Overview

New York City: The Basics offers an accessible look at the dynamic and diverse hub of New York City. Written in a clear, engaging style, the book discusses geographic, historic, demographic, socioeconomic, housing, and governmental aspects of the Big Apple. Since the mid-20th century, New York City has been competing against other global and major cities, including London and Tokyo, primarily driven by global financial and securities markets. Its enormous concentration of capital, as well as its varied and resilient economy, has contributed to its prominent status and its glittering skyline, exemplifying the city’s transition from blue-collar manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy. As a cultural capital, the city encompasses an extensive cluster of publishing companies, high-end shopping, a wide variety of unique art scenes, and a pulsating nightlife that includes Broadway shows, exhibits, and fashion events. The chapters touch on different topics, from the history to the demography and immigration, the economy, housing, government and governance, and the city’s exceptionalism, ending with an overview of the five boroughs of the city. This book serves as a valuable guide for undergraduate and graduate students in geography, urban studies, urban affairs, and urban planning, and would be an excellent resource for anyone planning a field trip to New York City.

Full Product Details

9781041035275

Table of Contents

Reviews

""NYC’s story is the story of U.S. cities generally, from its history and dynamic early growth, to its economic transformation and the ascendance of neoliberal urbanism and austerity politics, to the spread of gentrification, and the housing woes of contemporary times. Katrin Anacker’s book provides the foundation for comprehending New York in all of its dimensions and as such is an indispensable tool for anyone, student or scholar, seeking to understand this most important of U.S. cities."" Edward Goetz, Professor, University of Minnesota Author of The One-Way Street of Integration: Fair Housing and the Pursuit of Racial Justice in American Cities ""Katrin Anacker breaks down the colossus of Gotham into digestible bites. Lifetime New Yorkers, recent migrants, and urban experts alike will find something to chew on in this accessible book that covers the city’s history, geography, economics and its pivotal, unique role in the nation and world. Anacker never loses sight of the big picture even when including an admirable level of detail – locals and visitors alike will learn that the city’s festering garbage piles go back to plans laid in 1811! The book is very well-sourced and each chapter concludes with a short list of cities to learn more about the central topic, providing the reader with a nearly infinite set of rabbit holes to dive into."" Michael Lens, Professor, UCLA Author of Where the Hood At: Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods ""There are many books written about New York City’s neighborhoods, history, economy, politics, housing, transportation, and geography. What makes “New York City: The Basics” unique is that it incorporates essential knowledge about all these social domains into one intricately detailed, well-structured and clearly written scholarly work. It is astonishing to me how many distinct sources of information Katrin Anacker has surveyed, investigated, scrutinized, selected from, and expertly organized. The book offers a complex mosaic of all significant aspects of urban life and can serve as an encyclopedic source of reference to one of the most mesmerizing, conflicted, divided, yet energizing and beloved metropolises in the world."" Elena Vesselinov, Associate Professor, City University of New York ""Katrin B. Anacker’s New York City: The Basics is a succinct and readable primer on the evolution of the city, starting from its early history to now. It draws from multiple academic disciplines to highlight the importance of geographic location for its development as a global economic center, explains the role of immigration in creating its rich demographic diversity, and provides background on the city’s struggles with housing supply."" Rachael Woldoff, Professor, West Virginia University Author of Priced Out: Stuyvesant Town and the Loss of Middle-Class Neighborhoods ""Anacker has created a demographic, economic, and cultural survey of New York City that seamlessly links the remarkable evolution of this phenomenal place with its present character. Wonderfully concise and immensely satisfying."" Laura Wolf-Powers, Professor, City University of New York Author of University City: History, Race and Community in the Era of the Innovation District

Author Information

Katrin B. Anacker is currently a professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, VA, USA.

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