Tenements, Towers & Trash : An Unconventional Illustrated History of New York City Julia Wertz

A revised and updated edition of a modern classic -- a visual exploration of New York City, now published in paperback with a reduced trim size. Julia Wertz, the author of Impossible People, takes readers behind the scenes to the real guts of NYC, featuring hilarious stories and offbeat histories you won't find in any traditional guidebook.

The hardcover was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 2017 and praised in that paper as a "passionate anatomy of the city." The author has made several updates to pages throughout the book for this new paperback edition.

"Julia Wertz's Tenements, Towers and Trash is nothing short of extraordinary. The meticulously researched histories of the various urban landscapes are fascinating, and Wertz's drawings perfectly capture the visual poetry of the city -- the ongoing struggle between past and present, and its unique blend of beauty and ugliness. A must for anyone who loves and appreciates the city, as Wertz so clearly does."-Roz Chast

Black Dog & Leventhal, 2025. Paperback, 288 pages,10.2 x 7.7 in