Books for a New York City-State of Mind

My Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

I'm in a New York City-state of mind this Christmas. Please send any of the following books about the who, what, when, where and why of our great metropolis. I envision myself this winter sitting in the glow of the HDTV fireplace, surrounded by these titles with Mabel at my side, poring over facts and figures and photos of my favorite place in the world.

And if you can swing it, Santa, please dispatch your elves to the local indie bookshops around town to pick these up. I know how you like to check off lists, so I’ve posted a list of lists of bookstores to get y'all started.

Safe travels, Santa! I've been as good as I could be. --MsManhattan

Humans of New York
By Brandon Stanton (St. Martin’s Press, Oct. 15)

Why: I’m a human of New York. Now that a book is out there, I have to track how I measure up to these singled-out, picture-worthy, All-New York humans. And I love the author/photographer's earnestness: Shortly after arriving here circa 2010, he was inspired to create a visual census of the city. That could be marketing, but just because it's marketing doesn't necessarily mean it's not true.
More: NYT Review | Author’s Site

The New York Nobody Knows: Walking 6,000 Miles in the City
By William B. Helmreich (Princeton University Press, Sept. 30)
Why: The title challenges me to say, “I do!” I want to know what he knows that I don’t know… I can walk 6,000 miles!
More: The Guardian Review | Untapped Cities Review | Publisher’s Site

Local Bookshops for Santa's Elves

A List of Lists: Guides to NYC's Resurgent Indie Bookstores

You're a New Yorker; you need gifts for at least a few bibliophiles. Go offline and explore the city's reviving indie bookstore scene. Just bookmark these guides on your mobile phone, and off you go! (Like Santa at Macy’s, I’m sending you down the street for merchandise I don’t carry at this time...)

Top 10: The Gothamist’s recently published take on the best of the boroughs (25 November 2013)

15 Indie Bookstores: From Racked, a wide-ranging, city-wide listing (21 February 2013)

Spring 2013’s Top New Indies: Time Out NY’s selection of the best newly opened stores of Q1 (16 April 2013)

Indies in Manhattan That Are Not the Strand: Nation Books editor Daniel Lopreto’s favorites (12 July 2012)

Best Specialty Bookstores: Subject-specific shops for the sagacious, from Time Out NY (date N/A)