers are characterized magnificently, at first describing the landmarks such as the lever, seagram, and the U.N. to latter discussing Manhattan's Mega Skyscrapers such as U.S. Steel, G.M., Chase, and Metlife mentioning the sucesses and failures of each tower. At the end it describes the boom in timesquare and other new skyscrapers which escape the box. I read every page with great excitement and recommend it to everyone, it's full of info from an architect's and historians point of view

we've all seen pictures of skyscrapers and know what they look like, but i was amazed at the photos he took of them. he must stayed in one spot all day, just sitting and waiting all day for that perfect shadow to cast just right to make some of his compositions. I liked it mostly for his compositions and techniques of taking pictures of buildings we've seen a thousand times before--hey if you like skyscrapers or NYC, it's a bonus.

"Manhattan Skyscrapers", a book first offered in 1999, has been updated since 9/11, but the central thrust remains......there is no other place on earth that gives us so many tall buildings on such small parcels of land. As one who has worked at the Empire State Building for a dozen years, "Manhattan Skyscrapers" makes me want to see as many of these wonders as I can.

This is a coffee table book to be sure, but that doesn't take anything away from the richness of Norman McGrath's often stunning photographs and the accompanying descriptions by author Eric P. Nash. Beginning with the 1896 American Tract Society Building (hardly a skyscraper by today's standards) the reader is treated to a chronological trip up and down Manhattan. There are many old black and white photos that are included, giving us a perspective on how the city has evolved architecturally. (Yes, there is a section on the twin towers, as there should be)

I was particularly enamored of the older buildings, especially the Flatiron Building (1902) with its one-of-a-kind design but the newer buildings, such as Citicorp Center, the W.R. Grace Building and the oddly suggestive Lipstick Building also warrant attention. Having viewed the outside of these marvels of creation it would be nice to see a book about the interiors of some of them.....the lobby of the Empire State Building, for one.

Nash and McGrath have compiled a gem of a book. I encourage readers to have a look and take your time with it. It's worth every page turn.

The city of New York hosts some of the most memorable skyscrapers in the world: for those unable to personally visit, Manhattan Skyscrapers provides a newly revised, expanded edition to present over eighty of the best of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Though full-page color portraits of each are packed into each feature, equally striking is the blend of historical background, architectural insight and details Nash provides in each accompanying description. A 'then and now' feel is created by the color contemporary photo facing a page of vintage or black and white illustration. Highly recommended for any fan of Manhattan or urban architectural style.

The city of New York hosts some of the most memorable skyscrapers in the world: for those unable to personally visit, Manhattan Skyscrapers provides a newly revised, expanded edition to present over eighty of the best of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Though full-page color portraits of each are packed into each feature, equally striking is the blend of historical background, architectural insight and details Nash provides in each accompanying description. A 'then and now' feel is created by the color contemporary photo facing a page of vintage or black and white illustration. Highly recommended for any fan of Manhattan or urban architectural style.

If you spend a lot of time in New York, it's easy to take it for granted. Mr. Nash is someone who does not. Each building in this sumptuously photgraphed book has a story to tell and he does so with a lot of admiration. Now, when I walk through the streets and recognize one I read about, I stop and notice the details and try to recall what was in the text. It would make a nice gift to anyone who loves the city.

This is a great book: indeed, it's really the only title available offering such coverage. The photographs are excellent and the reproduction quality very good. I only wish there had been twice as many pictures of New York's classic skyscrapers, as well as some images of their lobbies.

Definitely one of the best Skyscraper books in a nutshell visually and informatically. Very simple layout and would tell you directions to the particular skyscraper if in the area. This was for a College Elective Class and my professor swore to this book (for a GOOD reason). By the way, its not just Manhattan, Brooklyn carries some too.