The Works - Anatomy of a City

By Kate Ascher

I like learning how everyday things work. The Works delves deep into the infrastructure of New York City. The chapters cover all the aspects of what makes the city run. Moving people and freight, power, communications, disposing the waste.

For the most part each set of 2 facing pages covers a distinct topic. For example, in the chapter on streets there is info on traffic lights, manhole covers, street repairs, building bridges, etc. With one set of 2 facing pages covering all the information on say manhole covers with examples of the different styles of designs throughout the city. Along with the text are illustrations depicting the subject discussed with cutaways to see the inner workings.

Here are some facts I learned that were quite amazing.

You know the cross walk buttons pedestrians will (repeatedly) press to make the light change? Does it ever seem like they don't do anything? Well they don't. At least in NYC that is. At one time they were connected to the light but now the lights are controlled by a central computer. It is expensive to take out the button so the ones that haven't been removed yet? Yeah they are worthless.

Natural gas can flow at 15mph and steam 75mph in the tubes under the city.

In lower Manhattan at 33 Thomas St the Long Lines Building (once the home of the AT&T long distance division) is said to be able to withstand a nuclear fallout and has backup to operate for 2 weeks.

Finally know what ZIP code stands for? Well I didn't. But it's the Zone Improvement Plan started in 1963.

I think the quote on the back of the book really sums up the way I felt after reading this one. From the New York Post "It's a rare person who won't find something of interest in The Works..."