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Frederick F. Siegel
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The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life Paperback – December 25, 2006

by Fred Siegel (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars 30 ratings
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In this first post-9/11 account of the career of the man who established himself as "America's Mayor" in the dark days after America was attacked, Fred Siegel shows how Rudy Giuliani's successes in New York--restoring law and order, cutting taxes and radically reducing the welfare rolls--demonstrated that Gotham was indeed "governable" (a matter of doubt until his election) and that our major cities might again become vibrant and dynamic places to live after thirty years of middle-class flight. Someone who has worked with Giuliani as well as studied him, Siegel describes this colorful figure as an "immoderate centrist," who, like the city he came to embody, evokes contradictory emotions. For some, he was a ruthless autocrat during his years at city hall; for others, he was a heroic figure who took on the vested interests that had dragged the city down. Siegel regards Guiliani as a shrewd tactician and artist of the possible who could have stepped out of the pages of Machiavelli's THE PRINCE. A self-promoting, self-absorbed man, the mayor made his own enormous ego serve the city's well-being. He promoted the virtues of duty and sacrifice, but was sometimes unable to honor these values in his personal life. He was suspicious of those outside his immediate circle, but he also placed this tribal ethos in the service of ideals that transcended New York's ethnic politics and business as usual. THE PRINCE OF THE CITY is at once a fascinating character study, a history of New York over the last forty years, and a classic inquiry into the issue of how cities thrive or die. Siegel's story culminates with a dramatic account of September 11, 2001, revealing how Giuliani's s eight years in office had prepared him and the city to rise to this tragic occasion. Siegel concludes with a look at how Guiliani's successor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has handled his legacy and at what the future might hold for America's Mayor.
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  1. Print length
    374 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Encounter Books
  4. Publication date
    December 25, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1594031495
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594031496
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Encounter Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 25, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 374 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1594031495
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594031496
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #3,594,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 30 ratings

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Frederick F. Siegel

Frederick F. Siegel

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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
30 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the biography informative and enjoyable to read.

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KnowledgeEnjoyment
5 customers mention "Knowledge"4 positive1 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-written, with one customer particularly noting how it provides historical context.

"Fantastic biography about one of the most influential mayors of all time...." Read more

"...is to clarify some of the more essential issues with the advantage of historical hindsight while comparing the events as they happened then with..." Read more

"The content of this book was very informative. It brought up points that, at the time, I hadn't even noticed...." Read more

"...Reader is assumed not to know much history (we're reminded a couple of times about when World War II was)...." Read more

4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read.

"...She says is a good book and suggested 4 Stars." Read more

"Great book" Read more

"...then this book is very informative and enjoyable." Read more

"...I especially enjoyed the early chapters of this book and Siegel's description of the 1970's and 1980's during the Lindsay/Koch/Dinkins years...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael T Kennedy
    5.0 out of 5 stars The inner workings of a city in trouble
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2007
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As other reviewers have pointed out, this is as much the story of New York City since the 1960s as it is of Rudy Giuliani. I ordered it to read more about the mayor since he has become a serious candidate for president. The story of the city and its problems was almost more engaging. The left liberal political culture had run the city into the ground. CUNY, the "poor man's Harvard" had collapsed into a city-wide babysitting service. Teachers who had graduated from CUNY were illiterate and were training an illiterate generation of high school "graduates." The author points out how Giuliani became aware of the magnitude of the problem when protest signs held by teachers were filled with misspellings. I also learned a lot about Al Sharpton I wish I didn't know. The fact that Giuliani was able to master this collection of anarchists and hustlers and hacks, and get things done, is a great testimonial to his talents. The errors he made are also on full display so this is not a partisan hagiography. The mayor is there, warts and all. An excellent biography of Giuliani and of the city, itself.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • JG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Biased but still an excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2009
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Siegel succeeds brilliantly in painting a vivid portrait of the political history of New York City during the second half of the 20th century. I especially enjoyed the early chapters of this book and Siegel's description of the 1970's and 1980's during the Lindsay/Koch/Dinkins years. In his narrative of the ungovernable 1980's Siegel captures the fear and the pessimism and the prevailing sense of decline that permeated the city during those years and his words will ring true to anyone who lived in or near New York City during that time.

    However, his portrayal of Giuliani himself is far too flattering and is as much a pro-Giuliani propaganda piece as it is a history of his 8 years in office. I agree with the author that overall Giuliani was a successful mayor and left the city in much better shape than he found it. New York had deteriorated into a crime ridden shell of its former glory was in danger of turning into a larger version of Detroit. However, Siegel gives Giuliani credit for too many successes that were conceived of and implemented by others (the policing methods Giuliani takes credit for were first implemented by Ray Kelly prior to Giuliani becoming mayor).

    This is a great book and an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it, but just keep in mind that the author has a very strong and obvious pro-Giuliani bias.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Brooklyn reviewer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Review of the Giuliani Era
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2005
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Being a lifelong New Yorker, I know first hand of what this book speaks. It is well written and distills, in a refreshingly politically incorrect way, the issues underlying 70 or so years of mayoral politics in the city. The author is not afraid to call it as he sees it.

    What the book does superbly is to clarify some of the more essential issues with the advantage of historical hindsight while comparing the events as they happened then with media obfuscation at the time.

    It would have been useful if the author had focused on some of the more senselessly paranoid behavior of Giuliani and his associates but this is a minor criticism. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to students of New York City politics.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Happy Jersey Girl
    4.0 out of 5 stars The editor was sleeping
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2005
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The content of this book was very informative. It brought up points that, at the time, I hadn't even noticed. However, it appears that the editor was sleeping on the job. The simple activity of reading this book was difficult due to the horrible misspellings and blaring errors in grammar. I cannot believe that the publisher allowed this book to hit the market in its current state. However, if you can manage to overlook the numerous errors (oftentimes there is at least one on every page), then this book is very informative and enjoyable.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Bret Heilig
    2.0 out of 5 stars Unserious analysis, still a decent primer
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a by-the-numbers puff piece. The author hammers on certain points repeatedly (Reagan was great for poor blacks, gets 'proven' three times in the first half of the book alone). Reader is assumed not to know much history (we're reminded a couple of times about when World War II was). Piece as a whole is unclever, though it gets fun in places. It seems clear the author is connected to the DLC, and therefore has an interest in throwing the Liberalism of the 60s and 70s under the bus. While that is a valid topic for a book, it is important to note that this is not an attempt at academic history. It is an attempt to glorify some and blame others, by telling a story a certain way.

    With that said, this book is better than nothing; you will learn some key names, places, events, and so on.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic biography about one of the most influential mayors of ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2016
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Fantastic biography about one of the most influential mayors of all time. Really got into detail about the struggles and creative solutions of governing New York in the late nineties and the effects of 9/11.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Great book
    2 people found this helpful
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  • John R. Bloomer Sr.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Giuliani's war with the bureauocy of the City of NY and the State of NY.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2005
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Too much unimportant detail. Not enough about Giuliani's personal life and not enough about 9-11-01.

    Interesting and one wonder's how he got anything done with the mani baricades set up by the Teachers Unions, the Firemen's Unions, the Policemen Unions, the Governor of the State of New York, the State Legislature and the New York City Council.

    It is amazing he could get anything done with the corrupt and inefficient New York School System.

    He was a tough, very intelligent man and probably should be elected President of the United States when Bush goes.

    John R. Bloomer Sr., 4902 Longview Drive - Godfrey, Il 62035-1643

    Age 79 -- WWII Combat Veteran of the United States Navy and very proud of it.

    ================================================================
    3 people found this helpful
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