The Encyclopedia of New York

October 1, 2020
From the pastrami sandwich to TV comedy and Santa's reindeer, a compendium of New York's countless contributions to world culture. If it didn't happen in the five boroughs, it didn't happen. That is to say, to trust the editors of New York, "even figuring out what belonged in this book made us realize what an innovation engine New York City has been." Their enthusiasm sometimes leads them into the land of the spurious--they attribute the bagel, or "beigel," to a baker by that name when it comes from the Yiddish word for stirrup, though they allow that the former attribution "is questionable." Still, given the richness of New York inventions, the mass-distributed bagel among them, one can forgive the rare slip made in the name of exuberance. Take pastrami, for example, a Turkish way of cooking meat that found its way to New York in an immigrant's repertoire and was then presented to a grateful municipality, a cheap cut of beef brisket corned, "then dry rubbed with spices, then wood smoked, and then eaten, enthusiastically." Who was that immigrant? No one knows, and just which deli began to sell pastrami is a matter of controversy--and now, write the editors, "the Jewish deli is an increasingly rare bird in New York City owing to high rents, changing demographics, and a sense that using rendered chicken fat as liberally as others deploy ketchup may not be the best thing for a person." More certain is pizza, imported from southern Italy and first sold on Spring Street in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi, and General Tso's chicken, an import from Taiwan by way of New York's Hunanese restaurants. Not all is food: The editors convincingly argue that everything from abstract expressionism and the auteur theory to punk rock, Q-Tips, the teddy bear, toilet paper (and the urinal), and zoning regulations owes its origins to the five boroughs. Fans of the Big Apple will delight in this well-written, abundant and justly prideful collection.

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Starred review from January 1, 2021

This work from the editors of New York Magazine details how innovation and ideas that germinate in New York City ultimately shape life and thought in the rest of the nation and the world. The book superbly details the Big Apple's evolution from a mercantile and manufacturing hub into the country's financial center and intellectual home for book publishers, fashion houses, art galleries, ad agencies, and media outlets. The layout is simple, with an introduction, a section of 121 milestones in the life of the city, and hundreds of brief, alphabetically arranged entries. Instead of a steady stream of historical and political personalities and events, the editors focus on the ways that creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness shaped the area's culture--from the I Love New York campaign to the development of hip-hop to the origin of the Oreo. The depth and variety of images, including cartoons, iconic pictures, magazine covers, and newspaper headlines, capture the city's character and make the book a standout. Though the book contains a wealth of subject matter for student reports, it's ideally suited for long browsing sessions. VERDICT A must purchase; those who love New York will adore it, and those less enamored with the Big Apple will still find this fun and informative encyclopedia a fascinating portrait of the metropolitan area.--Rob Tench, Old Dominion Univ. Libs., Norfolk, VA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 8, 2021
The Encyclopedia of New York (""City"" is implied) has the charm and wry wit readers associate with New York magazine, combined with great illustrations and up-to-the-minute currency. There are a few nice features, such as an illustrated timeline in the beginning of the book and some informational headers scattered throughout. Also included are lists: the essential hip-hop playlist, the essential Occupy Wall Street hand signals, and the best places to watch the St Patrick's Day parade. There is no index, but it does have a list of contributors (though the entries are unsigned) and a list of image credits. The reasonable price makes it a worthy addition to a public library with patrons who enjoy lighthearted, browsable reference resources.

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