New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You

Browder (Fascinating New Yorkers) delivers a humorous collection of essays on New York City. A native of Evanston, Ill., who moved to N.Y.C. in 1953, Browder marvels at the city’s rich diversity of languages and cultures, and its many ethnic groups such as Sikhs and Tibetans in Queens, and Mohawks, who in the early 20th century built skyscrapers. “New Yorkers are intensive, highly motivated, cosmopolitan, opinionated yet tolerant, skeptical and diverse,” Browder notes. In an essay titled “Hustlers,” he discusses hustling both on the street (by costumed characters in Times Square and touts who sell comedy club tickets) and in offices (by Donald Trump and convicted felon and former hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli). He explores the Theater District (once called “The Great White Way” due to its bright lights), the Bowery, and 14th Street (which separates the West Village from Chelsea and “refuses to be gentrified”). With a wry sense of humor, Browder discusses gay bars, graffiti (a favorite of his, spotted on the Union Square pavement, reads “New York R U Hung?”), and such landmarks as the Statue of Liberty (“Her sandal is 25 feet long, meaning a woman’s shoe size of 879”). Tourists and those new to the city will most appreciate this light, entertaining look at the Big Apple. (Self-published)