Kevin Bone

When I bought this book at the Strand's sidewalk kiosk near Central Park, the subject seemed interesting but not something I'd read right away. I figured it would be a reference on my bookshelf rather than something to read cover to cover. Yet as I read other books with chapters that skirted the NYC waterfront, I found this book cited a lot so I jumped into it. The book is highly cited for good reason: it's a comprehensive history, both in words and in many, many photos. That, plus a couple chapters on recent waterfront developments, make it a valuable book.

With so many changes to the waterfront since 1997, when the first edition was published -- and even since 2004, when the revised and updated edition came out -- another update would be welcome. If done right, that is. Unfortunately, on more than one occasion I've encountered information that should have been updated but wasn't. Smith-Miller + Hawkinson's Pier 11, for instance, is discussed in future tense, even though it was completed in 2001.

But the main issue keeping the book from a higher rating is the lack of an index. With it's wealth of archival information on a narrow topic, there's no reason not have one. I keep turning to it and getting frustrated in trying to find information on a particular piece of the waterfront or some aspect of its history.… (altro)