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Only in New York: An Exploration of the World's Most Fascinating, Frustrating and Irrepressible City
No one denies that New York City is unique—but what makes it sui generis? Sam Roberts, longtime city reporter, has puzzled over this in print and in his popular New York Times podcasts for years. In Only in New York , he writes about what makes New York tick and why things are the way they are in the greatest of all cities on earth. The forty essays in this book cover a variety of topics, � Why do we have doormen? � Is it noisier in the city or in the country? � Are New Yorkers really as liberal as the rest of the country thinks they are? � Why wasn’t Manhattan’s cross-town street grid oriented by the points of the compass? � If a neighborhood loses its tony zipcode, does it lose its cachet? A winning and informative gift book for every fan of “the city�, Only in New York is elegantly written and solidly reported.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
24 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 17, 2019
ONLY IN NEW YORK is a perfect gift for anyone fascinated by the Big Apple. Written by Sam Roberts, veteran urban affairs reporter for the New York Times, it features 75 rollicking essays, adapted and expanded from his popular Times� podcasts, that reveal the heart and soul of America’s greatest city. Among its topics: mobsters and eligible men, the terror and courageous response to 9/11, brawling Norman Mailer and Jimmy Breslin, can-you-believe-this political antics, pooper-scooper ethics, and so much more. 5/5
Pub Date 02 Oct 2018
Thanks to Fordham University Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are fully mine.
#OnlyInNy #NetGalley
Pub Date 02 Oct 2018
Thanks to Fordham University Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are fully mine.
#OnlyInNy #NetGalley
September 1, 2019
Not transcendent, but interesting for people who like history and funny anecdotes.
My favorites were:
-Scoop (p.65) about the 1978 law to clean dog poop
-What's That Sound (p.69) on the Sound Bath at Times Square, where Broadway and 7th Ave intersect, just south of W. 46th St.
-Eat Your Heart Out (p.94) on the cursed restaurant address (which has since become a Zen Buddhist prayer center).
-9/11 (p. 182) and its powerful John Labriola quote (p. 184), "The one conclusion I came to on 9/11 is that people in stairwell were in a state of grace. They helped each other. They didn't panic. Most people are basically good. I knew this, with certainty, because I had gone through the crucible. What a great example people left: be selfless, help the person around you, and get through it."
-Dutch Treats (p. 186) on the remains of Dutch culture in NYC
Left the book on p. 189, and I may pick it up again on my next visit to NYC. It's at the Brooklyn Central Library, 974.71R
My favorites were:
-Scoop (p.65) about the 1978 law to clean dog poop
-What's That Sound (p.69) on the Sound Bath at Times Square, where Broadway and 7th Ave intersect, just south of W. 46th St.
-Eat Your Heart Out (p.94) on the cursed restaurant address (which has since become a Zen Buddhist prayer center).
-9/11 (p. 182) and its powerful John Labriola quote (p. 184), "The one conclusion I came to on 9/11 is that people in stairwell were in a state of grace. They helped each other. They didn't panic. Most people are basically good. I knew this, with certainty, because I had gone through the crucible. What a great example people left: be selfless, help the person around you, and get through it."
-Dutch Treats (p. 186) on the remains of Dutch culture in NYC
Left the book on p. 189, and I may pick it up again on my next visit to NYC. It's at the Brooklyn Central Library, 974.71R
April 18, 2010
A collection of the NYT urban affairs reporters' stories on NY. You learn a lot of little trivia about NY - for example, did you know 10021 is THE most expensive zip code in NY? And moreover, isn't it sad that people care?? Unfortunately it's good to read these stories one-off once in awhile, having 75 stories in NY in a book you have to go through made it drag somewhat.
September 22, 2018
This was a preview of the actual book to be rereleased and contained just a few chapters. Based on the few chapters that I was able to read this is an entertaining and informative book. I am looking forward to the upcoming release so I can complete the book as I found it very engaging.
I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in New York City.
I received a free Kindle copy of Only in New York by San Roberts courtesy of Net Galley and Fordham University Press,the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, ŷ, Amazonand my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.
I requested this book asthe description interested me and I have read a great deal about New York City, but this offered a different perspective. This is the first book I have read by the author.
I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in New York City.
I received a free Kindle copy of Only in New York by San Roberts courtesy of Net Galley and Fordham University Press,the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, ŷ, Amazonand my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.
I requested this book asthe description interested me and I have read a great deal about New York City, but this offered a different perspective. This is the first book I have read by the author.
October 14, 2018
I received a brief preview of the book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, it was so brief that I wasn't able to form much of an opinion. Somehow I hadn't heard of, much less read, Sam Roberts. The brief stories included were 10-11 years old, but revealed different perspectives of New York that increased my knowledge of New York history and left me wanting more.
If that weren't enough, Pete Hamill's endorsement is more than enough for me to put this back on my TBR shelf.
If that weren't enough, Pete Hamill's endorsement is more than enough for me to put this back on my TBR shelf.
July 11, 2021
As I am neither a New Yorker nor a long-time reader of the New York Times - where the author was an established writer about city affairs - I sense that I am not the intended audience for this book.
January 7, 2016
“It comes down to this: Do you want to live in the greatest city in the U.S.A. or do you want to save $2,000 a year and live in the suburbs of St. Louis? It sure sounds like some of you are disappointed in New York because you never figured out how to live here.”Read more at location 201
"These essays are about a city that too often forgets what its past has to offer and sometimes shortsightedly foregoes its future. New Yorkers are consumed with the present. Yet the chief constant in a city that began celebrating its quadricentennial in 2009 is change"
Less a narrative and more a collection of the author's podcasts with some footnotes to update the stories from their original air date. Roberts has a nose for NYC due to his time with the Daily News & NY Times and is an intriguing story teller. While this collection is somewhat dated-most pieces date from 2006-2008-the NYC they discuss has been present for the last 400 years and will likely be here in 400. Of particular interest were his stories on doormen, subways and the NYC pop culture connection. I didn't care for this as much as I did his , but it was an enjoyable, quick read
May 5, 2010
This is one of those books that only a New Yorker could love. A compilation of brief tidbits about aspects of “The City� that most never think about, to outsiders from Omaha or Hot Coffee, Mississippi who have never visited this will come off as a, well, only-in-New-York-who-gives-a-crap type of book. I represent the in-between set. I visit often but have never been a resident; I could almost conduct walking tours throughout large swaths of Manhattan, yet I don’t know jack about the other boroughs. Predictably then, I find that the essays vary in interest. New York’s obviously an amazingly complex, multi-faceted metropolis and I think Roberts’s various pieces parallel, perhaps even exude, that aspect. That being said, some of this is so site specific and/or fleeting that I can’t imagine anyone but residents of a specific four-block area might really care. Some Manhattanites � like their elite, implant-packed SoCal brethren � have a fetish about the “right� zip code? How disappointing. How long does it take to change a light bulb on East Ninety-sixth Street? I would guess that it depends on the current administration. Generally, this is an enjoyable aggregation of New York-specific anecdotes written with a refreshing levity. I just doubt this will garner mass appeal.
June 6, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. I am not from NY, but I visit often enough because of family. My wife is from Brooklyn, and she talks alot about life there. The book is a series of short articles, usually about 3 pages long. In those shorts pages, the author starts with a point, takes you through a mini journey and then comes to his conclusion. Sometimes he talks about NY politics, sometimes history, other times the author talks about interesting aspects of the city I assume many New Yorkers don't know about. It is easy reading, not too deep. Because each "chapter" is short, you are reading about something new every few minutes. It was easy to keep reading and reading. Never was I bored. Sometimes I learned things, other times I was entertained. I particularly found the comments connecting Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama interesting. I read similar things in a biography about Howard Cosell. The book is thought-provoking. In conclusion, the author has put together a book which is worthwhile read, even if you aren't from New York.
January 2, 2015
This book was not my cup of tea. Initially, I liked the idea of reading short stories about things that only happen in New York. But I could only find interesting or funny no more than 10 of these stories. Maybe, as other reviews said, this would be relevant for New Yorkers Only. In my opinion, some of the chapters were about "first world problems" (time that takes to change a light bulb, noises, lack of space in cemeteries, restaurants that go out of business,etc). I don't think these happen only in New York but ALSO in New York. I was expecting unique things that happen in NY (for example, the chapter about the noise sculpture was quite interesting).
Anyway, I liked how the author knows and lives New York and I'll give a try to his upcoming books.
Anyway, I liked how the author knows and lives New York and I'll give a try to his upcoming books.
January 2, 2014
The Story:
This is a series of non-fiction articles about quirky or interesting or unusual things about New York City.
The Review:
I picked up this book because it was for sale on the 50 cent rack at the new used bookstore ... by which of course I mean the used bookstore that recently opened. I really enjoyed reading the articles. All the articles were very short, only 2 or 3 pages, so you can fly through them very easily. The topics are interesting and range from popular baby names to the city maintenance to screens on the windows. The articles are less intentionally humorous than I thought they would be and more fascinating trivia.
If you are interested in New York, I recommend it.
This is a series of non-fiction articles about quirky or interesting or unusual things about New York City.
The Review:
I picked up this book because it was for sale on the 50 cent rack at the new used bookstore ... by which of course I mean the used bookstore that recently opened. I really enjoyed reading the articles. All the articles were very short, only 2 or 3 pages, so you can fly through them very easily. The topics are interesting and range from popular baby names to the city maintenance to screens on the windows. The articles are less intentionally humorous than I thought they would be and more fascinating trivia.
If you are interested in New York, I recommend it.
January 9, 2011
This book is comprised of short essays about the life and times of New York City. I thought I would be able to gleam a little deeper into the heartbeat of the city unearthing rare nuggets of information adding flavor to the every day humdrum of the streets; but alas, this was not the case.
Some say this book tells you stories only a New Yorker would appreciate. Well, I am a New Yorker and I'm still left throwing my hands up saying "who cares"? I found the articles rather dry and boring, disparate and unconnected, and ultimately utterly uninteresting.
Some say this book tells you stories only a New Yorker would appreciate. Well, I am a New Yorker and I'm still left throwing my hands up saying "who cares"? I found the articles rather dry and boring, disparate and unconnected, and ultimately utterly uninteresting.
August 11, 2011
This was a collection of essays/webcasts that were written and assembled by the "New York Times" City Notes Section writer.
Excellent writing, full of little tidbits, and quite funny in spots. But large chunks of it were too topical even for someone living in New York. This place moves so fast that a city councilman with a claim to infamy four years ago just isn't necessarily that relevant anymore.
Not too shabby, but it is definitely in a pigeonhole.
Excellent writing, full of little tidbits, and quite funny in spots. But large chunks of it were too topical even for someone living in New York. This place moves so fast that a city councilman with a claim to infamy four years ago just isn't necessarily that relevant anymore.
Not too shabby, but it is definitely in a pigeonhole.
January 30, 2021
New York City comes alive in this collection of essays written by New York Times columnist Sam Roberts. The essays are wide ranging, covering NY from colonial times until present, and include the author’s personal reflection. The strength of this collection for me is the writer’s concern for boroughs outside of Manhattan, and how the writing is not merely focused on a few city blocks in the “County of New York.� A very pleasant and informative book.
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October 10, 2020This book was a nice foray into the history and culture of New York City before my move in a few weeks. The book is a bit outdated at this point, but I enjoyed the (what some would call useless) trivia about the city and the little tidbits that help to create a fuller picture of the city as a whole.
June 8, 2013
This series of essays for the "insider" view of and history of New York City was kind of hit or miss. But the ones I enjoyed I liked more than enough to make up for the dull ones. I only paid $2.00 for the book at Half Price, so I'd say it was well worth the price.
August 20, 2010
Really good short essays about the best place on earth.
June 25, 2012
As a former New Yorker it brought back to me some fond memories and gave me a few chuckles.
August 2, 2013
Not good- maybe they're better stories in podcast format, but it's unlikely.
September 19, 2013
Crap and dull.
April 18, 2016
essays, fairly interesting
April 24, 2017
Loved the stories of new and old New York. A bit too heavy on the political/policy tales.
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