The 10 Best Books About New York

I first moved to New York City in 1996, and I have no need or desire to live anywhere else in the world. After living in New York City for over half of my adult life, I still find myself in many New York moments that remind me why I'm living in the greatest city in the world. Strolling in Central Park in the summer with my kids, we might come across a line of people who waited overnight to see Shakespeare in the Park with some of the world's best actors, take in the sights and sounds at the Boathouse restaurant and arrive at the amazingly entertaining Rose Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History. On the tiny island of Manhattan, endless opportunities arise for entertainment, stimulation and awe. My book, New York, New York: So Good They Named it Twice, An Irreverent Guide to Experiencing and Living in the Greatest City in the World is for those who choose to live here, as well as for those who have always wondered what it would be like.

Here are some classic fiction and nonfiction books that will help the armchair traveler, the visitor, and the newly arrived to understand the heart and soul of New York.

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This is the first book that I bought when I moved to the city, with its iconic red cover, now available for many other cities. There are over 18,000 restaurants in New York City, with an unparalleled selection of ethnic foods, from Ethiopian and Malaysian to the more classic Italian and seafood. The best restaurants in the world are here, and the choosiest foodies. This guide points you in the right direction of where the best places are, no matter what your price point.

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This is the first book that I bought when I moved to the city, with its iconic red cover, now available for many other cities. There are over 18,000 restaurants in New York City, with an unparalleled selection of ethnic foods, from Ethiopian and Malaysian to the more classic Italian and seafood. The best restaurants in the world are here, and the choosiest foodies. This guide points you in the right direction of where the best places are, no matter what your price point.

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This Book

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

As a New Yorker, I'm insulted This epitomizes New York!

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Comments

[ewillse]

12:41 PM on 03/30/2011

I don't agree with all the entries on this list (Nanny Diaries) and haven't read others (I keep meaning to read The Age of Innocence.) I am taking notes though, on the list and comments, to add some more New York books to my library list.
And I would add to this list: Veronica- Nicholas Christopher. Snow in August- Pete Hamill. Lady Slings the Booze- Spider Robinson....

[Berlin Fang]

02:34 PM on 03/28/2011

I translated two of these 10 best books about New York into Chinese: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Netherland. It would be three, if Let the Great World Spin is included as some readers suggest. New York mayor ought to make me an honorary citizen, or better, a free trip to New York for a family of four during this summer. :-)

[Michael Willhoite]

10:49 AM on 03/28/2011

The two best books EVER written about New York are Robert Caro's The Power Broker, Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, and David McCullough's The Great Bridge. Both are nonfiction, and both read like the most compelling of novels. I get a thrill just writing down their titles.

[wckoko]

11:31 PM on 03/27/2011

I can't believe that no one has mentioned "Let the Great World Spin " by Colum McCann .

[Edward Goodwin]

12:39 AM on 03/27/2011

Not to be Mr Multi-Poster, but I gotta share this. I never been to New York, I've always wanted to go, though. MoMA, The Guggenheim, Rockefeller Center, and...yes...the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty! WHEEEEEEEE! So, anyway....One of my aunts moved there in,around 1950, maybe 51. No later than that. She lived there until she died in 72.

She used to come home (Wisconsin) for Christmas every year until 1964, that was the year her father died and there was a HUGE blow-out with her siblings over something that no one, to this day, will talk about. She said, in effect, "Y'all can go to hell. I'm going back to New York and I never want to see or hear from you EVER again."

And...that was that until her husband called about her death in 72. My mom was the only family member willing to fly out for the funeral. About a week after she came back a box arrived from New York. It was stuff my aunt's husband thought we should have, to let us know what my aunt's life in New York had been like. There were three photo albums of snaps taken by him in jazz clubs, bars and coffee shops all over New York.

I never saw these until a couple of years ago. Oh My God. The jazz/coffee shop scene in New York in the 50's and 60's. I WANNA GO

[wckoko]

11:03 PM on 03/27/2011

I hope you won't be disappointed when you get here & find that some of the places in those photos no longer exist. Come visit anyway.

[childeharr]

05:26 PM on 03/30/2011

I love it when I arrive at the Huffington Post, on occasion, and find posts like yours. You are so sincere and genuine. I was born in New York, I have lived here for most of my life, and I hope to stay. I often take this place for granted when I travel all over the United States, but I realize that there is something intrinsically special about it, when I return. This is not to say that other places in the U.S. aren't wonderful. I have experienced so many wonderful and unique things travelling away from New York City, but I realize how great it is when I return. Trust me, if you've never been here, you don't know what it's really like for people to really be accepting of just about anything or anyone, until you get here. You really take for granted the pleasure of anonymity and the closeness of a crowd when you are here. You also take for granted how positively mean humanity can be, juxtaposed to some of the kindest acts humanity can muster. It's really a wonderful quagmire. I hope you make it here some day. Don't listen to anyone when they tell you not to go somewhere; go everywhere (be careful, of course)! I hope you're not disappointed. Have fun.

[Edward Goodwin]

12:03 AM on 03/27/2011

Not a single mention of Don Westlake's "Dortmunder" books. "Bank Shot" "The Hot Rock" "Cops and Robbers" And where is Vincent Patrick's "The Pope of Greenwich Village" Or Richard Price's "Clockers"

[DanielAdler]

12:03 PM on 03/24/2011

get ready for a new one: http://dadsinternetwarehouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/tazmanian-devilish-vs-hurricanal.html

[George Regis]

11:45 AM on 03/24/2011

"This Is New York" by E.B. White, an essay available in paperback at the register. Get it now.

[thesidetrek]

10:48 AM on 03/16/2011

I think "City of Dreams" by Beverly Swerling and "Downtown" by Pete Hamill. BookTreks

[JamieCatto]

07:16 PM on 03/14/2011

how is it possible that "Motherless Brooklyn' by Jonathan Lethem and 'Winters Tale' by Mark Helprin are not here?

[wckoko]

11:09 PM on 03/27/2011

F & F for knowing "Winter's Tale ". I love that book !

[Gregory Balderstone]

03:09 PM on 03/14/2011

What about Breakfast At Tiffany's?
That to me was one of the great NY novels.
What about Manhatten by Woody Allen

[Nelson Penaherrera]

02:31 AM on 03/17/2011

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a Novella.

And Manhattan was a film, no??

[Parsifals]

03:03 PM on 03/14/2011

For all that it isn't, it remains one of the most vibrant cities, barring none. I was born there; and don't live there now, but I can taste the corner hot-dog; the roasted peanut vender's crunch; the smell of good cooking wafting out of open doors, in warm weather, of thousands of restaurants, and spend hours peering at the skyline from any bridge, or water frontage.

Art galore from museums to high, and low priced galleries; theatres Uptown and Downtown and all around the town in East Harlem and back to Chelsea.

Chattering people on clattering subways speaking dozens of languages; rustling of news print and the tinkle of water in hidden alcoves in the Village and Midtown.

There are other cities; other stories; other towns; other worlds, but there is only one New York City--dirty, delicious and delicate to the touch.

[newyorknewyorkbook]

02:00 PM on 03/14/2011

"New York is a place that invites creativity and artistry to capture the myriad experiences that happen here every day, and we are so lucky to have all of these amazing authors writing about this amazing city! Thanks for all your great book suggestions. There can certainly be no definitive list with so many wonderful books to choose from. "

[BookPRGirl]

09:49 PM on 03/14/2011

Great comment!

[chercheur]

01:51 AM on 03/14/2011

One very serious omission is the YA/teen novel ANNIE ON MY MIND by NANCY GARDEN, which has probably been in every major list of "banned books" since its original 1982 publication. It is ***the*** classic teen lesbian novel, the first with an affirming ending. As a classic of lesbian literature, it's the teen equivalent of Isabel Miller's "Patience and Sarah." ANNIE ON MY MIND is a high-school romance between the up-scale private-school Liza Winthrop of Brooklyn Heights and the working-class public-school Annie Kenyon from a shabby Brooklyn neighborhood.

[YoungManFromDC]

11:36 AM on 03/13/2011

NYC is a great place to visit and I often do. Not sure I could live there, although i did once for a summer. Too many people for my liking. Housing is worse than DC. You have to travel pretty far to escape the whole city scene.