Book Review: That's So New York

New York Times editor and lifelong New Yorker Dan Saltzstein compiles hundreds of distinctly New York moments for this peek at the city that never sleeps. Inspired by Saltzstein’s viral Twitter thread, this illustrated book features hilarious anecdotes from locals and transplants, short essays from folks like Molly Jong-Fast and Michael Ian Black, who have seen it all, and Q&As with everyday New Yorkers from across the five boroughs. Eels wriggling through subway cars, accidentally stumbling onto the set of Law & Order, drag queens emerging from manholes—if there’s one thing New York never runs out of, it’s stories. And rats. Always rats.

That's So New York by Dan Saltzstein will be published March 12, 2024. Chronicle Books provided an early galley for review.

Plain and simple, I love New York! The city has always been fascinating to me - ever since childhood (this is something Saltzstein and I share in common). Actually living there is not the dream I'll ever achieve. Luckily, I've visited several times but more would always be better.

This nonfiction book collects twenty-two essays about life in the city. They are organized into eight categories including ones about subways, rules of the city, animals, celebrities and more. It also features delightful color illustrations by Emily Carpenter to accompany the essays and Tweets.

This was a quick fun read. If you are a fan of the Big Apple or just fascinated by it, definitely check it out.

As for one of my own New York moments: I spent New Year's Eve of 1986 with friends in Times Square. We took the train in from Kingston, NY, where we all were co-ops at IBM for the Fall. Upon arriving at Grand Central, we hoofed it over to the big doings - with a stop at a convenient store to get beers (which came with brown paper bags so we could drink them without any incident in public). We got to Times Square which was packed, stood around for a few hours drinking and trying to stay warm. If you left, you could not get back in - so the only place to relieve one's self was down an alleyway. Once the ball dropped, we made a beeline back to Grand Central for the long train ride back home (going in it was non-stop, going out we stopped at every station up the Hudson Valley). Got home close to dawn and slept until late afternoon. But I can say I have done New Year's Eve in Times Square.