Writer
Selected Books
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New York at War: Four Centuries of Combat, Fear, and Intrigue in Gotham
A narrative of New York City’s military history from the arrival of Henry Hudson in 1609 to the aftermath of September 11, 2001. As the city evolved into its roles as treasure house, strategic base, and vulnerable target, war repeatedly confronted New Yorkers with dangers and opportunities. The experiences of ordinary individuals as well as those of Peter Stuyvesant, George Washington, Fiorello La Guardia, and Abbie Hoffman unfold this often-overlooked story.
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Activist New York: A History of People, Protest & Politics
A survey of New York City activism from religious dissenters in 17th-century New Amsterdam to Occupy Wall Street. A companion volume to the Museum of the City of New York exhibition of the same name, with many full-color illustrations.
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New York: Treasures of the Museum of the City of New York
This small volume showcases many vivid artifacts from the museum’s collections in the context of New York City’s emergence and rise over 400 years. I wrote the main narrative and the profiles of featured artworks, documents, and objects.
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Capital of Capital: Money, Banking & Power in New York City, 1784-2012
Co-written with Jessica Lautin, Capital of Capital intertwines the rise of New York City with the genesis of its banking industry. Profusely illustrated, the book traces the emergence of banking on Wall Street through such outsize characters as Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, August Belmont, Abraham Lincoln, Hetty Green, J.P. Morgan, David Rockefeller, and many others.