New York, and the Northern US in general, is generally perceived by many as having less of a role in the African slave trade and the genocide of the Native Americans. Why does this perception exist? Russell Shorto approaches this assumption from many different angles. He discusses the history of New Netherland and why it fell to the English in 1664. The history of the Netherlands and the English are traced back to Europe and Shorto examines both societies.

In short, it's an extremely approachable read and the audiobook is very well done.

As someone who does not read alot of non fiction this was a really interesting a detailed origin story of "Manhattan" when it was Dutch controlled and taken by England. It brought up many things I hadn't known previously and was an interesting account of events. I enjoyed how the information was given through the eyes of those who would have been appart of it, it helped to keep things engaging. Overall I enjoyed this, and I didn't have any issues with the audio. Would read more by this author.

In Taking Manhattan, Shorto tells the story of Manhattan's founding and growth into the cosmopolitan city we know today. It was no accident, he emphasizes; the Dutch settlers who first established communities on Long Island, on Manhattan Island, and farther north in what is now Albany created communities of tolerance and diversity, with residents who spoke some 18 or more languages, and practiced a variety of religions. The subsequent takeover of these lands by the English were based on negotiations and intentional compromises that fostered a spirit of free trade and required cooperation among various peoples. Generally excluded from these cooperative negotiations, of course, were the Native and African populations. Although we typically think of slavery as a southern institution, it also thrived in early New York, first as an informal practice among the Dutch, but later codified into law by the English.

This is a history of New York that takes a rather different perspective than that typically taught in our schools, and I found it well worth reading. Thank you to #NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company, publisher, for providing a complimentary audiobook download in exchange for an objective review.

We have all read a history book that provided interesting and even important history, but it was boring, a true slog for even the most dedicated readers. vital element of readability. Here Shorto combines well researched history WITH analysis and provides the vital element of readability. Yes, the work is scholarly, but it also has a conversational for the reader. I never knew I would find such exciting characters as Peter Stuyvesant and Richard Nicholls, in a nonfiction book

The author narrated the book, and he might not be the best narrator, but his passion of the material makes him well suited for this book.

Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company, Recorded books and Netgalley.

Originally, I was only mildly interested in the topic of this book, but it turned out to be a fascinating piece of history. It was written so effectively that it often felt more like reading fiction than non-fiction.

“Taking Manhattan” tells the story of how the Dutch colony, New Netherland, became the English colony, New York. Many history books are written in a removed, impersonal tone, but this book is different. The reader learns about the events by exploring the individual experiences of actual people who took part in them.

The diverse and surprising cast of characters include:

-A formerly enslaved, but later freed property owning African woman
-A Jewish man from Lithuania who fought for his own and his fellow Jewish immigrants rights in the colony
-A Native American woman who was a tribal chief
-The imposing, peg-leg toting Dutch governor
-The English colonel and boyhood friend of James, the Duke of York who led the British invasion
-and many more!

Another thing that makes “Taking Manhattan” so engaging and fiction-like is the author’s frequent quotes from sources written by the people at the time. At best, most history books are written like a fiction book with the dialogue taken out. But the quotes in “Taking Manhattan” bring the history to life, like dialogue in a good book. I have never read another history book that uses as many quotations or used them as well as in this book. I can’t wait to read more history books by this author!

I listened to the audio version of this book and the author did the narration. He isn’t a professional narrator, but he did a good job. The production and audio quality were good.

Thanks to RBmedia through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the audio version of this book.

This book reveals the surprising story of New York City’s transfer to the British empire, not as a military conquest, but as a result of shrewd negotiations between the English and Dutch. The book explores the complex origins of this first modern city, highlighting its opportunities, the brutal dispossession of Native Americans, and the beginnings of chattel slavery.

This book is incredibly interesting, bringing to life the events and people involved. The story includes both Manhattan and Regency England, since James II (then Duke of York) played a role. The writing style is deeply engaging, like a novel. The book is informative but also bittersweet, painting the picture of a world of social inequalities that had not yet descended into the horrors of inhumanity that characterized American racism in the nineteenth century. The audiobook narration is well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Taking Manhattan is the fascinating story of New York City in the early days of colonization - what happened between the Dutch and the English to ultimately create New York and the city we know today. The author is also a renowned historian and creator of The New Amsterdam Project, and he brings exhaustive research to this book. I learned so much about Peter Stuyvesant, a name all New Yorkers will recognize but may not be familiar with, as well as other famous early residents of the city. This part of New York's history is rarely covered in much detail, and this book fills that gap. I listened to the audio version and felt the narration was a bit awkward. I had to speed it up significantly to not be distracted by the stilted delivery, but with that modification, I was able to get past it.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the digital copy of this audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was happy to get this audiobook since I had already dived into the history of New York with Ric Burns’ documentary series some years back. Originally settled by the Dutch, who drove the native populations away, the English knew that New York was a settlement that was strategically advantageous. So, they arrived and took it away from the Dutch by sheer domination.

There are some things that happened in the colony of New York that are given much more attention, like the fact that indigenous people were driven away. Then, there’s the fact that slavery began in the colony at a very early time and the whole can of worms that resulted in the subsequent slave trade. Definitely not our country’s best moments.

The author, Russell Shorto, narrates his own book, which is a dicey proposition. He almost pulls it off, but despite his passion for the subject, comes off as slightly amateurish. The book was fine to listen to, but it could have been so much better with a professional narrator at the helm.

This is a good book if you want to get deep down into New York’s history. The city has always been about commerce and trade, and to the victor goes the spoils. Interesting part of the United States history.

That was an interesting read, and I will definately get my hands on "The Island at the Center of the World" as soon as I can. I don't think I have ever run into a history of an American location with so much European history, and I think including it was a great choice.

‘Taking Manhattan’ by Russell Shorto is a captivating deep dive into the early history of New York City.
The book explores how the city, initially founded by the Dutch as New Amsterdam, became the sprawling, diverse metropolis we know today. Shorto delves into the political, cultural, and economic forces that shaped Manhattan, offering a rich, nuanced view of the city’s origins. As someone who loves visiting New York City, inspired by its energy and multiculturalism, I found so much of the specific history of the founding of New York to be thoroughly engaging. It was fascinating to learn about the Dutch influence on the city before it was taken over, and renamed, by the English, and it’s clear that Shorto has a talent for making complex historical topics accessible and compelling.

I listened to this on audiobook, and really enjoyed the experience, finding that I was able to absorb the information really well listening to it. The author’s narration was engaging and thoughtful, bringing the story to life in a way that kept me hooked throughout. While the subject matter itself was so intriguing that it would be hard not to be gripped, I felt Shorto’s delivery was particularly suited to the material — he was clearly invested in the story, and that passion made the experience all the more enjoyable.

That said, while I was thoroughly immersed in the audiobook, I could see how some listeners might find the pacing a bit slow at times. For me, however, the combination of the author's narration and the subject matter made it an enjoyable listen from start to finish.

Overall, I devoured ‘Taking Manhattan’, truly high praise for a historical non-fiction book. The history is fascinating, the author’s engagement with the material is evident, and the audiobook was a great way to experience it. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in New York’s origins or in a superbly researched and well-told history of early American cities.

With thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the advanced copy.

This is a compelling narrative about the early history of New York. Shorto's writing is compelling and conversational and the story is absolutely interesting and worth telling. The narrative sty;e reminds me of Colin Woodard, which I certainly mean as a high compliment. I have read a lot of history of this era, but most of the New York story was new to me and I'm definitely interested in reading Shorto's prior book about the Dutch colony that predated the English invasion of New Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, I listened to this on audio and I didn't find the author's reading to be particularly effective. His delivery was flat enough that I often found myself having to re-listen to portions to pay attention, I'm an auditory learner and I listen to a lot of non-fiction books (maybe 70 or 80 last year) and haven't had this issue with any other books in recent memory. I would have switched to the written version if I hadn't been on an ARC and I suspect I would have gotten through it much more quickly and retained more.

I'm giving the book 4 stars, but I have to recommend that interested parties read rather than listen to this book.

Thank you to RB Audio for an advance listening copy for unbiased review.

While I did not read Shorto’s first book on this subject, after reading 'Taking Manhattan' I will be considering it. Growing up in a household where indigenous history was (and continues to be) a very important part of my everyday life — I am of Chippewa and Ojibwe descent — I was a little apprehensive about picking this selection up. However, I found 'Taking Manhattan' to be as interesting as it was inclusive, appreciative of the author’s continued attempts to integrate the histories of the indigenous cultures of the area with those of the European 'settlers'.

As I was listening to the audiobook, read by the author, it felt like sitting in on a lecture in that it rarely felt stale, nor stuffy in any way. It definitely felt as though Shorto was well versed in the subject, and did a tremendous amount of research. The only thing that really bothered me at all was that I needed to speed the audiobook up, as the author has a slow, measured way of speaking.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

Taking Manhattan is a fascinating and deeply researched exploration of the city’s evolution, weaving together the stories of the people, power struggles, and cultural shifts that shaped it. As a lifelong New Yorker with ancestral ties to New Amsterdam, I found its historical insights especially compelling. I don’t generally gravitate towards non-fiction but thoroughly enjoyed this.

Russell Shorto first came to my attention when watching a video by a content creator out of NYC, focusing on NY history. The creator has a history degree and speaks extensively about Shorto's contribution to the historical writing on NY. So of course I had to jump at the chance to read his newest title.

In Taking Manhattan, Shorto follows up his classic The Island at the Center of the World. The events of this book center on what happened when the English arrived in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Shorto manages to take his expertise on the topic, and instead of offering up something dry and extremely academic, turning it into an easy to read and digest story that packs a punch. There is so much to learn in this story but it is all very easy to get into.

I was already reading the paper copy of Taking Manhattan when the publisher granted me access to the audio version as well. I truly enjoyed the narration and I felt like the audio version really brought the story to life. I would highly recommend this version.

I have not read Shorto’s first book on the Dutch settlement of NY, but this book was excellent! I am from the Hudson River Valley and am constantly in Kingston - so learning more about the history all the way from NYC to Albany is always a great addition. I know some of the basics from school and field trips, but Shorto did a great job keeping the book interesting, full of knowledge, and conversational.

Highly recommend this for all your US history geek friends, NY history geek friends, or really, anyone. I will be following up with his first book shortly!

Thank you Net Galley & WW Norton for an advanced audiobook.

This describes the showdown between 2 imperialist nations over the city that eventually became New York City. The Dutch swiped the land from the Native Americans and built a thriving, diverse bastion of commerce. And the British were jealous so they sent troops to take the city which they considered rightfully theirs. (They actually considered everything as far as the Pacific theirs by virtue of having set foot on the Atlantic coast, but that is the way imperialists think.)

The book was an interesting description of life in Manhattan at that time, the class structure and the way the businesses (including the slave trade) operated. There was a little too much speculation about what the characters were feeling for my taste. But I did enjoy reading about what they actually did and the negotiations over the city.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher. The audiobook was narrated by the author. His narration was so slow that I had to speed it up to 2.5 to make it listenable. But once I did that it was OK.