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Supreme City
784 pages, 2014
Supreme City is the story of Manhattan’s growth and transformation in the 1920s and the brilliant people behind it. Nearly all of the makers of modern Manhattan came from elsewhere: Walter Chrysler from the Kansas prairie; entertainment entrepreneur Florenz Ziegfeld from Chicago.
William Paley, the founder of the CBS radio network, was from Philadelphia, while his rival David Sarnoff, founder of NBC, was a Russian immigrant. Cosmetics queen Elizabeth Arden was Canadian, and her rival, Helena Rubenstein, was Polish. All of them had in common vaulting ambition and a desire to fulfill their dreams in New York.
As mass communication emerged, the city moved from downtown to midtown through engineering triumphs—Grand Central Terminal and the new and newly chic Park Avenue. It created the Holland Tunnel and the modern skyscraper. In less than ten years, Manhattan became the country's social, cultural, and commercial hub. The 1920s was the Age of Jazz and the Age of Ambition.
In Supreme City, Donald L. Miller shows us how visionaries like Jimmy Walker and Tex Rickard transformed a sleepy town into a bustling metropolis. They saw potential where others didn't and weren't afraid to take risks. It's a great reminder to look beyond what's in front of us and imagine what could be.
Miller's book gives us a deep look into how jazz music played a pivotal role in shaping the culture and identity of New York City. It wasn't just music, it was a movement that broke racial barriers and brought people together. If you're a music lover, you'll find this part of the book fascinating.
Supreme City takes us back to the time when modern advertising was born. Miller shows how innovative minds used the power of persuasion to sell products and ideas, shaping consumer culture as we know it today. If you're into marketing or advertising, you'll definitely want to check this out.
Miller highlights the importance of infrastructure in the growth of New York City. From the construction of skyscrapers to the development of transportation systems, these physical structures played a crucial role in the city's transformation. It's a great lesson on how infrastructure can impact a city's growth and development.
In Supreme City, you'll see how organized crime influenced the city's growth. While it's a dark part of history, it's also a reality that shaped the city's economy and politics. Miller doesn't shy away from this topic, giving readers a comprehensive view of New York City's history.
