Best Books About New York City

Experience the heart and soul of New York City through the eyes of one of America's most beloved writers in this timeless classic. With humor and insight, E.B. White takes readers on a stroll through Manhattan, capturing the essence and energy of the city in every page. "Here is New York" has been hailed as one of the greatest books ever written about the metropolis, a must-read for anyone looking to understand the magic of this iconic city.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Power Broker, uncovers the untold story behind the shaping (and mis-shaping) of 20th-century New York City and State. Robert Moses, the single most powerful man of his time in New York, led urban renewal efforts with a political machine that was virtually the fourth branch of government. By mobilizing banks, contractors, labor unions, insurance firms, and even the press and the Church, Moses created an empire, living like an emperor and completing public works costing $27 billion. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the inner workings of power in American cities.

This coming-of-age novel follows Holden Caulfield, a complex and conflicted teenager from New York, as he navigates his way through society, grappling with love, fear, and uncertainty. J.D. Salinger's masterpiece has been widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, and for good reason. With poignant and introspective prose, The Catcher in the Rye explores themes of rebellion, angst, and the struggle to communicate in a rapidly changing world. This classic novel continues to captivate readers, sparking discussions of societal norms and the complexity of adolescence.

Step into the glamour and intrigue of 1940s New York City with a heart-breaking, perplexing, and irrepressible heroine named Holly Golightly. Chased by dangerous men and wealthy bachelors alike, she is the subject of Truman Capote's iconic novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's. This edition also includes three additional stories that offer new insights into Capote's incredible talent for captivating prose.

Uncover the lost world of New Netherland, the Dutch colony that predated the original thirteen colonies of America. With 12,000 pages of recently declared national treasure, author Russell Shorto uses a gripping narrative to transform our understanding of early America. Discover the cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic capital of New Amsterdam, its citizens' values of free trade and individual rights, and the conflicts between progressive lawyer Adriaen van der Donck and the autocratic Peter Stuyvesant, which shaped American culture and laid the foundation for New York City. The Island at the Center of the World offers a surprising new perspective on our own world.

"Join two Jewish artists as they embark on a thrilling journey through the Golden Age of comics, from before World War II and beyond. Follow Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay as they rise to fame in the industry and navigate the challenges of their personal lives along the way in this captivating novel."

This book follows Lionel Essrog, a man with Tourettes who works for a small-time mobster's detective agency with three other veterans. But when their boss is fatally stabbed, things change. One colleague goes to jail, another two vie for the position, and the victim's widow disappears. Lionel, who struggles to even converse, must try to solve the case and keep his mind straight. This is a unique take on the classic detective novel and a tribute to the genre.

Wall Street, psychopathy, and America's dark side collide in this biting black comedy. Follow Patrick Bateman, a charming and intelligent young man who also happens to be a psychopath, as he navigates his life in the world of finance. American Psycho is a sharp commentary on the American dream and the nightmare it can become.

This book takes you on a journey through the captivating story of two young artists who made a pact to take care of each other during the hungry years of late sixties and seventies New York City. It is a love story, an elegy, a historical snapshot, and a tribute to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions, and their ascent to fame. Written by Patti Smith, an influential artist herself, it serves as a salute to the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics, all colliding and exploding in this unforgettable milieu.

The book explores the chaotic and crime-ridden slums of America's greatest city, Manhattan. Through four different perspectives, readers are taken on a journey from the city's actual topography in the mid-1800s to the forces of law and order that tried to contain the illegalities. Low Life isn't just a book about New York, it's an intriguing commentary on urban life, making it one of the most compelling works on the subject ever written.