The Island at the Center of the World suddenly seemed like what I should read & I put my hand right on it (a sign), & not only that, it's a nice clean paperback, perfect for travel. It's about New Netherland, the Dutch colony that predated and established Manhattan as we know it, freewheeling, open-minded, commercial. All the reasons people still come to New York were there from the beginning. If you want to understand New York City, this is the book to read.