Scan barcode
stanliao's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
fun urbanism but not that deep, got vaguely NIMBY vibes at times. I'm not that into architecture so it probably biased me against it but
littletaiko's review
4.0
A book about walking through New York City, yes please. The author met with various architects, historians, and other people he knew to walk a specific section of the city and to discuss the history and architecture. Some sections resonated more since they were areas I was familiar with and could visualize easier. Learned quite a bit and look forward to returning to look at some of the buildings.
emidembi's review
3.0
"The people who built it didn't have to... but money was spent to do something profound"
Ever since the architecture boat tour I went on in Chicago I have been trying to look up more to notice the buildings around me. This book has continued to fuel this desire. Thought a lot about intentionality and architecture. For me, the chapters on the midtown skyscrapers were standouts.
Reminded me of Ling Ma's Severance when Kimmelman wrote: "...a city is a colelctive undertaking, a shared responsibility, sacrifice and accomplishment".
Docked a star because the Chinatown tour was conducted with Nancy Yao :(((... (see here: https://nyunews.com/opinion/2021/09/08/museum-of-chinese-in-america-mass-incarceration-funds-chinatown/)
"You may not know why something looks the way it does. But there's always a reason"
Ever since the architecture boat tour I went on in Chicago I have been trying to look up more to notice the buildings around me. This book has continued to fuel this desire. Thought a lot about intentionality and architecture. For me, the chapters on the midtown skyscrapers were standouts.
Reminded me of Ling Ma's Severance when Kimmelman wrote: "...a city is a colelctive undertaking, a shared responsibility, sacrifice and accomplishment".
Docked a star because the Chinatown tour was conducted with Nancy Yao :(((... (see here: https://nyunews.com/opinion/2021/09/08/museum-of-chinese-in-america-mass-incarceration-funds-chinatown/)
"You may not know why something looks the way it does. But there's always a reason"
mikefromco's review
4.0
An interesting perspective, but it lacks any kind of research or depth but an interesting introduction to the neighborhoods of New York City
renaplays's review
4.0
4.5 Read each one as they appeared in the nytimes. Now, the audiobook version creates a city-valentine as fresh and refreshing as it was during early-covid. Completely unplanned, a walk in my neighborhood park coincided with an architect talking about the park. Magical.
booksicle's review
3.75
For anyone in need of an audiobook for your morning commute, no matter where you live, this is the one you need! (Support Indie and check it out on Libro.Fm!)
The Intimate City was written for New York lovers, city connoisseurs, architect buffs, or just someone curious about the infinite routes you can take on its streets. Compiled during the pandemic, Michael Kimmelman talks with various New Yorkers about their favorite walks throughout the city-- ranging from history on the land itself, to the buildings and their owners, all the way to a beaver named Justin. It covers 4 of the 5 boroughs and gives incredibly insight to the history this city continues to make as the biggest urban center in the country. When you think of New York, you can imagine the amount that it has to offer to its citizens and tourists.
This book is both incredibly well written, as well as respectful to every single culture and nationality that calls New York its home-- including the original tribes and their names for the land before anyone else had even thought about the new world.
I was particularly surprised at how much ecology and geology was mentioned. With the return of native wildlife to the Bronx River, to the schist underneath the buildings, and the rolling topography no one even thinks about when walking the concrete streets.
This book has a little of something for everyone, and is a keeper on my favorite nonfiction books list!
The Intimate City was written for New York lovers, city connoisseurs, architect buffs, or just someone curious about the infinite routes you can take on its streets. Compiled during the pandemic, Michael Kimmelman talks with various New Yorkers about their favorite walks throughout the city-- ranging from history on the land itself, to the buildings and their owners, all the way to a beaver named Justin. It covers 4 of the 5 boroughs and gives incredibly insight to the history this city continues to make as the biggest urban center in the country. When you think of New York, you can imagine the amount that it has to offer to its citizens and tourists.
This book is both incredibly well written, as well as respectful to every single culture and nationality that calls New York its home-- including the original tribes and their names for the land before anyone else had even thought about the new world.
I was particularly surprised at how much ecology and geology was mentioned. With the return of native wildlife to the Bronx River, to the schist underneath the buildings, and the rolling topography no one even thinks about when walking the concrete streets.
This book has a little of something for everyone, and is a keeper on my favorite nonfiction books list!