Rating: 
Summary: Ultimate of its Type
Review: I absolutely devour the 4th edition, though I am familiar with all previous editons as well. As one of the Principal Editors of the "Guide to Cleveland Architecture," 2nd edition (readers: please seek out our great book), a lover of New York and this book type in general, and a professional librarian and architectural historian, I can certainly appreciate the gigantic amount of research that went into creating what is actually a massive volume like this. Therefore I forgive some details such as inconsistency of Index selection, some date inaccuracies (very, very little percentagewise) or actual typo's, or details such as some maps of which the lettering goes in too many directions. I do wish there were some way suburban areas could be included - for the "total picture." Perhaps a companion volume? But - wow - what that would involve!
The text has so very many splendid sentences, phrases, and attitudes I can really appreciate the strong subjectivity in this case. Our text was actually criticized by our main Cleveland newspaper architectural critic as not being sufficiently opinionated like the NYC book... I did counter-criticize that critic in the "Plain Dealer" in that there are reasons for more objectivity in an urban architectural guidebook but, I can surely appreciate the magnificent writing of this book. Of course I can't agree with some of it either but, so what? The point is this book gives architectural, urban design, etc. the major, major significance it deserves. They're sure a big part of my life! Bravo!
The book also takes on an even higher relevance after 9/11, as the entire fabric in that fair-sized area of Manhattan is covered.
Nothing anywhere near up to it (Chicaco's AIA guide is the closest I've seen) and there are times I can barely put the book down! Now if I could only get to New York more...
Rating: 
Summary: Written in a difficult English
Review: I am going to be straightforward: the book is written in a slightly overblown language, which is not easy to understand for non-native English speakers. If you are a non-native English speaker, think twice before getting this book.
Rating:
Summary: Keep it close
Review: I have been a New Yorker all my life and thought I'd known it all. There were buildings/structures that I knew to be older than most and probably landmarks, but never got around to checking them out. Then I picked up the AIA Guide to New York City sometime in 2001. Ever since, I have kept it with me at all times: in my back pocket, my briefcase, my jacket... Sometimes I go to some of these places in advance, with the intent of looking at them after I'd read about them. Other times, when on my way to or from work or lunch, I will see a building, stop, and look to read about what it is. My hunches aren't always correct, of course: not all the buildings I think are landmarks are. But I always keep this Guide on hand to find out.
Rating:
Summary: Reincarnation
Review: I'm sorry that your first reviewer is under the impression that I'm dead; as Will Rogers once noted: "the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". Modernism and historicism still live in the 4th edition, but that excrescence opposite the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine (a great monument) does ill service to the Gothic Revival it faces. I suspect that you are one of the unfortunates under the spell of Prince Charles, a sorry amateur who should stick to the business of Kingship. Modernism and historicism can joyfully live together. Enjoy them both.
Rating:
Summary: A truly classic treasure trove of NYC info.
Review: This book is amazing in its depth of analysis and thoroughness of its study of the vast amount of architectural treasures in all five boroughs. As a native New Yorker (born in The Bronx, raised in Queens, high school in Manhattan) I was pleasantly surprised to find so many buildings that I admired to have a history behind them. A lot of little tid-bits are included in the book, for example did you know the park benches in the Battery Park Promenade are from the 1939 NY World's Fair? I didn't! Did you know that the same Guastavino tile vaulting found outside the Oyster Bar in Grand Central can be found at the Municipal Building at Centre Street? And at the NY Telephone Building at 140 West Street?A must-have for anyone who loves New York. A true walker's handbook that includes suggested walking tours all over the city. Find out the story behind that old building you walk by on your way home to your Flushing apartment! I also found it fascinating to compare this third edition with the earlier "revised" edition of 1978 to see how much had changed and been lost. The 3rd edition was almost twice the size by the way! I hope a 4th edition is in the works by now.
Rating: 
Summary: Excessively Modernist Opinions
Review: This is a wonderful guide to many of the thousands of buildings in New York City. It is not, however, strictly an architectural piece. A study of the significant edifices in Manhattan this is not, since the photographs are mostly the size of postage stamps, and the text is limited. What it is is likely the most complete guide to the significant and not-so-significant buildings and monuments in New York's five major boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island). The most surprising aspect of this book is its sheer size and complexity. There are hundreds of small photographs (all in clear black-and-white) of nearly every building mentionned, and dozens of others of a more substantial size. There are also over 100 maps of each area, in sufficient detail to be useful for navigation, and a compehensive glossary and index. Overall, this is a monumental book, and one which is definitely worth the price for anyone who is interested in the landscape of one of the most exciting cities in the world - New York. For the type of book it attempts to be, The Forth Edition AIA Guide to New York City is virtually without flaw.
Rating:
Summary: Complete guide to New York City Buildings.
Review: This is a wonderful guide to many of the thousands of buildings in New York City. It is not, however, strictly an architectural piece. A study of the significant edifices in Manhattan this is not, since the photographs are mostly the size of postage stamps, and the text is limited. What it is is likely the most complete guide to the significant and not-so-significant buildings and monuments in New York's five major boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island). The most surprising aspect of this book is its sheer size and complexity. There are hundreds of small photographs (all in clear black-and-white) of nearly every building mentionned, and dozens of others of a more substantial size. There are also over 100 maps of each area, in sufficient detail to be useful for navigation, and a compehensive glossary and index. Overall, this is a monumental book, and one which is definitely worth the price for anyone who is interested in the landscape of one of the most exciting cities in the world - New York. For the type of book it attempts to be, The Forth Edition AIA Guide to New York City is virtually without flaw.
Rating: 
Summary: MY HOUSE IS IN THIS BOOK AND YOURS ISN'T
Review: We have just found our house in this book and it only confirms our objections to it... it's really opinionated and snotty. It describes me as the "zealous" renovator, which I find to have a tone of condescension. While the overall revue is favorable, it ends with the statement "dubious shutters." (Again, opinionated and snotty.) You might be amused to know that we have just written Norval White a letter inviting him to come join us annually to paint wooden shutters. In all farness, however, we have to give it an overall favorable revue because it's full of interesting information on the city we love.
Rating:
Summary: The City in your hand
Review: What can we say about New York that hasn't been said? It's an awesome place, and its architecture is truly astonishing in scope, diversity and importance. This book is a selective catalogue of the City's most important historical structures. I say historical because this guide just happens to be that way. There are significant gaps in the presentation of important modern buildings, which probably reflects the artistic preferences of the editors. So, this is a book for architectural historians, curious tourists and general readers. The entries are many, so the words included with each are few. Readers are not treated to long narrative histories of imporant landmarks but, rather, to a book which is exceptionally wide and quite shallow. This is what one expects from AIA Guides, so there should be no surprises. Buy this book to take New York's lovely historical architecture with you wherever you go. And by all means, go to see it!
Latest edition is 2000, so World Trade Center towers are included.
Rating:
Summary: Not to be confused with the AA Guide to New York CIty
Review: While doing research for my inventions, I find that a good book is priceless. I believe this book to be one of the best metropolitan guides that I've ever run across. Complete detail of all five buroughs is at your fingertips here. There is alot of info based around the architectural style of the city, but what else defines a city more so than the edifices that line its streets? With a plethora of detailed pictures, you'll find that it's a lot easier to find your way around. This can be unbelievably crucial to your survival. I think you'll enjoy the bemusing stories that make the city more that just concrete, but rather part of a greater gestalt of people, stories and the lives that contain them. This book greatly accelerated the research of my latest project, "The Security Wallet-Pant". Once in New York I perused the pages of said book and quickly found the high crime areas I would need to test "The Security Pant-Wallet". "The Security Wallet-Pant" is a special Pant made entirely out of the soft, supple leather of used wallets. You'll notice I called them a Pant, not a pair of pants. I never liked the unecessary pluralization. I made the "The Security Wallet-Pant" out of necessity after having my wallet stolen 4 times. The idea behind "The Security Wallet-Pant" is to confuse would-be theives to the point of grand confusion leading to them ulitimately giving up. I strapped on "The Security Wallet-Pant" and made my way for the mean streets of the Big Apple. Within minutes "The Security Wallet-Pant" was being put to the test. Thankfully, New York City is one place where you can catch a cab, pant-less.
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