Book cover of New York, New York: How the Apartment House Transformed the Life of the City (1869-1930)

Book description

Recounts New York City's transformation from a provincial, Victorian town to a bustling city, focusing on the architectural emergence of the apartment building after the Civil War and its influence.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked New York, New York as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I can still remember so much from this book. A great stat Hawes included was that in the year 1870, 90 percent of upper-class New Yorkers lived in townhouses or other types of single-family homes. By 1930, 90 percent lived in apartment buildings or “French flats,” as they were sometimes called. Basically, almost alone among American cities, New York chose to emulate Paris in its model of urbanism rather than London.

New York developers built and sold “French flats” that were large and ostentatious, like the Ansonia and the Dakota, which are still there today. These iconic apartment buildings were…

If you love New York, New York...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like New York, New York?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 77 books like New York, New York.

Browse books like New York, New York

Book cover of The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Book cover of Bourgeois Utopias: The Rise And Fall Of Suburbia
Book cover of Edge City: Life on the New Frontier

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,290

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like New York, New York, you might also like...

Book cover of Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence

Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence by Betty Bolté,

One woman, Mary Katharine Goddard, signed the Declaration of Independence and risked hanging by doing so.

She was supposed to marry and have children, living the ‘normal’ life of an 18th-century woman. Destiny said otherwise. Instead, at the behest of her impulsive brother, she moved from one colony to another,…

Book cover of Stella's Special Recipe

Stella's Special Recipe by Melissa Stoller,

It’s Rosh Hashanah, and Stella is finally old enough to make her family’s famous stuffed cabbage rolls. The recipe has been passed down from her Bubbe Sophie to her Nana to her Mama, with each adding their own special ingredient and a little bit of love. Now it’s Stella’s turn.…

5 book lists we think you will like!