When it comes to New York City, its dynamic environment, and multicultural fusion of distinctive inhabitants, author Clifford Browder focuses his keen literary eye on his life and experiences as a seasoned resident there, as well as providing glimpses of New York’s eclectic history. the city in his recent work, New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You. Also, no stranger to using the New York backdrop as a setting for his previously published books, including a series set in 19th-century New York titled Metropolis, author Browder once again offers an intriguing exploration of a culturally very distinctive place.
Also, this isn’t your typical cut-and-dry biography, providing dry data; instead, the reading is a candid memoir of a man and the city in which he lives, loves, survives, and works. The narrative keeps you engrossed in its pages with a winning combination of information gleaned from Mr. Browder’s unique point of view, research, and experiences during his many years as a resident. Accordingly, author Browder does well to pierce the mind’s eye with descriptions of his life as a longtime resident, including historical glimpses and insider tidbits of New York’s best-known as well as lesser-known and even dark.
Providing a narrative that flows well, as author Clifford Browder employs a friendly and authentically informed tone, within which he brings a multi-layered perspective of New York to literary life through his work on this book. In no particular chronological order, the text is divided into five parts, with each section focusing on an intriguing array of elements.
First of all, the first part includes themes that encompass looks at many people, languages, hustlers, scavengers and rich. Next, Part 2 looks at how New Yorkers live with chapters including; Fun, booze, smells, and graffiti, just to name a few. However, this section also includes my favorite chapter #16, Are New Yorkers Rude? I think the author Browder explored this question in a good style. Consecutively, Part 4 covers some of the most iconic places, including Broadway, Fifth Avenue, The Bowery, Wall Street, and 14th Street. Part four continues with a tour of some of the museums, statues and a dark but interesting graveyard and whiskey tasting. Followed by Part 5, which delves into some of New York’s past history, providing the insightful stories of both the good and the bad.
Overall, I enjoyed reading New Yorkers. Author Clifford Browder took a fascinating tour of New York. Part biography, part historical dive, and part travel guide, this work offers a tantalizing glimpse of an exciting city brimming with diversity in every way. This was valuable reading that I recommend. However, as a fellow New Yorker, I experienced some turbulent emotions while reading this book, particularly with the arrival of the coronavirus and the current shutdown in New York and all those wonderful people locked inside their homes due to a virus. My heart and prayers go out to my family and friends, as well as the author, his family, and all other New Yorkers: God bless us all.