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The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey
At once a majestic journey across the West, a significant work of history, and a moving personal saga, The Oregon Trail draws readers into the journey of a lifetime. Learn more
$21.19
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Best Books of the Month
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
For some time, I've idly wondered if Manhattan, in its pre built-up days, ever had streams and ponds, or if it simply wasn't large enough for that. Well, thanks to this book, now I know: it did indeed have them, quite a few actually. This and so much more I learned from this extensively researched and profusely illustrated look back on what that relatively small island near the Hudson River's mouth looked like before the European settlers got their hands on it.
The detailed descriptions of the island's natural features -- its streams, ponds, hills, woodlands, and so on -- as well as its flora and fauna are fascinating. But what really did it for me were the illustrations: breathtaking views of the beautiful, unspoiled terrain. The pictures alone were worth the price of the book, and in fact my only "complaint" is that I wish there could have been more of them. (Keep in mind, there are already lots and lots of them.) Though, given the incredible amount of detail in the text, I do realize that there simply wasn't enough room for more.
Just so you know, this is a heavy book; it's printed on thick, almost hard-stock paper. I think this definitely helps show the clarity of the illustrations (you can't see through the pages to what's on the other side), but this is not a good book to take with you when you're traveling. Much better to read it at home.
The final chapter, which gives the author's take on what New York City might look like 400 years from now, seemed quite unrealistic to me. He envisions a city whose population resides in densely packed strips along the rivers, while the great majority of the outer boroughs are given over to farmland. There are no cars in Future New York, and the subways have been converted to solely carry freight.Read more ›
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This book is illustrated so beautifully it belongs on the coffee table. Its also big and heavily loaded with information. The concept takes Manhattan back to a pristine wilderness showing the habitat of indigenous species and native inhabitants before the colonials arrived. Using GIS, the author has generated maps of landscapes in 1609 that perfectly match current GPS images. Block by block overlays show the location of a Lenape village, stream, or forest. Using a Muir web, the author also reconstructs the ecosystems of plants and animals that vanished when the skyscrapers went up. The Mannahatta project has set up an interactive website, which allows visitors to travel back in time and see an Indian village at the site of the current City Hall or a beaver dam where the Empire State building now stands. The intent is not a call to return to the jungle, just a reminder of how things change.
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Mannahatta is a tremendous history of NYC. Anyone who loves this spectacular area needs to read this to learn how is started and great into one of the world's greatest cities.
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Had heard of this project and on recent trip to NYC found the book in the hotel lobby. Flipped through and found it beautiful. Enthusiastically ordered the Kindle version - what a disappointment - the pictures (and if anything, this is a picture book) are tiny and cannot be pinched-sized.
Get the hardcover, avoid the Kindle version.
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I had been highly anticipating this book, expecting an exciting synthesis of the geology, flora and natural history of Manhattan. Whether or not Sanderson hoped to cover this full array plus the taxonomy of common plants and trees PLUS a history of the native peoples all at once I do not know.
What ends up in the book is a surface coating of all of the above, the key word (no pun intended) being "surface". There is also an ecological history, ecological warnings which drone on too long and finally, a plethora of randomly placed generic photographs. The ecological and human aspects of the book will thrill PC readers and reviewers, but at the end of the day this like a mediocre meal at high prices--you're full but not satisfied.
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Funny how reading William Cary Duncan's iffy biography THE AMAZING MADAME JUMEL (too much in the way of imaginary conversations) led to my reading W. H. Shelton's fascinating history THE JUMEL MANSION which led to my curiosity about old Manhattan and thus to Eric Sanderson and Markley Boyer's really moving "Natural History of New York City". This beautifully designed book represents a valiant effort to recreate pre-European Manhattan using the latest technology as well as heartfelt commitment. Sanderson's text is passionate and both the illustrations chosen from the past and Boyer's new 'knock your socks off' visual imaginings are hard to beat. The text is only 243 pages, but there are also another hundred plus pages of appendices, bibliography, and index. The book is literally a weighty tome. One could do with it having been printed on somewhat lighter paper. Quite a physical workout !!!
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