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The Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark Paperback – March 25, 2014

by John Tauranac (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 68 ratings
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The Empire State Building is the landmark book on one of the world’s most notable landmarks. Since its publication in 1995, John Tauranac’s book, focused on the inception and creation of the building, has stood as the most comprehensive account of the structure. Moreover, it is far more than a work in architectural history; Tauranac tells a larger story of the politics of urban development in and through the interwar years. In a new epilogue to the Cornell edition, Tauranac highlights the continuing resonance and influence of the Empire State Building in the rapidly changing post-9/11 cityscape.

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  1. Print length
    408 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Cornell University Press
  4. Publication date
    March 25, 2014
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    6.12 x 0.91 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0801479398
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0801479397
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The Empire State Building is a methodically researched, richly informative account of the raising of the world's most famous skyscraper.

― Chicago Tribune

A building that is a movie star unto itself deserves a writer of such contagious enthusiasm as Tauranac. This book is a fascinating, self-propelling, and definitive history of the building.

― Booklist

Although the Empire State Building is no longer the tallest building in the world (or even in New York City), it remains mythical, iconic. This entrancing book is at once an appreciation of the structure as a practical work of art and an exploration of the building's role in the city and the world.

― New Yorker

Tauranac combines fine scholarship with a storyteller's gift for entertainment. The Empire State Building is a basic reference on twentieth-century architecture and urban development.

― Journal of American History

Tauranac knows the architecture and buildings of New York as few do. He takes us through the story of the skyscraper as a form, the zoning that emerged to control the tall buildings, the real-estate boom of the twenties, the history of the site, the careers of John J. Raskob and Al Smith and the architects and builders who designed and erected the building, and the building's subsequent career.

― New York Times Book Review

Tauranac's book is a vivid characterization of the skyscraper as romantic phenomenon. As such it demonstrates unfailingly why the Empire State Building has yet to relinquish its grip on the imagination.

― Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians

When the 1250-foot Empire State Building opened in the Depression year of 1931, it was the world's tallest building. Today, it retains a special place in the heart of New Yorkers. Tauranac has written an informative and exciting biography of Manhattan’s most famous building.

― Publishers Weekly

About the Author

John Tauranac writes on New York’s architectural history, teaches and lectures on the subject, gives tours of the city, and is a mapmaker. In 1997, he was the guest curator of A Dream Well Planned: The Empire State Building at the Museum of the City of New York. His books include New York from the Air, Elegant New York, Essential New York, and Seeing New York. He has contributed to the New York Times, the New York Observer, New York Newsday, New York Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Seaport, Avenue Magazine, and other publications. Tauranac is an adjunct associate professor at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell University Press (March 25, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801479398
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801479397
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.91 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
68 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book a great read with interesting and enjoyable content. They also describe the history as excellent and readable.

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Reading experienceContentHistoryReadability
8 customers mention "Reading experience"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great read, but they feel the formatting is sloppy.

"Excellent read, (almost too) detailed. Good history of the Empire State Building. Well-written and readable." Read more

"This is a superb book -- an extremely readable account of the building of America's greatest skyscraper...." Read more

"Very interesting and enjoyable for the most part...." Read more

"Good read!..." Read more

7 customers mention "Content"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very interesting and enjoyable, with great details about the Empire State Building. They also say it's an excellent book about a monumental project, with good history.

"Well written, great information!" Read more

"...It is full of intrigue, history, great anecdotes and one-of-a-kind photographs...." Read more

"Lots of great details about the Empire State Building including the fact that TV wasfirst broadcast from there. I loved it." Read more

"...for some readers ( thus only four stars), but it is non fiction and informative regarding the early New Yorkers making their fortunes." Read more

4 customers mention "History"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the history of the book excellent.

"Excellent read, (almost too) detailed. Good history of the Empire State Building. Well-written and readable." Read more

"...book shortly after a trip to NYC in 2000, and found it to be an excellent history of one of the Big Apple's architectural jewels, the Empire State..." Read more

"...It does give an overall history of the development of the urban landscape in Manhattan during this period...." Read more

"Good solid history that held my interest." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and readable.

"Well written, great information!" Read more

"...Good history of the Empire State Building. Well-written and readable." Read more

"This is a superb book -- an extremely readable account of the building of America's greatest skyscraper...." Read more

"Well written and quite captivating" Read more

Great read, sloppy formatting. Substituted “CEXT” for “men” in all words with that text.
3 out of 5 stars
Great read, sloppy formatting. Substituted “CEXT” for “men” in all words with that text.
Other than flagging every error, which slows down the read, I looked for a way to report this error to Amazon. Of course it is impossible to find. Purchase if you want to buy a flawed product.
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Top reviews from the United States

Burton
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
Well written, great information!
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Scott L. O'Dell
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good history.
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Excellent read, (almost too) detailed. Good history of the Empire State Building. Well-written and readable.
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S. Sande
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! Fun To Read! Educational!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2001
Verified Purchase
I bought this book shortly after a trip to NYC in 2000, and found it to be an excellent history of one of the Big Apple's architectural jewels, the Empire State Building. It is full of intrigue, history, great anecdotes and one-of-a-kind photographs. If you're a visitor to Manhattan or a local resident, you owe it to yourself to read this book.
6 people found this helpful
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Hoss J. Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a great building.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
Lots of great details about the Empire State Building including the fact that TV was
first broadcast from there. I loved it.
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HJL
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book about a monumental project -- with only one flaw.
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is a superb book -- an extremely readable account of the building of America's greatest skyscraper. The only flaw in the book is that in an otherwise crystal-clear book, Tauranac uses too many terms from architecture and construction without explaining them. The book is still perfectly appropriate for a lay audience, but it would have been even better if I had the context that understanding these terms would provide.
One person found this helpful
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Cat on a PC©
3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was expecting a book along the lines of  Skyscraper: The Making of a Building  by Karl Sabbagh. It tells the story of the construction of Worldwide Plaza. However, there is really very little in Tauranac's book about actually building, with only one chapter devoted to the actual construction. A shame, really, as some of the techniques used were pioneering at the time.

This is not to say that this is not a good book. It does give an overall history of the development of the urban landscape in Manhattan during this period. If you're looking for a book about the era that produced a landmark building, then this is the book to get. However, if you're looking for something about the Empire State Building detailing its actual construction, then you won't find it here.
4 people found this helpful
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Lilith
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
Love it!
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J. Mayer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well done
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2015
Verified Purchase
Good solid history that held my interest.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Michel P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Convient parfaitement
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
Très satisfaite !
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Eveliand
4.0 out of 5 stars Très intéressant et bien écrit
Reviewed in France on February 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
J'ai acheté ce livre après une visite de l'Empire State Building qui m'avait émerveillée.
Le livre retrace la construction du monument et replace tout ceci dans le contexte architectural et socio-économique de NYC à la même époque. J'adore.
One person found this helpful
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D. C. Fuhr
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
Extremely well written and easy to read
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