Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City review

Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City by Eric W. Sanderson (Author), Markley Boyer (Illustrator). On September 12, 1609, Henry Hudson first set eyes on the land that would grow to be Manhattan. It is tough for us to think about what he saw, but for more than a decade, landscape ecologist Eric Sanderson has been working to do exactly that. Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York Metropolis is the astounding result of these efforts, reconstructing, in words and images, the wild island that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers now call home.

By geographically matching an 18th-century map of Manhattan's landscape to the modern cityscape, combing by way of historic and archaeological information, and making use of fashionable rules of ecology and PC modeling, Sanderson is able to re-create the forests of Instances Sq., the meadows of Harlem, and the wetlands of downtown. Crammed with breathtaking illustrations that present what Manhattan regarded like 400 years ago, Mannahatta is a groundbreaking work that gives readers not solely a window into the past, but inspiration for green cities and wild locations of the future.

Library Journal:

"You do not have to be a New Yorker to be enthralled by this book. Highly recommended."

San Francisco Chronicle:

"[A] n exuberantly written and beautifully illustrated exploration of pre-European Gotham."

The New York Instances Ebook Overview:

"'Mannahatta' is a cartographical detective tale. . ."

"The fact-intense charts, maps and tables offered in abundance here are fascinating, and even kind of sexy. And the middle of the e-book, the two-page spread of Mannahatta in all its primeval glory-the visual denouement of a decade's analysis-feels a little bit like a centerfold."

"Upon closing the ebook you're feeling revved up, at the very least, and are more likely to see a solution to construct a future that is extra aligned with what once was than with what can not be."

This is a superb guide for naturalists, city explorers and those who are simply plain interested by Manhattan. Long earlier than George Washington retreated up the length of the island, Manhattan was a pristine wilderness inhabited by a First American tribe or two. Having finished the book over two weekends I have a brand new appreciation for the island's topography which may nonetheless be experienced as Marathon runners battle up First Avenue, one drives from 57th St all the way down to forty second St on Broadway and hikes up a rather steep hill on Lexington Avenue from 106th St. to 96th St. and its natural beauty as evidenced by a spectacular harbor, Mt Morris Park and its northern forested area. The photographs and different illustrations complement an interesting and interesting text. A truly lovely work.

This guide is filled with great data and images of something I've always wondered about...what did this city appear to be when it was natural, earlier than something everlasting was constructed here? It's a fantastic espresso desk guide for many who simply want to browse, but in addition fascinating in its element and analysis and deserving of a committed read cover to cowl, and a beautiful reference to return to once more and again. Additionally an incredible value for such a ravishing volumn. 

Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City

Eric W. Sanderson (Author), Markley Boyer (Illustrator)

352 pages

Abrams; First Edition edition (May 1, 2009)

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