Reviews
"Memo to presidents, prime ministers, security personnel, news correspondents, anarchists and all others planning to attend the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh this week: Along with your briefing books, white papers and bail money, pack a copy of Franklin Toker'sPittsburgh: A New Portrait… The book is ambitious and lavish, with vivid photographs and helpful maps. From the glaciers that built the town and the epidemics and fires that reshaped it, to the renaissances that renewed it and the indomitable spirit that sustains it, Pittsburgh is a great American city-the "indispensable American city,' in the words of native son David McCullough. Now it possesses the great architectural guide that every great American city deserves-and few possess." -The Wall Street Journal, Praise for Franklin Toker'sPittsburgh: An Urban Portrait: "Simply splendid. Toker writes with unusual grace and style. He knows good stories when he finds them, and he has sprinkled these generously through the text." -Pennsylvania History, "[Important] to scholars for insight into the process of community and regional regeneration in the postindustrial era. . . . [An] interweaving of architectural description, engaged storytelling, and passionate advocacy for adaptive reuse . . . accessible and innovative . . . beautiful photography is seamlessly meshed with engaging prose." --Pennsylvania History, "[Toker] intricately showcases the city's architecture, from an iconic Chrysler dealership built in 1934 on Baum Boulevard to the boyhood home of playwright August Wilson that sits in the historically black neighborhood knowsn as The Hill. 'I got as close to the heartbeats of the neighborhoods as I could,' Toker said." --Associated Press, "Exquisitely and eloquently announces the birth of postindustrial Pittsburgh . . . Serves [as] a scripture, an authoritative body of knowledge about the city focused mainly on the city's architectural or built environment. It is a beautifully crafted paean to Pittsburgh as someplace special." -Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, “A neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and in some cases building-by-building, analysis of the city, an architectural and social history that reads as both love letter and critique. . . .An incredibly agile writer, Toker moves easily from biography to aesthetics to history, all the while peppering the text with clever turns of phrase that lead to plenty of chuckles and even a few laugh-out-loud moments.� -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Lovingly prepared and tastefully presented . . . praiseworthy, celebratory and revelatory." -Pittsburgh Quarterly, "Lovingly prepared and tastefully presented . . . praiseworthy, celebratory and revelatory." --Pittsburgh Quarterly, “[Toker] intricately showcases the city’s architecture, from an iconic Chrysler dealership built in 1934 on Baum Boulevard to the boyhood home of playwright August Wilson that sits in the historically black neighborhood knowsn as The Hill. ‘I got as close to the heartbeats of the neighborhoods as I could,’ Toker said.� -Associated Press, "A neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and in some cases building-by-building, analysis of the city, an architectural and social history that reads as both love letter and critique. . . .An incredibly agile writer, Toker moves easily from biography to aesthetics to history, all the while peppering the text with clever turns of phrase that lead to plenty of chuckles and even a few laugh-out-loud moments." --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "[Important] to scholars for insight into the process of community and regional regeneration in the postindustrial era. . . . [An] interweaving of architectural description, engaged storytelling, and passionate advocacy for adaptive reuse . . . accessible and innovative . . . beautiful photography is seamlessly meshed with engaging prose." -Pennsylvania History, "A neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and in some cases building-by-building, analysis of the city, an architectural and social history that reads as both love letter and critique. . . .An incredibly agile writer, Toker moves easily from biography to aesthetics to history, all the while peppering the text with clever turns of phrase that lead to plenty of chuckles and even a few laugh-out-loud moments." --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Praise for Franklin Toker'sPittsburgh: An Urban Portrait: "A first-class, easily portable guide for knowing this city better . . . not only precise, but full of opinions to give an architectural stroller grist for thought . . . Toker reminds us that several hundred architects practice here and no other city has had as many designers of prominence." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Praise for Franklin Toker'sFallingwater Rising: "Contentious, rapt, utterly fascinating . . . this scholarly magnum opus is an absolute page turner." -New York Times, "A neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and in some cases building-by-building, analysis of the city, an architectural and social history that reads as both love letter and critique. . . .An incredibly agile writer, Toker moves easily from biography to aesthetics to history, all the while peppering the text with clever turns of phrase that lead to plenty of chuckles and even a few laugh-out-loud moments." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Exquisitely and eloquently announces the birth of postindustrial Pittsburgh . . . Serves [as] a scripture, an authoritative body of knowledge about the city focused mainly on the city's architectural or built environment. It is a beautifully crafted paean to Pittsburgh as someplace special." --Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, "The book is ambitious and lavish, with vivid photographs and helpful maps. From the glaciers that built the town and the epidemics and fires that reshaped it, to the renaissances that renewed it and the indomitable spirit that sustains it, Pittsburgh is a great American city-the 'indispensable American city,' in the words of native son David McCullough. Now it possesses the great architectural guide that every great American city deserves-and few possess." -Wall Street Journal, “Lovingly prepared and tastefully presented . . . praiseworthy, celebratory and revelatory.� -Pittsburgh Quarterly, "The book is ambitious and lavish, with vivid photographs and helpful maps. From the glaciers that built the town and the epidemics and fires that reshaped it, to the renaissances that renewed it and the indomitable spirit that sustains it, Pittsburgh is a great American city--the 'indispensable American city,' in the words of native son David McCullough. Now it possesses the great architectural guide that every great American city deserves--and few possess." --Wall Street Journal, "[Toker] intricately showcases the city's architecture, from an iconic Chrysler dealership built in 1934 on Baum Boulevard to the boyhood home of playwright August Wilson that sits in the historically black neighborhood knowsn as The Hill. 'I got as close to the heartbeats of the neighborhoods as I could,' Toker said." -Associated Press, “Exquisitely and eloquently announces the birth of postindustrial Pittsburgh . . . Serves [as] a scripture, an authoritative body of knowledge about the city focused mainly on the city’s architectural or built environment. It is a beautifully crafted paean to Pittsburgh as someplace special.� -Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, "The book is ambitious and lavish, with vivid photographs and helpful maps. From the glaciers that built the town and the epidemics and fires that reshaped it, to the renaissances that renewed it and the indomitable spirit that sustains it, Pittsburgh is a great American city--the 'indispensable American city,' in the words of native son David McCullough. Now it possesses the great architectural guide that every great American city deserves--and few possess." --Wall Street Journal, "The book is ambitious and lavish, with vivid photographs and helpful maps. From the glaciers that built the town and the epidemics and fires that reshaped it, to the renaissances that renewed it and the indomitable spirit that sustains it, Pittsburgh is a great American city-the 'indispensable American city,' in the words of native son David McCullough. Now it possesses the great architectural guide that every great American city deserves-and few possess." -Wall Street Journal
