Whether or not THE BLUE GUIDE NEW YORK is useful to you depends on what you need it for. It is quite heavy (1.6 pounds), making it impractical for the traveler who is going to be in New York for only a few days. It offers rather exhaustive information on subjects that the casual tourist may have little interest in, such as history and architecture. I would not recommend it to the first-time visitor who is only going to be in town a short time. However, this is the recommended book for people preparing to take the New York City Bureau of Consumer Affairs' licensing exam to become a tour guide. I've lived in New York for more than 40 years and I found every page loaded with useful facts that I was not aware of. I learned the architects of every major building in town, where the stone used to build those buildings was quarried, as well as the artists who were responsible for the internal and external decoration, not to mention the political machinations that were necessary to begin construction. It provides floor plans of the major museums and detailed descriptions of the collections they contain. But this is probably too much information for the average tourist. This is a book for those with a passionate interest in the world's most exciting city. If you don't fall into that category, you'd be better off looking elsewhere. But I personally find the book an extremely useful reference that I'm sure I will be consulting for years to come. Four stars.

Carol von Pressentin Wright's BLUE GUIDE NEW YORK is a brilliant guide to the city and stands alone for historical perspective, cultural depth, and effective prose. Though I've lived in New York City for 12 years, this book serves as a constant companion, and I grab it nearly any time I walk out the door--every outing can now yield new layers of understanding of this, my adopted town. In the midst of a busy day, I might pass through, say, Union Square and take a moment to read the appropriate entry. Not only do I absorb details of architecture and city planning that previously eluded me, but also the whole checkered and colorful history of the place jumps to life.

Thus, I heartily recommend the book to all longer-term visitors and to those New York residents who yearn for a greater appreciation of home. Indeed, the richness of detail and comprehensive geographical coverage may actually render BLUE GUIDE less than ideal for the short-term visitor. (For those in need of a restaurant or hotel guide, there are more than enough lesser guides to fill the bill.)

One caveat. As an avid user of the 1991 2nd edition, I looked forward to the long overdue 2002 edition. With all due respect to the two new co-authors and their well-intentioned efforts, I believe that the newer, more user-friendly visual format actually decreases the book's effectiveness, as does the additional text, which lacks the consistently high critical standards of Wright's solo work. I recommend seeking out the 1991 edition (Amazon seems to offer several copies at reasonable prices). Whatever inconvenience is caused by the several outdated entries is outweighed by the ample rewards of the text.