Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America by Russell Shorto
Book Review — A riveting, conversational history of how New Amsterdam became New York — and how the city’s birth reflects the soul (and struggle) of America.
Russell Shorto, the masterful storyteller behind the beloved The Island at the Center of the World, returns with another triumph in Taking Manhattan. Usually, sequels to great works make me cautious — after all, when a book is that good, why risk tampering with it? But Shorto proves that some follow-ups are not only justified — they’re essential.
In Taking Manhattan, Shorto picks up the thread of history where The Island at the Center of the World left off, detailing the dramatic events of 1664 when the English set their sights on the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. What could have been a straightforward military conquest becomes, under Shorto’s skillful narrative, a fascinating story of negotiation, cultural fusion, and the birth of what would eventually become the modern city of New York.
Shorto’s gift lies in making deeply researched history feel like an intimate conversation. Reading this book is like sitting at a bar with an incredibly knowledgeable — and engaging — companion who can’t wait to tell you all about Peter Stuyvesant, Richard Nicolls, and the royal ambitions behind the scenes. The style is vivid, accessible, and peppered with scholarly insights that never weigh the story down.
True to form, Shorto doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of this history either. He weaves in the brutal realities of Native American dispossession and the early roots of American slavery, showing how New York’s paradoxical origins — immense opportunity shadowed by profound injustice — continue to echo in America’s identity today.
If there are minor flaws, they are forgivable. Some side stories, like Nicolls’s adventures during the English Civil War, linger a bit longer than necessary. And occasionally, Shorto’s interpretations might spark debate among historians. But these are minor quibbles that hardly detract from the book’s overall brilliance.
In Taking Manhattan, Russell Shorto once again achieves what few historians can: he brings the past vividly alive without sacrificing depth or nuance. It’s a thrilling, thought-provoking, and highly readable journey into the founding moments of a city — and a nation. Fans of The Island at the Center of the World will find this a worthy and rewarding continuation. Highly recommended.