Customer Reviews

Twin Cities Then and Now (Minnesota)

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

 

 

I thought this book was very interesting, and not at all something that would appeal only to Minnesotans. It's sometimes hard to remember just how rapidly the neighborhoods and infrastructure of American cities have changed in the last hundred years, and seeing the movement documented is really fascinating. As the authors point out in an early chapter, nothing in a city is permanent, sometimes not even the streets themselves. The book does have some unhappy overtones. Like other cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul have chosen at times to simply bulldoze seedy areas of town and fill them with bland new buildings rather than try to redevelop them. New is not always better, for the city or its inhabitants. It's sad to see a block of aging but still beautiful turn-of-the century commerical buildings give way to cold-looking open spaces, or a stately mansion lawn turn into a weed-choked hillside behind a college. But this book is excellent whether you are interested in social commentary or just amazed at how quickly cities change to meet our changing needs.

I'm reading this book for Augsburg College's history of the Twin Cities. I think the photography is first class and I love reading this book. It is one of few class reading I enjoy (as well as Larry Millett's Lost Twin Cities). Lewis Nelson

Another VERY interesting book from Larry Millett - I couldn't put it down, lots of fun and great comparison pictures. Brings back a lot of memories!

Larry Millett's books (I purchased this one and "Lost Twin Cities") on history, culture, urban planning and architecture are fascinating and are a welcome addition to the library of anyone that has lived through and has memories of infamous "urban renewal" projects as well as those wishing to have an increased appreciation for the past. Numerous photographs illustrate striking examples of how the Twin Cities have changed in look and function. Truly wonderful!

Excellent pictures. Reminded me of when I was a child and my parents took me downtown to Dayton's and MacDonalds to see the Christmas displays. I had been to Minneapolis a few years back and some of the changes startled me. This was a good effort.

My dad grew up in the Twin Cities in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, so I thought that this would be a fun gift for his birthday.

It took a little help to get him to see how the book operated (tracing an imaginary vertical line from the number at the edge of each photo), but once he got the hang of it, it was nostalgia time! He'd show me where he went to school, where he lived, where he worked, etc.

He talked about buying some extra copies for his (many) siblings whom, he imagined, would probably enjoy it as much as he did.

It was even fun to see places that I went to with him and his family (e.g., the Nankin Restaurant).

I think there are other similar books out there, but this one seemed to have decent reviews and I'm glad that I got it for him.

Oh, a slightly larger format would have made reviewing the book easier. Sometimes, the items in the photos were just too small to make out and had us longing for a magnifying glass.

A great book with great pix and a wonderful way of flashing back in time. Perfe3ct for those needing or loving a bit of the old, nostalgic Twin Cities!!!