Each New York guide has a certain niche. Some provide comprehensive where-it"s-at listings, others detailed budget information or directories of the best. This guide"s area of excellence is its thorough examination of each neighbourhood of the city"s most-famous borough. Written by locals with insiders" knowledge and enthusiasm, it is strong on social history, architecture and art. Fodor"s Compass Manhattan chronicles the island¹s story--from mountainous outpost inhabited by native tribes to British colony to its rapid urbanisation in the 1800s; from the first skyscraper in 1888 to the hard-partying jazz era. The story is told entertainingly and illustrated by a unique selection of paintings, etchings, posters and other ephemera, and National Geographic contributor Michael Yamashita"s vibrant photography. A nice touch are the excerpts of classic literature from Langston Hughes to J.D. Salinger. Manhattan is documented as the locals see it--a string of small villages. The authors examine the history and ethnic make-up of each in depth. It, picking out the borough"s weird and wonderful quirks as they go--for example, the Whoopee Cushion and Used Restaurant Equipment Districts. If you need a guide to choose where to stay or eat, Manhattan is not it, since the hotels/restaurants listing at the back doesn"t provide enough details to be really useful to a newcomer. However, it makes excellent background reading and really captures the city"s flavour. --Sarah Champion