A staple among readers of the New York Times, urban affairs  correspondent Roberts collects 40 of his podcasts for the Times Web  site—savvy snapshots of the city that prides itself on its restless  energy. Roberts (Who We Are Now) pens snappy glimpses of its  personalities, trends, events and general mayhem, including topics such  as the gender gap and eligible men, fat New Yorkers, the New York City  pooper-scooper law, gangster Nicky Mr. Untouchable Barnes, and the  terror and fear of the 9/11 tragedy. His writing really crackles when he  sinks his teeth into the antics of some of those who put their stamp on  the city, such as writers Norman Mailer and Jimmy Breslin in their 1969  madcap political race, Mayor Bloomberg's deep pockets for wooing voters  or President Obama's early student days of roughing it in Manhattan.  Street-smart, informative and occasionally hilarious, Roberts's new book  is New York City as it is and always has been.