I was a bit disapointed by this book. There is information on a lot of NY buildings, but the information does not always concern architecture and is usually very limited. Gives you an impression of all there is to see, but does not do much more than that. Photographs are not impressive. Much more intersting is The Architecture of New York City, by Donald Martin Reynolds.

This book is really good and best used if you have a fair amount of time to wander around New York. It is like trailing through the city with a friend who has lived there for a long time; Marrone has great excursive lengthy interesting descriptions of a number of buildngs, and that's great. The problem is that each chapter has its own tiny map, and they are never put together in a larger overall map anywhere, making navigation difficult. If you have a lot of time, and want to do just a few buidings per day, that's fine. If you want to storm through NYC and see as much as possible in a limited amount of time, if is difficult.

The most obvious reason to replace the AIA Guide with this book is size. Dealing with only one borough enables the author to go into more detail while reducing the size of the book. The AIA Guide is about half the size of a large yellow pages. The Architectural Guidebook to NYC is about the size of an average novel. That makes a big difference when you're stuffing it into your backpack or purse for a trip on subway or foot.

The more extensive entries are very welcome. In Union Square with this book and a view of the surrounding buildings, I was able to spend a pleasant and informative hour on a park bench, for free. That's a better bargain than the Staten Island Ferry.

Morrone keeps the architect's jargon to a minimum and knows his subject well. The historical insights and views on clashing aesthetics were skillfully presented. He pointed out a couple of museums of very high caliber that I wasn't even aware of. A book like this is a perfect jumping off point for thousands of topics, from neighborhoods to cultures to politics to construction.

I would encourage him to write similar books on the other buroughs, or better yet, an even more detailed work on each of the neighborhoods of Manhattan: each of them has at least a thousand buildings worth writing about.

I bought this book because of the section on Paris. I was very disappointed in the book because it was of little help. There is no map shown of where the bistros might be so there was no way of knowing where any were. The list of addresses didn't really help as Paris, unlike New York, is not laid out on a grid and the addresses actually give an idea of the location. Also, most of the bistros were the higher priced ones.

This guide for the neophyte bistrophile traveling in Paris is a "must have". Sightseeing planned around meals as the primary intent and location as secondary is our kind of trip. Brasserie Flo and Chez Louie are favorites. Buy some "Slimfast" for consumption one week before and one week after this trip. The NY Guide is just as helpful. We have never been disappointed with their recommendations. Bistro Les Amis on Spring Street is a favorite. Seasonal cuisine indoor or outdoor weather permitting.

"Best Bistros & Brasseries" is the best food-specific guide I have used. Long time residents of NYC and lovers of French food, my husband and I have often sifted through pages of other restaurant guides trying to locate the perfect restaurant in the right neighborhood. Flipping back and forth between the list of restuarants by neighborhood and/or cuisine and the index did not add to a pleasant dining experience! The BBB makes easy work of this often daunting task by organizing the restaurants in rank order by neighborhood. In addition, the book contains a true working index. If you know the name of the restaurant you'd like to visit, simply refer to the index which lists each restaurant featured in the book, its rating, address, and location in the guide for a more detailed review.

As an avid shopper, I bought this book prior to a recent trip to New York. Unfortunately, I found much of the material in the book to be out-of-date. I wasted a lot of time chasing recommendations which the author made. A number of the stores which were recommended were no longer in business or had moved. Several others had new locations much more convenient for visitors (i.e. in the mid-town area), which were not listed in this book. BEWARE, you need to call and check before you make a trip across town!

How good is this book? I've lived in NYC for 11 years, yet when I read this book I discovered a terrific designer re-sale shop -- get this -- one block from my house. Never noticed it, didn't know it was there, but I'm thrilled to have found it.

Gerhsman has impressed this local New Yorker -- imagine what fun you'll have with her book!

This author should be crowned. She tells you just where all the good shopping is and then gives you a few choices for "mini tours" leading you around NYC on a thrilling shopping experience! For someone who has very little knowledge of NYC and isn't exactly sure how to get around and make sure you go to all the cool shops, I highly recommend it!!

This book is informative. I was disappointed because it has been advertised everywhere as a book about Billy Joel and his life in Long Island. In fact this book is about Long Island and has write ups about many different celebrities from L.I. and history of Long Island. It states on the cover that the foreward is by Billy Joel. If you are interested in L.I. this book is EXCELLENT (5 stars ). If you are looking for a book on Billy Joel you can bypass this purchase (1 star ).

i thought i'd write since only review was from someone expecting more on billy joel. i got book to reminisce about growing up on long island and to reaquaint myself with places and towns. the book does this more than adequately. alot of pictures, history, and information along with reminiscences by "notable" long islanders (b. joel included). i might have liked alittle more on the entertainment side for the different decades (ie the places we went to) but all in all a nice book to have and pass on.

this book is terrific - it gives a brief town by town overview of every town on Long Island- with interesting historical notes and trivia plus a lot of info on celebrities who come from Long Island which includes lots of surprises. An excellent companion to the Long Island Our Story masterwork

I just returned from NYC guided by this book. The content on places discussed is wonderful, but the neighborhood organization leaves you flipping back and forth sometimes, as another reviewer describes.

I can't imagine how anyone purchases a tour book on-line (I have to browse at a physical store and then come here to buy!), but here are a couple of things I noticed:

1. This guide, while it advises travelers to use the subway, does not provide suggested stops for individual attractions. The exception is in the museum section. As a result, I had to walk around always having this book and a subway map on hand, with my companion and I shuffling through the two to figure out which stops lined up with which street addresses the best.

2. The restaurant section was not very helpful because of its organization. I would have preferred to have restaurants listed with things they are near in the neighborhood sections. For example, most of our days were organized by going to the things as listed in a neighborhood section of the book, but when we wanted to know what to eat, we had to stop and find the appropriate section way in the back of the book under restaurants and then cuisine headings.

3. As the editors suggest in the introduction, this book does a great job of suggesting bargain options for getting to, getting around, and getting entertained in New York City, but it still presents other options as well. People who like to travel on a budget but also like to splurge every now and then will be well-informed on both fronts.

4. The authors do a wonderful job of providing background information about sites listed in the book, which we found to increase our appreciation of places visited greatly. It also made it easier to decide ahead of time which places we wanted to see and which we could do without.

This is a great guide, but be sure you find a tour book that fits your style, especially for a city as daunting as New York.

The Rough Guide series is one of the consistently best collections of tour literature available anywhere. Previous guides I have used have been for France and Scotland, and both were excellent.

On the plus side, I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the restaurant recommendations (though I did not have the opportunity of staying at any hotels this time) and I liked the organization of the beginning as a neighborhood-by-neighborhood tour of New York. Many guides are so Manhattan-centric as to leave a false impression of the Big Apple: This one was remarkably even-handed throughout.

Curiously, the main problem was that, at times, the authors did not know whether to describe a particular tourist sight in terms of the neighborhood chapter or in terms of the museums chapter. At times, such as in the description of the Fraunces Tavern, one is sent scurrying between chapters. Other than this, I felt that this guide deserved five stars.

The numerous black and white maps are of high quality, and the index is particularly useful given the book's organization. This one's a winner.

This was my first trip to NYC and I found the Rough Guide very helpful. There were detailed maps of the bus system, the subway system, lodging and places to see. There was also information on the outer boroughs, useful for my trip into Brooklyn. The one thing I didn't like was that restaurants weren't listed in the index. You had to go to the restaurant section of the book and look in the neighborhood, then under the type of cuisine. Which meant when my friend recommended a specific place, I couldn't look it up in the book easily, or even be sure it was listed.

The Ramapo Mountain People is an excellent history of the people residing in an area bordering the NY/NJ State line within the Ramapo Mountains. The interviews give an indepth perspective of how this group view and classify themselves, as well as how outside influences have changed their way of life over the years. Covered are the controversies surrounding the origin of these people, and how they have come to live in the Mountains for almost 250 years alongside the Dutch and local Indians. Often referred to as "Jackson Whites", the subject of racism between themselves and outsiders (black and white) as well as within their own community, is well covered. The writers have done extensive research into this subject, and have given the reader an excellent insight to a community that has, for the most part, been left to their own devices by the outside world. Genealogies for the most common families are provided, and thought provoking arguments as to the exact nationality of the Mountain People is discussed. A wonderful source of information for all aspects of the lives for those known as Ramapo Mountain People.

Though this book never states it clearly, the Ramapo Mountain People are actually the very first residents of New Jersey! I have studied native American history in the New York/New Jersey region for more than 30 years and I don't think there is a more convincing case that the people Cohen identifies as Mountain People are the native (Indian), Dutch and African American people who first settled the region in the 1600s. This is an important book about a very important group of people! Shame on Donald Trump for maligning these people as "hillbillies" -- no native American group has lasted as long in the metropolitan New York/New Jersey area, and may God bless them!

This is an excellent source of information covering the Ramapo Mountain People, a community of people who for the better part of almost 250 years have lived in the Ramapo Mountains and surrounding areas of Rockland County NY and Bergen and Passaic County NJ. These people are surrounded in controversy concerning their ethnicity, which has been labeled African American, American Indian, Dutch, German Palatine, French Creole. This book explores the ancestry and genealogy of the early members of this group and takes the reader through very personal and often controversial issues surrounding a very proud, but very private segment of Society. The book contains photographs of the areas inhabited by the Mountain People as well as photographs of some of the people interviewed. It allows the reader to experience the conflicts facing this community, through real experiences as told to the writer. The reader gets a feel for what it is like to be a Ramapo Mountain person. Some of the Ramapo Mountain People do not approve of this book, its contents or conclusions. I recommend this book if you have any interest in the history of these people.

Although the fast paced development of this area makes a guide such as this very difficult to keep updated and current, this was a much needed revision to the original guides. The history, obstacles, maps & charts, launch & rental sites, approximate paddling times, and grades for each river make this guide ideal for both canoeists and kayakers. Listings for Pinelands preservation and conservation organizations are also included so those who treasure these rivers can support the cause. If you are paddling in NJ, you won't want to miss at least one of the Pine Barren Rivers and this is the guide you will need.

Brief history of the area precedes descriptive listing of the river as you proceed downstream, listing water character, potential obstructions, scenery, and distances between points, as well as put in and take out choices. Maps, and distance charts are excellant. Canoe rentals, town facilities are listed. Must keep in mind that descriptions depend on time of year visited. I've had my copy, well annotated by me, for more than 10 years and review it before every day trip.Its pocket size makes it handy to bring along.

This book is essential for the NJ/NYC climber. It details numerous climbing spots (of surprisingly good quality) that you never expected from the Garden State! It also is honest and accurate with area information and route grades. This way you know if you really want to drive that far for a 20ft wall. But at least you know its there and that the book left no stone unturned! If you're in the area, or visit often, this book is a must have.

New Jersey Crags is exactly what you need if you rock climb and live in N.J. It gives great directions to each destination, including a detailed description of the approach. This book lets you know what your getting into, as far as the actual routes go and whose property your climbing on. After climbing some of the areas in the book I was was not dissappointed by the accuracey of the ratings, and the discriptions of each climb. It is an essential for a climber in N.J., who does not have the time to drive to the Gunks every weekend.

I successfully ventured to NYC by myself for a week's stay and had a wonderful time with the help of this guide. The book offers great advice on where to stay, what to do, and how to get around. The suggested online resources are also a goldmine. My only complaint is that none of the restaurants cited in the guide were very good, and some included misleading information. Perhaps I ordered badly, but I had much better luck wandering around Little Italy or Greenwich Village and choosing a place at random.

Still, this book is a wonderful resource, whether you're planning ahead or need last-minute help. Just choose your own places to eat.

Definitely this is a good book to start reading about this marvelous city. With lots of attractions, restaurant and affordable hotels listed by neighborhood you will never get lost. A very close approach is not easily found in many books, well this is the exception.

There is only one word to describe this book: Sloppy. So sloppy that you have to ask yourself if the author has ever taken his own tour.

I don't know if the blame falls to the author, or publisher McGraw Hill, for failing to edit this book.

I pulled a page (142) from a neighborhood I happen to know something about and found these errors on a single page:

# 21 "The former Metropolitan Savings Bank", opened in 1867 not 1868. He uses the apprehensive phrase "attributed to Carl Pfeiffer." A newspaper article about the grand opening day of this building as a bank reports it as May 21, 1867, and declares that the builder is Carl Pfeiffer.

Then he repeats an urban myth from a discredited revisionist "historian" that McSorley's Old Ale House did not open in 1854, but in 1862. He goes on to describe the items "on the grimy sheet-tin walls." The bar has no tinned walls. (With the exception of the lavatories) Step inside if you are going to describe the inside!

Save your money. McGraw Hill did when it came to hiring an editor to check his facts. Buy the AIA guide and make your own tour. Although the old photos are pretty good, they are not quite enough to be the saving grace here. Wolfe gets the addresses right, but if this one page is any indication., no one checked his historical facts, and that makes me even more surprised by the American Heritage review of this work.

This is the best guide of its kind which I have seen. Wolfe is thorough, engaging, sometimes funny and a joy to read. As a tour guide I have read many books on NYC, and this is one of my favorites. Unlike many other authors, he pays more than lip-service to the outer boroughs, and also offers a good guide to Roosevelt Island.

Let's see an updated edition!!!