Welcome to the next stop on our American Tour series, New York. The city is known for its many touristy attractions, but these books below give you a more in-depth look into its history. These New York authors are giving you statements from their own time in the city and from others who love the big lights and native spots. Enjoy the following five books and gear up to plan your next physical trip here.
Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City by James Nevius and Michelle Nevius
James and Michelle met in the city while they were both in university and together launched Michelle Nevius Tours in 2000 to cover what they do in this book. They give you a fast-paced walking tour of New York, peeling back the layers in a narrative way. They focus on different events that have happened, notable people, and historical places throughout the city. There are 14 self-guided tours in this book, along with maps and directions on where to go. The next time you take a trip to New York, you want to make sure you have this book with you.
Forgotten New York: Views of a Lost Metropolis by Kevin Walsh
Kevin Walsh lectures at the University of New York in the Department of Archaeology, traveling all over the world for research. In this book, he’s giving out secrets that other guidebooks don’t have. He takes us on a historical and architectural tour of the city, providing great maps and detailed photos. Ever wondered what those drug stores once were or what happened to the gas-lit lamp posts along the streets? Walsh tells all and shows that he loves to talk about the city he calls home.
City of Women by Christine Stansell
Christine Stansell is an American historian studying the social and complex history of women. In this book, she takes you back to before the Civil War for a glimpse of the struggling working women in New York City. The women higher up in the social class took on guardian roles for their families and lived well. The lower-class women worked and were looked down upon by the upper-class women. Stansell dives into the conflicts working women faced during this time and how they influenced their lives.
Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell
Joseph Mitchell was a young newspaper reporter in New York City in the 1930s, meeting some interesting people walking through the city. Everyone is so vastly different and Mitchell outlines the people he talked to in this novel. There are Gypsies talking about stealing gas out of cars, a street preacher who holds a sign asking where you’ll spend eternity, and a bearded lady part of a circus on 42nd Street. The one thing all these people have in common? Their humor. It kept themselves going every day and this young reporter captured it all.
The Intimate City: Walking New York by Michael Kimmelman
Michael Kimmelman, an architecture critic for The New York Times, explores New York in this novel after COVID hit the nation. He invited some friends, architects, historians, and writers to take a walk through the city. He asked for them to take him somewhere meaningful to them so that even through all the global uncertainty, he’s still showing the bright moments in life. There are photographs documenting their journey and funny conversations between everyone involved. They talk about what New York used to be compared to what it is now. It’s an inspiring book for people who call it home and for those who don’t understand the beauty of the big city.
Time to hop off the tour bus and plan your next trip around the country. We hope you enjoyed your time in New York and learned a thing or two about the city we all have come to know and love.
Take a look at another article that showcases even more New York authors and their stories.
Head over to our American Tour Series bookshelf to find book recommendations from all over!
